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Annual Report 2023
Petershill Partners plc
Focused
partnership
Petershill Partners plc (“Petershill
Partners” or the “Company”) is a
diversified, publiclylisted, global
alternatives investment group. Through
our non-controlling ownership in
carefully selected Partner-firms, we
provide public market investors with
access to the profitability of ambitious
private capital firms focused on the
middle-market.
Our Shareholders benefit from the
growth of over 20 firms and long-term,
stable, cash flows generated by the fee
income fromover 200 funds, managed
by our Partner-firms across multiple
asset classes andinvestment
strategies.
Introduction
Contents
Strategic Report
2 Performance Highlights
6 Chairman’s Statement
8 The Petershill Difference
10 The Role of the Operator
12 A Letter From the Co-Heads of
Petershill
14 Aligning With Success
17 Our Markets
22 A Diversified Business
25 Strategy and Investment Objectives
28 Financial and Operating Review
34 Our Stakeholders
36 Section 172 Statement
38 ESG Commentary
40 Principal Risks and Uncertainties
Governance Report
47 Chairman’s Introduction
48 Our Board
50 Report of the Directors
53 Directors’ Remuneration Report
57 Directors’ Responsibilities
Statement
58 Corporate Governance Report
66 Audit and Risk Committee Report
Financial Statements
70 Independent Auditors’ Report
80 Consolidated Financial Statements
84 Notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements
117 Company Financial Statements
120 Notes to the Company
Financial Statements
Additional Information
127 Alternative Performance Measures
134 Glossary of Capitalised
DefinedTerms
136 The Petershill Partners Group’sAssets
139 Glossary of Key Operating Metrics
142 Company Information
143 Cautionary Statement
1 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Key Performance
Indicators
Petershill Partners uses several key
performance indicators, Alternative
Performance Measures or Operating Metrics
to measure the progress and performance of
the Company over time. Goldman Sachs
Asset Management (The Operator) and the
Company use these to help evaluate trends
and assess the performance of our Partner-
firms and the Company.
Performance Highlights
2 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Aggregate Partner-firm AuM is a
meaningful measure of the size, scope and
composition of the Company’s Partner-
firms, as well as of their capital-raising
activities. This is an aggregated figure
across all Partner-firms and includes
Partner-firm AuM outside of Petershill
Partners’ ownership interest in the
Partner-firms.
Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM is
a meaningful measure of the Partner-firms’
capital base upon which they earn
management fees, and the measure is used
in assessing the management fee-related
performance of the Partner-firms. This is an
aggregated figure across all Partner-firms
and includes Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM
outside of Petershill Partners' ownership
interest in the Partner-firms.
The fair value of investments in Partner-
firms represents the current value of the
Company’s investments. The net value is
attributable to Shareholders.
Adjusted EBIT is an Alternative Performance
Measure and a key measure of profitability.
It is defined as the sum of total income and
expenses, excluding non-recurring charges,
before net finance result and before income
taxes, change in fair value of investments at
fair value through profit or loss, profit-
sharing charge and unrealised divestment
fee.
Partner Fee Related Earnings is a meaningful
measure of the management fee-related
earnings of the Partner-firms.
Partner Distributable Earnings is defined
as the sum of Partner Fee Related Earnings
(FRE), Partner Realised Performance
Revenues (PRE) and Partner Realised
Investment Income. It is a meaningful
measure of Petershill’s income from its
interests in Partner-firms.
The profit before tax is a measure of the
profitability of the Company. It includes
earnings from investments in Partner-
firms, the impact of valuing those
interests, and the other income and costs
of the Company.
Aggregate Partner-firm
AuM
At 31 Dec 2023
Aggregate Fee-paying
Partner-firm AuM
At 31 Dec 2023
Investments in Partner-
firms at Fair Value
At 31 Dec 2023
Adjusted EBIT
Full year 2023
Partner FRE
Full year 2023
Profit/(Loss) Before Tax
Full year 2023
Partner Distributable
Earnings
Full year 2023
Growth KPIs
Profitability KPIs
$304bn $221bn $5.3bn
$284m$397m
$292m
$203m
Alternative Performance Measure
Key
Operating Metric
OM
APM
IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standard
OM
OM
OM
IFRS
IFRS
APM
OM
$304bn
2023
$283bn
$234bn
2022
2021
$284m
2023
$336m
2022
$203m
2023
$213m
2022
$221bn
2023
$194bn
$158bn
2022
2021
$397m
2023
$(505)m
2022
$5.3bn
2023
$5.0bn
$6.0bn
2022
2021
$292m
2023
$370m
2022
3 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Partner-firm funds are defined as the
underlying Partner-firm funds to which
the Company is exposed.
Partner FRE Concentration by Largest
Fund is calculated as FRE from the largest
fund divided by total FRE, and highlights
the diversified nature of the Company.
Weighted Average Capital Duration is a
key measure of the long-term, locked-up
capital of Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-
firm AuM.
This KPI highlights the management-fee-
centric nature of the Company’s financial
profile.
Alternative Performance Measure
Key
Operating Metric
OM
APM
IFRS
International Financial Reporting Standard
Quality of Partner-firm Earnings KPIs
Diversification KPIs
Partner-firm Funds
At 31 Dec 2023
Partner FRE Concentration
by Largest Fund
Full year 2023
Weighted Average Capital
Duration
At 31 Dec 2023
Partner Realised PRE
as a Percentage of
Partner Revenue
Full year 2023
240 8.6%
9.0 years 13%
OM
OM
OM
OM
Performance Highlights continued
240
2023
220
212
2022
2021
8.6%
2023
8.6%
7.0%
2022
2021
9.0
2023
8.9
8.1
2022
2021
13%
2023
26%
27%
2022
2021
The Glossary of Capitalised Defined Terms on pages 134 to 135 and
Glossary of Key Operating Metrics on pages 139 to 141 includes
definitions of the APMs and reconciliation to the relevant IFRS measures.
4 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Book value per share indicates the
Company's net asset value on a per-share
basis by dividing total Shareholders’ funds
by the total number of shares outstanding.
Earnings per share (EPS) is calculated by
dividing the net profit after tax by the
weighted average number of Ordinary
Shares in issue, to provide the portion of
the Company's profit allocated to each
outstanding share.
The Proposed Ordinary Dividend Per Share
is comprised of an interim and final
dividend each year. The interim dividend is
equal to one-third of the prior year total
dividend and the final dividend is
proposed by the Board and subject to
approval by Shareholders at the annual
general meeting.
Ownership Weighted AuM
At 31 Dec 2023
Ownership Weighted
Fee-paying AuM
At 31 Dec 2023
Ownership weighted AuM represents the
sum of the Company’s ownership stakes in
each Partner-firm’s AuM.
Ownership weighted Fee-paying AuM
represents the sum of the Company’s
ownership stakes in each Partner-firm’s
Fee-paying AuM. It is the AuM base on
which we earn management fees.
Per Share Metrics
Book Value Per Share
At 31 Dec 2023
Earnings Per Share
Full Year 2023
Proposed Ordinary Dividend
Per Share
Full year 2023
430.8¢ 28.4¢ 15.0¢
$37.3bn $27.7bn
OM
OM
430.8¢
2023
415.7¢
457.8¢
2022
2021
28.4¢
2023
(39.4¢)
2022
15.0¢
2023
11.0¢
2022
$37.3bn
2023
$36.0bn
$30.2bn
2022
2021
$27.7bn
2023
$26.0bn
2022
Ownership Weighted Operating Metrics
APM
IFRS
5 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Chairman’s Statement
Dear Shareholders
Global markets experienced volatility throughout 2023. Major
equity indices rebounded from considerable declines in 2022, but
did so with large swings and, in the US, concentrated in a small
number of technology stocks. The year began with a regional
banking crisis that started in the United States and carried into
Europe. Significant movements in US treasury yields, paired with
economic uncertainty and geopolitical instability, contributed to
the movements which markets experienced. Against that backdrop,
our Partner-firms raised $23 billion of new fee eligible AuM,
making this another year of Petershill Partners achieving its
fundraising targets against a challenging environment. This year
our fundraising came from 18 different firms underpinning a core
tenet of Petershill Partners which is to provide diversification
through our ownership in many different high quality alternative
asset managers.
Fee related earnings were down 5% as cost growth amongst our
Partner-firms more than offset the 2% growth in Partner Net
Management and Advisory Fees. Funds were raised in advance of
their being needed for deployment, resulting in a delay in the
activation of fees for new funds raised. We experienced lower
Partner Realised Performance Revenues (PRE) in 2023, resulting
from both lower investment performance in the absolute return
strategies and the subdued realisation environment throughout
the year that impacted our private markets strategies. As a result,
our Partner Distributable Earnings were lower, as expected in the
context of limited realisations.
The carrying value of our investments in Partner-firms ended the
year higher primarily resulting from higher multiples on
comparable listed businesses as markets re-rated in the second
half of the year.
Our Partner-firms exhibited continued strength in asset raising
despite the difficult market background. The consequent increase
in fee-paying AuM will continue to support management fees
going forward. One of the factors that distinguishes the Company
from its peers is the range of high-quality General Partner (GP)
services that the Operator offers to Partner-firms, designed to
unlock value and increase future returns. In 2023, the number of
GP services engagements grew by 50%, and this engagement
increases confidence about prospects for our Partner-firms – and
for the Company.
The capital structure of the Company, with its relatively low fixed
rate long-term debt, looks even better now than it did a year ago
as rates have risen significantly since we raised this debt. We
closed on a $100 million unsecured revolving credit facility to
provide more liquidity if need arises. The Company did not draw
down on this facility at all during the year. While much of the cash
during the year was invested in money market funds, the Operator
did start to shift some cash into slightly longer duration fixed
deposits as short-term rates moderated. We cancelled
approximately $3 billion of share premium in 2023, which has
provided us with greater flexibility in structuring capital returns to
our shareholders.
"Whilst Partner Distributable
Earnings were lower in 2023, we
remain positive about the
prospects for medium-term
growth."
Naguib Kheraj, Chairman
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 20236
$100m
Revolving credit facility
closed in January 2023
$180m
Combined interim and final
ordinary dividends for 2023
$26m
Amount purchased through the
share buyback programme in 2023
The Operator chose not to make any acquisitions during the year as
the opportunities considered did not present attractive value
creating opportunities. We announced a $50 million buyback
programme earlier in the year to purchase shares at an attractive
price relative to the Company’s net asset value as we consider this
to be significantly value accretive. To date, the programme has
completed $32 million of purchases.
Our Partner-firms continued to generate solid free cash flow
during the year, which funds our progressive dividend programme.
The Board approved an interim dividend of 4.9 cents per share and
is recommending a final dividend of 10.1 cents per share, bringing
the full year dividend to 15.0 cents per share. This compares with a
full year dividend of 14.5 cents per share in 2022. In addition,
taking into account our balance sheet capacity, strong anticipated
cash flows and the value at which the Company’s shares are
trading, the Board is considering launching a tender offer to
purchase up to $100 million of the Company’s shares. Our decision
will be made by the end of April so that approval could be sought
at the forthcoming AGM.
We held 10 Board meetings during the year, supplemented by
13 meetings of Board Committees, covering Audit and Risk,
Remuneration, Nomination and Management Engagement.
Additionally, the Board met with two Partner-firms in New York,
and we continue to seek feedback from shareholders both through
direct engagement and through the investor relations activities of
the Operator and our brokers.
Subsequent to year end we completed a number of transactions
which we expect will be value creating and which will further
weight our revenues towards FRE. These included purchasing
additional interests in three existing Partner-firm investments in a
secondary transaction from a financial investor at a reasonable
discount to our carrying value, and selling part of our PRE and
balance sheet exposure in an existing Partner-firm back to its
management at a slight premium to its carrying value at
31 December 2023. In April this year, we also made a new
investment in a rapidly growing firm which is a specialist in the
private credit asset class.
The Company’s shares have continued to trade at a significant
discount to net asset value throughout the year and the Board
actively considers strategies which could have an impact in
narrowing that discount. We continue to exercise careful discipline
in the allocation and management of capital through buybacks,
dividends and the hurdles applied to new investments. We believe
that our careful stewardship of capital, combined with the
attractive underlying growth prospects and cash flow generation
of our Partner-firms, will be recognised by the market in due
course and will result in good medium to long term returns to
shareholders.
Naguib Kheraj
Chairman
9 April 2024
7 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
The Petershill Difference
In a world of fleeting connections, Petershill
stands as a beacon of enduring partnerships,
where Partner-firm success is not a goal but
an unwavering commitment. We believe in the
power of collaboration, where our expertise
intertwines with our Partner-firm's aspirations,
fostering a synergy that propels growth.
Through ongoing support, strategic guidance,
and a shared vision of excellence, we cultivate
long-lasting relationships that pave the way
for mutual prosperity.
The Petershill
Difference
8 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
240 Alternative Investment Funds
with broad coverage of the alternatives universe
Shareholder Returns
Our purpose is to provide Shareholders with best-in-class diversified
access to the growth and profitability of the alternatives industry, focusing
on the quality of recurring cash-based earnings.
Petershill Partners
We deliver diversified, highly visible, risk-adjusted returns for our Shareholders
by participating in the fee income from more than 200 funds managed by our
Partner-firms across multiple asset classes and investment strategies.
Operated by Goldman Sachs
Asset Management
A global, broad and deep platform with diversified
capabilities across public and private asset classes.
13%
Partner Fee
Related Earnings
(FRE)
80% 7%
Over 20 Partner-firms
Private Capital firms generating stable revenue from
a blend of fee income and investment appreciation
Partner Realised
Performance Revenues
(PRE)
Partner Realised
Investment
Income
9 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Strategic Guidance
and Expertise
Petershill Partners is operated by Goldman
Sachs Asset Management (the “Operator”).
The Petershill business within the Operator
was founded in 2007, giving them one of
the longest General Partner (“GP”) investing
track records in private markets and a team
that is tenured and experienced across
multiple market cycles.
The Role of the Operator
10 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Identifying Investment Opportunities
Petershill Partners targets well-established, multi-billion
dollar alternative asset managers, with a track record of strong
performance and meaningful cash flow generation, who are well
positioned to develop their platform across future fund and
product offerings. Target firms typically range between $2 billion
and $15 billion of AuM, have been operating for more than 10
years, have more than $50 million of run-rate management fee
income, and attractive fee margins.
Our strategy focuses on empowering partnerships to succeed over
the long term, and the Company’s target profile for Partner-firms
is consistent and precise.
Rigorous Underwriting and Thorough Due
Diligence
The Operator carries out rigorous underwriting and thorough due
diligence prior to investing. The experience and expertise of the
Operator team gives greater insight into the specialist segments that
are likely to succeed, as well as access to the top investment managers
within those segments. We invest only in sectors that we believe will
outperform and contribute to a diverse business mix, and only in firms
that we consider capable of outperforming within those sectors.
Over the past 17 years, the Operator has made 48 investments
across the private funds it manages, having undertaken detailed
due diligence on more than 380 investment opportunities and
deployed over $7 billion of capital.
Partnering on Beneficial Terms
The Operator’s investment approach is to take a non-controlling stake
in each Partner-firm, which aligns the interests of the firms’ principals
with ours. These investments then lock in positive cash flows for many
years, with all partners equally incentivised to maximise performance.
Once firms have become Partner-firms, the Operator collaborates with
them to help them scale and institutionalise their businesses. They
provide balance-sheet capital and offer them a wide range of guidance
and value-added services from the Petershill GP Services team to
improve their infrastructure, performance and earnings profile.
The economic and geopolitical headwinds impacting markets
during the year have made the value of our support even greater.
We carried out over 450 GP service engagements during the year,
illustrating the value that Partner-firms place on our strategic
partnership.
Aligning with Partner-firms and Investors
The Operator fee structure aligns its long-term interests with those
of the Company and its Shareholders, so that all parties are similarly
incentivised for success. See page 65 in the Corporate Governance
Report for additional information on the Operator's fee structure
and alignment.
The Operator team is aligned to the Company’s share price through
direct and indirect share ownership, and their carried interest
participation in Petershill II and III. Together these funds own 77% of
the shares in Petershill Partners plc and therefore their performance
and carry realisation is driven predominantly by the Petershill Partners
plc share price.
Low-cost Capital Provides a Significant
Advantage
Through the Operator, the Company has access to the extensive
network and track record of Goldman Sachs, which assisted us in
raising $500 million of debt in 2022. Our notes are rated A, with
a weighted average fixed funding cost of 5.65% and an effective
interest rate of 6.2%. In an environment of rising interest rates,
this fixed low-cost and long duration capital provides a significant
advantage for the Company.
We believe the expertise in fundraising and sector understanding
the Operator is able to offer has given our Partner-firms a significant
advantage, allowing them to raise a significantly higher share of new
funds relative to market size.
Our Values
The Directors are committed to providing the highest standards of
diligence in governance and reporting, and to maintaining a
constructive and collaborative relationship with the Operator while
ensuring that the Operator manages conflicts of interest
appropriately.
The Company has no employees and has instead delegated its
operating and investment responsibilities to the Operator. The
Directors are both reassured by and supportive of the values of the
Operator and its parent company, The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.,
which are set out below and published in detail at:
www.goldmansachs.com/about-us/purpose-and-values/
• Client Services • Integrity
• Excellence • Partnership
11 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Co-Heads Letter
A Letter From the Co-Heads of Petershill
Dear Shareholders
The macroeconomic backdrop remained challenging in 2023, with
the largest increase in interest rates in decades, continued
geopolitical unrest, concerns around energy security and a regional
banking crisis in the US, to name a few. The S&P500 index delivered
robust growth in 2023 but virtually all the stock market’s gains were
attributable to the performance of a small number of technology
stocks, with the rest of the US stock market showing broadly flat
performance to the UK stock market.
Against this backdrop, distributable earnings were lower in the year
predominately reflecting lower transaction activity, and the slower
realisation environment impacting Partner-firm Realised
Performance Revenues. FRE were also down 5% compared to 2022
but we remain confident on the medium-term outlook for FRE
growth, supported by attractive organic fee-paying AuM growth and
the potential for future M&A.
Globally, asset raising across private markets was down around 18%
in 2023 year-on-year, with asset raising in North America down 13%
year-on-year, which is where most of our Partner-firms operate. All
asset classes experienced lower asset raising in 2023, with the
largest decline year-on-year in Infrastructure down 48%, followed
by declines in Real Estate of 25%, Private Equity of 10% and Private
Credit of 10%.
Our Partner-firms are focused on the middle-market with the AUM
managed across four asset classes and more than 75 different
investment strategies, providing a diversified set of attractive
opportunities across different economic cycles. During 2023, on a
fund-count basis the middle-market accounted for around 38% of
all PE funds closed, well above the 28% in 2022 and the 10-year
average of around 37%, a supportive trend for our Partner-firms,
which are focused on mid-market private equity.
We were pleased our Partner-firms raised organic fee-eligible assets
of $23bn during 2023, in line with our guidance of US$20-25bn. It
was encouraging to see our Partner-firms raise target assets on time
for a third year in a row - we believe that this contrasts with the wider
industry experience where firms have had to extend the duration of
fundraising to achieve their targets. Aggregate Fee-paying
Partner-firm AUM ended the year at $221bn, an increase of 14%
year-on-year, demonstrating the quality of our Partner-firms.
2023 was a challenging period for M&A. Market conditions
negatively impacted the pace of investments, down around 35%
year-on-year, and realisations down around 10% year-on-year,
across the industry. Petershill Partners was not immune to these
conditions with the lower pace of investment activity delaying the
activation of management fees on successor funds and lower levels
of transaction activity impacting transaction fees and PRE.
Notwithstanding these headwinds, management fees across our
Private Markets Partner-firms still increased by around 5% whilst
Absolute Return Strategies experienced management fees declining
by around 6%, resulting in total management fees up approximately
2%. Fee Related Earnings (FRE), the largest contributor of earnings
was $203m, in line with our revised guidance of $190-210m for 2023.
Unsurprisingly given the slower realisation environment across the
industry, Partner-firm Performance Related Revenues declined by
around 58% year-on-year to $54.7m representing around 13% of
revenues. The decline year-on-year was also impacted by the strong
end to 2022 from the Absolute Return Strategies, which can be more
volatile and was not repeated in 2023. Looking forward, the
significant level of accrued performance revenues at year-end of
$615m supports the potential for future PRE.
Petershill Partners remains a high margin business, with Adjusted EBIT
margins in 2023 of 89% on an APM basis, within our range of 85-90%.
Cash conversion remains strong at 99% on an APM basis, which
provides the business with financial flexibility to take advantage of
attractive growth opportunities and provide strong capital return for all
our Shareholders.
Our portfolio remains robust, with the fair value of the investments
increasing by 6% during 2023. The increase in the net asset value
reflects the strong underlying cash flows anchored by the strength
in fundraising, a modest reduction in the cost of capital reflecting
the forward expectations for declining interest rates and a recovery
in the market multiples for the comparative companies.
We continue to play an active role in supporting the growth of our
Partner-firms. As an active provider of our value-creation focused GP
Services, we support our Partner-firms through advice on their
infrastructure, capital formation and operations. Our strategic
partnership, including the support of our GP Services, have been
warmly received, and can be most impactful during challenging
market environments. In 2023 we had an active year, with over 450
GP Services engagements, approximately 50% higher compared
to2022.
Business Model Resilience
Our business model with over 20 firms across strategies, asset
classes and funds, represents multiple engines of growth which we
believe helps to withstand the fluctuations caused by market
volatility, as demonstrated by asset raising in-line with our
expectations and double-digit percentage growth in Fee-paying
AuM. The depth of our group of Partner-firms was on display in 2023
with 18 of our Partner-firms raising capital in 2023.
Partner FRE declined modestly by 5% to $203m. The decline
year-on-year was attributable to delays in deployment resulting in
delayed fund activations and lower transaction fees. This impacted
both management fees and higher Partner Fee Related Expenses, as
higher inflation and team build outs ahead of fund activations
impacted team costs. We expect the new AuM raised in 2023 to be
activated in 2024, bringing new FRE online. FRE remains a core
element of overall earnings and is based on the stream of income
arising from managing long-term, closed-end funds, with an average
duration of over nine years.
Our geographical exposure puts us in a relatively strong position. We
benefit from having 92% of assets by AuM in North America, where
inflation is falling faster than in the UK and Europe and where
growth is expected to be stronger. Given their focus markets, and
USD revenue cost bases, our Partner-firms are also relatively
insulated from the direct impact of geopolitical shocks.
Underlying all of this has been our highly selective approach to
adding high-quality, differentiated Partner-firms. We are disciplined
in our approach to investing and building our portfolio of GPs,
diligently selecting firms which we identify as strongly performing
sector specialists with their best days ahead of them. These firms are
not necessarily the largest vs. the sector leader but we see a strong
runway for future growth which underpins our philosophy of
creating Shareholder value. This year, this meant that we were very
measured in deploying capital to new firm relationships as we had a
high bar to new investments and sought to avoid taking on
uncertainty around fundraising and realisation.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202312
Robert Hamilton Kelly
Managing Director Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Petershill Group
Capital Efficiency
We take a disciplined approach to deploying capital, with prudence at
the front of mind. We continue to set a high bar for new acquisitions,
resulting in no additional acquisitions completed in 2023. We have
demonstrated our commitment to Shareholder returns with around
$463m or 20% of our current market capitalisation returned to
Shareholders through a combination of paid and proposed dividends
and share buybacks since IPO. The total dividend per share in 2023
was15.0 cents, up 3.4% vs. 2022, in-line with our progressive
dividendpolicy.
Not only do we have good flexibility over capital return, but the business
also generates substantial cash flow, creating further flexibility when it
comes to financing. We have a strong, well-capitalised balance sheet,
enabling us to weather economic uncertainty. And our strong cash
position will enable us to take advantage of market opportunities
when they arise going forward.
Ali Raissi-Dehkordy
Partner Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Petershill Group
"Our business model with over
20 firms across strategies, asset
classes and funds, represents
multiple engines of growth."
Ali Raissi-Dehkordy,
Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Petershill Group
"Continued success in fundraising
provides a runway for growth
which underpins our philosophy
of creating Shareholder value."
Robert Hamilton Kelly,
Co-Head of Goldman Sachs Petershill Group
Outlook
We see reasons for optimism about the prospects for 2024, as macro
headwinds experienced in 2023 are starting to abate. Central banks
rate rising appears to have peaked and expectations are for rate cuts as
we progress through the year, dependent on the pace of moderation in
inflation. Any improvement in macro certainty should drive a recovery
in asset raising, investments and realisations, supportive for the broader
private markets industry and our Partner-firms.
There has been a revival in industry consolidation, with most target
businesses focused on the middle-market, as acquirers seek to scale
their own businesses or add specific strategies. We believe Petershill
Partners may benefit from future consolidation as many of our Partner-
firms operate in the attractive specialist middle-market segment.
We remain constructive on the medium-term prospects of the Company,
due to the attractive positioning of our Partner-firms in the middle-
market space, attractive investment performance, robust asset raising,
strong market share gains and strong margins. We expect gross
fee-eligible asset raising in 2024 of $20-25 billion and realisation of
$5-10 billion. The strong 2023 growth in Fee-paying AuM combined
with further Fee-paying AuM growth in 2024, should provide a return to
FRE growth in 2024 and onwards. Whilst PRE will be more dependent on
the economic and market environment, the higher accrued PRE does
bode well for the medium-term outlook. Overall, we believe our business
is well positioned with strong cash flow generation providing flexibility
for growth and capital return.
13 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Aligning
with Success
At Petershill, our advantage is in our
ability to identify leading sector specialists
and help them scale and institutionalise
their business. We offer a wide range of
guidance and value-added services to
improve our Partner-firms’ infrastructure,
performance and earning profile.
The Role of the Operator
14 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Our GP Services Team
We believe the strategic capabilities of the Petershill Platform
make us the partner of choice for many leading private markets
firms. By partnering with us, firms can leverage the global resources
of Goldman Sachs, providing them with the expertise of a $2tn asset
manager with unparalleled experience in the alternatives industry,
enabling them to deepen relationships, strengthen and grow
diverse businesses.
A key element of our partnership is our ability to provide the global
reach and expertise of Goldman Sachs through the Petershill GP
Services team. The GP Services team includes experienced, dedicated
resources focused on accelerating value creation within our
Partner-firms.
Our GP Services team is sourced from across the global Goldman
Sachs network, with representatives who lead day-to-day roles
for the firm in areas critical to our Partner-firms’ growth and
development: institutional sales and client strategy; high net worth
distribution; human capital and talent development; operational
consulting; environmental, social and governance; procurement
and business development. We believe our ability to leverage the
insights of these highly experienced practitioners, together with
the breadth of Goldman Sachs’ broader platform resourcing and
global distribution network, represents a differentiated value
proposition for our Partner-firms.
We have a customised partnership approach for each of our
Partner-firms in order to drive progress towards strategic
objectives, partnership through our insights and practical
consultation on a comprehensive set of initiatives
The GP Services platform and our value creation plans are
organised around three core Centres of Excellence: Through these
Centres of Excellence we offer practical insights and consultation
on a variety of topics.
Capital Formation and Product Development
We provide guidance to managers across all aspects of bringing a
new product to market, with the objective of reducing the time and
friction involved in planning and structuring a new strategy launch.
Market insights provided by the Goldman Sachs network assist our
Partner-firms with optimising their fundraising strategy, preparing
for a successful fundraise, identifying target investors and
presenting for formal institutional fundraising engagements.
300+ LP introductions made across the platform
Busines and Organisational Strategy
We guide our Partner-firms in creating a blueprint for their
business operations, for internal efficiency and to satisfy the
rigorous diligence of investors and compliance with regulators.
Through revenue generating and cost-saving initiatives, including
procurement and business development, we drive our firms to
maximise value creation at the portfolio company level and
throughout their business.
We also share best practices related to LP engagement, reporting,
portfolio monitoring and risk analytics, and corporate
communications.
Our Monitoring, Reporting & Communication Resources provide
examples of best practices in an increasingly demanding reporting
environment, as well as diagnosing technology needs for portfolio
analytics, leveraging insights and experience from across the GS
platform of over 1,000 alternatives funds.
We deliver proprietary data and unique insights synthesiSed
from our 16+ year history and 1,000+ GP relationships
Fund and Portfolio Strategy
We provide our GPs with access to diligence support on potential
new investments activity within their funds.
These engagements leverage sector research teams from our
Global Investment Research division, industry coverage groups
within the Investment Banking Division, or functional engineering
teams who have deep experience diligencing various software
platforms for the firm’s use.
Other value-add services we offer to our Partner-firms include:
• Capital formation and go-to-market strategy
• New product development
• People strategy and culture
• Profitability and expense management
• Operational consulting
• Investment diligence support
• Procurement and business development
Looking Forward
We believe our Partner-firms represent the best in their field and
are well positioned to benefit from the structural growth expected
in the private markets industry. With the additional support and
experience of the Goldman Sachs network, their businesses are
well positioned to maximise future growth and capital return.
15 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
*Inclusive of all Partner-firms across the Petershill platform.
March 2023 saw the third-largest bank failure in US history,
as well as contagion risk to other US regional banks, which
meaningfully impacted the alternatives industry, particularly
private markets firms’ lending and depository relationships
for both their funds and portfolio companies.
As the fast-moving events unfolded, we leveraged experts
from across Goldman Sachs to proactively engage with our
Partner-firms. Our introductions provided access to financing
and treasury management services at a time of significant
imbalance in supply and demand, as GPs hurried to establish
new banking relationships.
$2bn
Financing lines and treasury accounts extended
to our Partner-firms through introductions lead
by the Petershill team*
GP Services Case Study
Navigating Periods of
Industry Disruption
16 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Economic Growth
The economic outlook for 2023 was challenging as we started the
year with concerns around rising inflation, interest rates and a
subdued environment for GDP growth globally. According to
Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research, World Real GDP
growth in 2023 is estimated to be around 2.7%, down from the
3.0% Real GDP growth in 2022, with larger declines in the Euro
Area from 3.4% in 2022 to an estimated 0.5% and in the UK a drop
from 4.3% in 2022 to 0.1% in 2023. In contrast Real GDP growth in
the US is estimated at 2.5% in 2023, up from 1.9% in 2022. Real
GDP growth in the US in 2024 is projected to be around 2.8%,
which is considerably higher than the projected Real GDP growth in
the Euro Area of 0.7% and 0.4% in the UK.
Implications for Petershill Partners
Our diversified exposure across a range of investment
strategies and asset classes positions the Company well to
navigate economic cycles. As part of our due diligence and
underwriting process when making investments, we assess how
Partner-firms are likely to perform during a range of scenarios
including a downturn. Consequently, a reduction in global
growth is factored into our underwriting for new deals. Most of
our Partner-firms are exposed to North America, with the
region representing over 90% of our Partner-firm AuM, with the
stronger Real GDP growth potentially supporting growth across
our Partner-firms.
Market Trends and
Our Positioning
Macro uncertainty has led to headwinds in the near term for industry asset
raising, deployment and realisations. Despite these near-term challenges,
the long-term growth for the alternative investments industry remains
underpinned by a number of secular trends that we expect will continue
to benefit the Company. We believe the Company’s diversification, and the
long-duration capital of our Partner-firms, positions the Company to deliver
on long-term value creation.
Our Markets
US
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
92%
Europe
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
8%
PHLL Portfolio AuM Exposure
by Region
US
2022 2023E 2024E 2025E
Euro Area UK
0
5
0%
2%
1%
5%
4%
3%
4.3%
3.4%
1.9%
0.1%
0.5%
2.5%
0.4%
0.7%
2.8%
1.4%
1.4%
2.1%
Real GDP
Source: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research, Company Data.
17 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Interest Rates
Interest rates across many developed markets continued to trend
up during 2023, increasing the cost of leverage for new deals and
servicing existing variable debt. In addition, the higher risk-free
rates resulted in an increase in the benchmarks for risk-adjusted
returns, although certain asset classes such as real assets and
private credit are positively correlated with higher rates.
During the latter part of 2023, we started to see a stabilisation in
rates in both the US and across Europe which may potentially start
to reduce the uncertainty across markets and lead to a recovery in
asset raising, deployment and realisation activity. According to
Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research, US policy rates are
expected to start declining during 2024.
Implications for Petershill Partners
Despite the increase in interest rates during 2023, our
Partner-firms’ capital raising has met our expectations for
2023, and the firms owned by the funds they manage have
remained largely stable. Our revenues are predominately
derived from management fees on committed long duration
capital, which is not directly impacted by movement in interest
rates. Higher rates may affect the level of realisations which can
have an impact on the timing rather than absolute level of
performance-related fees over time. The Company’s long-term
debt is fixed rate and consequently not impacted by higher
interest rates. The expectation is for rates to stabilise and to
decline as we move into the second half of 2024, which could
prove to be a positive catalyst for asset raising, deployments
and realisations for our Partner-firms.
Source: Goldman Sachs Global Investment Research, Company Data.
US
2023E2022 2024E 2025E
Euro Area UK
0
10
0%
4%
2%
6%
8%
10%
9.1%
8.4%
5.4%
7.3%
2.6%
5.4%
2.1%2.1%
2.2%
1.7%
2.0%2.1%
Inflation
Our Markets continued
Inflation
In the US the rate of inflation started to subside during 2023, with
the headline rate of inflation estimated at 2.6% in 2023 compared
to 5.4% at the end of 2022. The rate of inflation is also estimated to
be lower in 2023 across the Euro Area at around 5.4% (2022: 8.4%)
and in the UK at around 7.3% (2022: 9.1%). At the end of 2023 the
US headline rate of inflation is estimated to be lower than the Euro
Area and the UK, whilst in 2024 the rate of headline inflation is
projected to be broadly similar across the three regions. Whilst the
rate of inflation is declining, the environment may still pose a
headwind for companies to enhance operating margins and
increase profitability.
Implications for Petershill Partners
Higher inflation can have an impact on the cost growth at our
Partner-firms which can impact the level of Fee-related Earnings
that are generated. In addition, certain strategies including
credit, real assets and absolute return may potentially benefit
from increases in inflation and interest rates, as these asset
classes have historically provided a hedge to rising rates and
inflation. As at 31 December 2023, real asset and absolute
return firms made up 23% of our Aggregate Partner-firm AuM at
$70 billion. Most of our Partner-firms’ activity is based in North
America, where the level of inflation, according to Goldman
Sachs Global Investment Research in 2024 is expected to be in
the region of 2.2%.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202318
Fundraising and Demand for Alternative
Investments
Global alternatives assets under management (AuM) are expected
to reach $24.5tn in 2028, compared with an estimated $16.3tn at
the end of 2023, representing an annualised growth rate of 8%, or
10% excluding hedge funds, according to Preqin. North America
private equity AuM is forecast to reach $5.8tn in 2028, equivalent
to 68% of the global private equity market in 2028, compared to
64% in 2023. Private markets aggregate asset raising in 2023 is
estimated at around $1.2tn, down 18% compared to 2022,
partially reflecting the “denominator effect” from 2022 with a
disproportionate decline in public market securities, resulting in a
technical portfolio-overweighting towards alternatives and the
lower level of distributions to limited partners impacting new
investments. Asset raising during 2023 remained nuanced with
established and strong performing firms having performed well in
terms of asset raising. In the US, on a fund-count basis, the
middle-market accounted for around 39% of all PE funds closed in
the first 9 months of 2023, well above the 29% in 2022 and the
10-year average of around 37%, according to Pitchbook.
US PE share of Global PE market
68%
2028
64%
2023
North America
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023F 2024F 2025F 2026F 2027F 2028F
Europe APAC
Rest of world
Diversified multi-regional
0
25,000
AUM ($bn)
0
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
8.04%
16.83%
10.00%
Private capital assets under management by primary region focus
Implications for Petershill Partners
Our asset raising is diversified across our Partner-firms which
in aggregate manage $304bn in AuM across a wide range
of strategies and sectors. In any given year we have several
Partner-firms that can be raising assets which reduces the
reliance on any single fund or firm, which we view as a strategic
advantage. We believe the strong performance of our Partner-
firms, with around 80% of Partner-firm funds exceeding their
benchmarks, means our Partner-firms are well positioned to
benefit from ongoing investor demand for alternatives. Trends
in the industry for an increase in the share of assets raised by US
mid-market firms and for North America private equity to
account for a larger share of global private equity are both
supportive as the majority of our Partner-firms are US mid-
market firms and private equity is the largest asset
class exposure.
Source: Prequin.
Source: Prequin.
19 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
0.000000
4.666667
9.333333
14.000000
14%
0
8%
6%
4%
2%
10%
12%
Private Markets Outperforming by 300+ bps
Private Equity
S&P 500 Index
Russell 3000 Index
Private Credit
Credit Suisse High
Yield Index
Barclays Aggregate
Bond Index
MSCI World Index
Hedge Funds
Private Real Estate
(Non Core)
REITs
Private Infrastructure
DJ Brookfield
Global Infrastructure
Private Natural Resources
MSCI World Energy
Sector Index
Equity Credit Real Assets
Private Markets Outperforming by 0 - 300 bps
Public Markets Outperforming
15-Year Asset Class Performance
Annualized Time-Weighted Return as of Q2 2023
Attractions of Private Markets Investments
over Public Markets
Private markets investments have a track record of higher absolute
and risk-adjusted returns in comparison to both public equity and
fixed-income markets. In addition to seeking superior risk-adjusted
returns, institutional investors have been increasing their allocations
to private market investments to achieve diversification, macro
hedges, stable income and low volatility relative to “traditional”
public markets investments. Additionally, in times of volatility,
declining valuations may present attractive opportunities for those
investors with capital to invest. The composition of public markets is
fundamentally shifting, as more companies are choosing to stay
privately held for longer or return to being privately held. Between
2000 and 2018, the number of US and European sponsor-backed
companies increased more than fivefold. Over the same period, the
number of US publicly traded firms decreased by 36%, while the
number of publicly traded firms in Europe and Central Asia decreased
by 32%, according to the World Bank.
Implications for Petershill Partners
Our Partner-firms AuM is skewed towards private markets,
representing around 90% of Aggregate Partner-firm AuM. Our
Partner-firms offer a diversified exposure to private markets
across all asset classes, including private equity, private credit
and real assets. Our balance sheet and strong cash flow
generation provides opportunities to undertake acquisitions to
add to our current group of Partner-firms to accelerate growth
and further diversify the business.
Attractions of Middle-Market
Middle-market fundraising during 2023 was 2% higher relative to
2022 according to Pitchbook, which is a good outcome given the
challenging broader asset raising environment in private markets
where asset raising in 2023 is around 18% lower year-on-year. GPs in
the middle-market have been successful in increasing the size of
their funds. In 2023, around 91% of middle-market funds closed at
greater sizes, a record level, for a median step-up of around 61%
relative to their predecessor funds. On a fund-count basis the middle-
market accounted for 38% of all PE funds closed in 2023, this is well
above the 28% in 2022 and the 10-year average of 37%. Middle-
market buyout activity has been more resilient with the PE middle-
market buyout value as a share of all PE buyout value increasing to
57% as of 2023 vs. 51% in 2022, according to Pitchbook. We continue
to believe the middle-market benefits from more compelling deal
valuations, greater availability of debt, offers investors differentiated
return strategies and has multiple exit avenues.
Implications for Petershill Partners
Our Partner-firms are well positioned in the attractive
mid-market as the majority of our Partner-firms are specialist
mid-market firms, with target Partner-firms managing in the
region of $2-15bn in AuM. Our Partner-firms have continued to
demonstrate robust asset raising, with $23bn of fee-eligible
AuM raised in 2023, and importantly raising the assets on time,
whilst many industry participants have extended the duration
for asset raising. We believe our Partner-firms are well
positioned for the increasing demand for mid-market specialist
firms as the industry consolidates.
Our Markets continued
Source: Hamilton Lane Data via Cobalt, Bloomberg.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202320
100+
LP introductions provided to Partner-firms in 2023*
18 of our Partner-firms were in market with fund raises
during 2023, which proved to be a nuanced capital-raising
environment as investors shifted portfolio allocations amid
higher interest rates. Recognising the potential headwinds
facing our GPs coming to market with new raises, we
tactically engaged with a small number of our GPs on
fundraising strategy ahead of their fund launches.
Our engagements focused on:
• Refining strategy messaging and marketing materials;
• Competitor market mapping and performance
benchmarking; and
• Investor targeting and identifying specific, high-quality
LP introductions.
We believe our proactive engagement on a variety of
capital-raising initiatives and ability to provide
differentiated access to capital contributed to the resilient
fundraising performance for our Partner-firms during 2023.
Go-to-Market Strategy
in a Competitive
Environment
GP Services Case Study
*Inclusive of all Partner-firms across the Petershill platform.
21 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
A Diversified Business
Diversity is at the centre of our business model, enabling us to deliver across
market cycles and to seize opportunities when they arise. We achieve this in
several ways.
Partner-firms
A wide range of Partner-firms
We make non-controlling investments across a wide range of
Partner-firms. Each of these represents an individual engine of
growth; each is financially independent; and each has its own
investment team. The combination of these individual Partner-
firms inherently reduces overall volatility.
Asset Classes
Four asset classes
Our Partner-firms are grouped into four main classes according to
the principal assets they manage:
• Private equity
Private equity asset managers typically acquire either
controlling, co-controlling or influential minority stakes in
developing or developed unlisted companies.
• Private credit
Private credit asset managers typically invest in unlisted credit
assets with strategies addressing different parts of the credit
spectrum, ranging from less risky senior debt to opportunistic
distressed investments.
• Private real assets
Private real assets include private real estate, private
infrastructure and private natural resources. Real estate assets
include residential or commercial developments with varying
risk profiles. Infrastructure includes assets such as power plants,
roads or airports and companies which own and operate
A Diversified Business
AuM by Fund
Largest Partner-firm fund of
$15bn represents less than 5% of
total Partner-firm AuM
Aggregate
Partner-firm AuM
$304bn
infrastructure, such as utility or fibre companies. Natural
resources include energy (production, storage, distribution and/
or retail), agriculture, metals and mining, timberland and water
related assets.
• Absolute return
Absolute return asset managers typically invest in liquid
securities, such as debt and equity, in addition to derivative
instruments such as futures, options, short selling, arbitrage,
leverage and other unconventional assets aimed at achieving
positive returns in both rising and falling market conditions.
This spread seeks to mitigate factors that may negatively affect
any individual asset class and we benefit from being able to take
advantage of positive developments wherever they may occur
across the whole unquoted sector.
Multiple Strategies and Sectors
Across asset classes, fund managers have a wide range of
investment strategies to choose from. These include: buyout;
long or short equity; real estate; energy; infrastructure; and credit.
We diversify further by spreading our investments across multiple
strategies – 106 at the end of 2023. These strategies are
themselves diversified across funds.
Our representation across a broad spread of sectors leads to a low
correlation of outcomes and a reduced “netting” risk across firms.
Multiple Funds
Each of our Partner-firms has multiple funds, giving us access to
the returns from a large selection of the top performing funds
across the alternatives industry.
Multiple Vintages
Partner-firms typically raise funds every three-to-four years and the
year in which the fund closes is known as its vintage. Each vintage
will be subject to different economic conditions during the lifetime
of the fund, so a mix of vintages creates additional diversification.
As the Operator has been active in the minority investing
businessin alternative asset management for 17 years, we have
investments in Partner-firms spanning many vintages, enabling
us to better withstand some of the pressures faced by those
with a shorter track record.
Geography
Our portfolio is consciously concentrated in the US as this is the
largest market for alternative investments, with the greatest depth
and number of investment opportunities. We regard the US as a
more robust economy with a robust currency, protecting our
investments to some extent from global geopolitical forces.
However, whilst our Partner-firms themselves may be
headquartered in the US, the larger firms are diversifying
internationally and we will continue to evaluate investments in the
rest of the world where appropriate.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202322
1. Weighted average duration of Aggregate Partner-firm total AuM.
2. OtherincludesSystematic,Directlending,Secondaries,Distressed/SpecialSituations,FixedIncome,Equitylong/shortandMezzanine.
–––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––
–––––
–––––––––
–––––––––
–––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––
Global macro 4%
Venture capital 5%
CLO 5%
Infrastructure 3%
Multi-strategy 4%
Buyout 51%
Other 10%
Real estate 7%
Growth 7%
Energy 4%
Permanent
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
5%
8+ years
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
76%
3 – 8 years
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
9%
0 – 3 years
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
10%
Energy 4%
Infrastructure 3%
Healthcare 3%
Other2 5%
Technology 41%
Diversified 26%
Real estate 9%
Credit 9%
–––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––
–––––––––
–––––––––––––––––––––––––
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Private equity
64%
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Private real assets
14%
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Absolute return
9%
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Private credit
13%
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Private markets AuM
91%
Private equity
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
47%
Private real assets
–––––––––––––––———–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
26%
Absolute return
––––––––––––––––––—–––––––––––
14%
$37.3bn
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Private credit
13%
2021
2022
2023
Private equity
139
175
Private credit
20
20
Private real assets
87
80
Absolute return
61
2020
84
16
72
54
75
162
20
78
82
342
350
307
226
AuM by Duration
1
AuM Asset Class Exposure Ownership-weighted AuM
by Asset Class ($bn)
Partner Net Management and
Advisory Fees by Asset Class
($m)
AuM by SectorAuM by Strategy
The Company completed its initial acquisition of the
portfolio of Partner-firms on 28 September 2021. This
chart provides full-year financial information for our
interests in the Partner-firms in aggregate, which are
pro forma for the period prior to the initial acquisition
and listing date.
23 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
*Inclusive of all Partner-firms across the Petershill platform.
Enhancing FP&A
and Profitability
In 2023, one of our Partner-firms onboarded a new Chief
Financial Officer. As part of the onboarding process, we
worked with both senior management and the incoming
CFO to make a number of enhancements to the financial
planning and analysis function, and importantly, long-term
profitability management.
Our focus on institutionalising the finance function and
company management accounting included engagements
across two dimensions:
• People strategy: designing and building the firm’s
operating model based on team and resource needs, and
• Managed services and technology: assessing current and
future operating needs and the prioritisation of certain
technology solutions to drive efficiency from both a
resource and cost perspective.
We also worked collaboratively on managing other operating
company-related expense items, such as travel, market data,
technology and insurance, making introductions to vendors
with cost-saving potential through group purchasing
contracts and technology solutions to improve accounting
and drive soft dollar savings.
GP Services Case Study
56
Infrastructure and operational engagements
carried out in 2023*
24 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Strategy and Investment Objectives
Strategy and Investment Objectives
Sourcing New Partner-Firms
Petershill Partners targets well-established, multi-billion dollar
alternative asset managers, with a track record of strong
performance and meaningful cash flow generation, who are well
positioned to develop their platform across future fund and
product offerings. Target firms typically range between $2 billion
and $15 billion of AuM, have been operating for more than 10
years, have more than $50 million of run-rate management fee
income, and attractive fee margins. Among the favourable
dynamics that the Company and Operator seek are:
• Performance – category leaders with proven track records of
generating attractive risk-adjusted returns for clients that have
performed in the top or second quartile across multiple vintages
• Sector – firms operating in sectors benefiting from positive
sustainable tailwinds with capacity to develop over time
• Opportunity – firms with potential, an opportunity set and the
ability to develop in a sustainable way with attractive prospects
• Culture – strong culture and cohesiveness of team and
partnership, often with a focus on generational development
and an apprenticeship culture
• Alignment – firms defined by their entrepreneurial spirit and
majority-employee ownership, and with a high degree of
alignment with LPs and other stakeholders
• Stability – high-quality, stable and diversified capital bases with
an emphasis on building enduring client relationships across the
platform
• Financials – attractive recurring earnings-based businesses with
strong profitability and cash conversion
• Goals and responsibilities – firms with a focus on building an
enduring, diverse platform and instilling best practices of
corporate responsibility, ethics and transparency throughout
their portfolio companies
• ESG engagement – firms who are committed to socially
responsible investing and actively work to elevate ESG issues as
focal points
• Leadership – highly capable management teams with a proven
ability to manage and develop their platforms
Whilst our asset base is diversified across many different
investment strategies, increasingly the Company’s focus is on real
assets, private credit and private equity firms in specific sectors
such as healthcare, which we feel demonstrate potential for
accelerated growth.
Healthy Acquisition Pipeline
The total addressable market for private alternative asset
management firms is significant and growing. Within this market,
Petershill Partners has already identified significant opportunity
to add new Partner-firms.
Private markets expansion creates organic growth and M&A
opportunity. The alternatives industry is forecast to continue to
expand, with alternative asset managers expected to manage over
$24.5 trillion of aggregate AuM by 2028, representing 8.4% CAGR
between 2022 and 2028*. Our Operator has a robust, repeatable
evaluation process that leverages significant proprietary data and
processes – and benefits from the depth and rigour available in a
private diligence process.
Highly Experienced Operator Team
Ali Raissi-Dehkordy
Partner Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Co-head of Goldman Sachs Petershill Group
Ali is Global Co-Head of the Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Petershill Group, leading initiatives for Petershill Partners as well
as the Petershill private funds. He is chair of the Goldman Sachs
Asset Management Petershill Investment Committee, directing
investing in leading established private-market and public-market
alternative asset management companies and in newly established
private-market managers. Ali first joined Goldman Sachs in 1999 in
the Financial Institutions Group in the Investment Banking Division
and rejoined the firm in Goldman Sachs Asset Management,
helping found the Existing Petershill Group in 2007 as a portfolio
manager for the first Petershill Fund. He earned a BA in Economics
and a general honours degree from the University of Pennsylvania,
where he was a Benjamin Franklin Scholar.
Robert Hamilton Kelly
Managing Director Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Co-head of Goldman Sachs Petershill Group
Robert is Global Co-Head of the Goldman Sachs Asset Management
Petershill Group, leading initiatives for Petershill Partners as well
as the Petershill private funds. He is a member of the Goldman
Sachs Asset Management Petershill Investment Committee,
directing investing in leading established private-market and
public-market alternative asset management companies and in
newly established private-market managers. Prior to joining
Goldman Sachs, Robert worked at Gleacher & Co./Gleacher
Shacklock in investment banking and in special situations. Robert
earned a BA (Hons) and an MA from the University of Oxford.
The highest-quality alternative asset managers typically seek partnership
and continuity in the ownership of their business. Our strategy focuses on
empowering partnerships over the long term, and the Company’s target
profile for Partner-firms is consistent and precise.
* Prequin Special Report: Future of Alternatives in 2028.
25 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Strategy and Investment Objectives continued
Our Acquisition Strategy and Investment
Policy
The Company seeks to make growth capital investments in the
general partnerships of alternative asset management businesses
(“Partner-firms”, with such stakes in Partner-firms being referred
to as “Alternative Asset Manager Stakes”). The Company’s
structured investments represent non-controlling ownership
positions in such Partner-firms in which the Company has an
Alternative Asset Manager Stake.
The Company seeks to invest in Alternative Asset Manager Stakes
primarily across the following four asset classes: private equity,
private real assets (including real estate, infrastructure and
natural resources), absolute return strategies invested principally
in publicly-traded securities, and private credit (the “Segments”).
The Company may also invest in adjacent businesses that involve
investment management, including traditional asset management
firms, wealth managers and insurance businesses. As part of
partnering with the Partner-firms, the Company may be required,
or choose, to invest in funds and products that are managed by
Partner-firms in which it holds an Alternative Asset Manager Stake.
The amount the Company invests in the Partner-firms’ funds and
products will typically be significantly less than the amounts the
Company invests in Alternative Asset Manager Stakes. The
investment restrictions set out in this policy support the
Company’s objective of spreading investment risk by limiting the
Company’s ability to invest in individual Partner-firms and in the
funds and products that are managed by those Partner-firms in
which the Company has an Alternative Asset Manager Stake.
The Company targets well-established alternative asset managers
with a track record of strong performance and meaningful cash
flow generation which are well-positioned to develop their
business across future fund and product offerings. The Company’s
portfolio will comprise investments in Partner-firms globally, with
a primary focus on North America and Europe, and a lesser focus
on Asia. The geographic scope and asset class focus will evolve
according to the investment opportunities identified. The Company
expects to ensure that at least 30% of annual Partner FRE is
derived from investments in Partner-firms which primarily manage
or advise on investments in assets in North America. The
Company’s initial investment into any one Partner-firm will
typically range from $10 million to $400 million, although
secondary transactions involving a portfolio or number of different
stakes may cause the resulting aggregate investment to be larger
than this.
The Company will seek to spread Alternative Asset Manager Stake
investments by segment in order to ensure it has a diverse
portfolio.
The Company’s investments in Partner-firms will typically take the
form of unlisted ordinary equity and partnership interests (but
may also take other forms, including unlisted preferred equity and
unlisted debt investments). What form an investment takes will be
determined by the Operator and will be the form that, in its
reasonable opinion, is the most appropriate for the investment in
question. As a result of realisations from the funds managed by
Partner-firms, as well as the Partner-firms themselves, the
Company may hold shares in listed businesses, which would
typically be on a temporary basis.
From time to time a portion of the Company’s assets may be held
in the form of cash. Pending the identification of new investment
opportunities by the Operator, and the application of some or all of
that cash as part of any such investment or for working capital
purposes, it may be invested in cash deposits, cash equivalents or
investments including, but not limited to, gilts, money market
funds, government securities and/or other investment grade
securities. Investment ratings shall be “AA” rated or higher and the
duration of any investment shall not exceed two years at the time
of purchase. There is no limit on the amount of cash that the
Company may, from time to time, hold in cash, cash deposits,
money market funds and/or cash equivalents and investments. No
more than the lesser of $250m or 5% of the Company’s gross
assets will be deposited in any single bank for longer than two
weeks at a time. Excluding US Government investments,
investments in money markets and investments in Partner-firms,
no more than 5% of gross assets will be invested in any single
issuer at the time of purchase. The Company may from time to
time (but shall not be required to) enter into hedging or other
derivative arrangements which are, in the reasonable opinion of
the Operator, considered appropriate for the purposes of efficient
portfolio management (including without limitation for interest
rate hedging purposes) and managing investment exposures.
The Company will not conduct a trading activity which is significant
in the context of the Company and its investments as a whole.
Investment Restrictions
Investments will be selected with a view to diversifying risk. In
addition, the Company will invest and manage its assets in
compliance with the restrictions set out below, also with the object
of spreading investment risk:
• The Company will only make an investment in a Partner-firm if
such Partner-firm will contribute no more than 20% of annual
Partner FRE measured in reference to the 12-month period
ended on the latest practicable date prior to the date of the
investment. Shareholders should note that such Partner FRE
data will be unaudited. For the avoidance of doubt, the limits in
this paragraph exclude any investment in a fund or product that
is managed or advised on by such Partner-firm and any returns
from any such fund or product.
• The Company will only make an additional investment in a
Partner-firm that is already within the Company’s portfolio if
such Partner-firm will contribute no more than 20% of annual
Partner FRE measured in reference to the 12-month period
ended on the latest practicable date prior to the date of the
additional investment. Shareholders should note that such
Partner FRE data will be unaudited. For the avoidance of doubt,
the limits in this paragraph exclude any investment in a fund or
product that is managed or advised on by such Partner-firm and
any returns from any such fund or product.
• The Company will ensure that no investment will be made in a
fund or product managed or advised on by a Partner-firm unless
the aggregate value of all such investments, including the
amount proposed to be invested, is no more than 20% of the
Company’s gross assets, as shown in its most recently published
balance sheet.
• The Company will invest in funds or products only if they are
managed or advised on by a Partner-firm within the Company’s
portfolio.
• For so long as required by the Listing Rules, the Company will at
all times seek to ensure that the Operator invests and manages
its assets in a way which is consistent with the Company’s
objective of spreading risk and in accordance with its Acquisition
Strategy and Investment Policy.
The above investment restrictions are measured at the time at
which the Company makes the relevant investment. There will be
no requirement to sell any investment (in whole or in part) to the
extent subsequent changes to the Company’s gross assets
valuation result in any investment exceeding the limits set by the
above restrictions. Where the Company holds its investments
indirectly, including through one or more holding entities, the
investment restrictions will be applied on a look-through basis.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202326
Unfunded further payment commitments in respect of investments
in Partner-firms or funds or products managed or advised on by a
Partner-firm will be treated as forming part of the original
investment and will not be considered an additional investment in
the relevant Partner-firm or in the relevant funds or products for
the purposes of any of the above investment restrictions.
Co-Investment and Co-Financing
The Company may invest alongside Petershill IV, or other funds
with a substantially similar investment policy which are managed
or advised on by the Operator or any member of the Operator’s
group at the relevant time, but for the avoidance of doubt the
Company will not be limited solely to such investments.
Borrowing Policy and Gearing
The Company may incur indebtedness (less available cash) of up to
a maximum of three times the Company’s Adjusted EBITDA as
published in the Company’s last financial statements, calculated at
the time of drawdown, for the purposes of financing investments,
share buybacks, general working capital purposes or any other
purpose approved by the Board. Adjusted Earnings Before Interest
Tax Depreciation and Amortisation (“EBITDA”) will be defined as
earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation, less
net gain on investment transactions and non-recurring items.
Intra-group indebtedness will not be included for the purposes of
calculating the Company’s indebtedness. Any indebtedness of any
holding entity through which the Company makes investments will
not be included for the purposes of calculating the Company’s
indebtedness for so long as either: (a) the creditor of such
indebtedness only has recourse to the assets of the holding entity
and does not have recourse to the other assets of the Company or
any of the Company’s investments; or (b) that debt is owed to the
Company or its subsidiaries.
The Company may borrow funds for general purposes, including to
make investments, to leverage existing investments and to pay
expenses and other obligations. Any such borrowings may be
secured by the Company’s investments (as described below under
“EU AIFMD Leverage Limit”). The Company may, directly or
indirectly, through wholly or partially owned subsidiaries of the
Company (including an investment vehicle), or otherwise, incur
indebtedness or enter into guarantees, provided that the Company
complies with its Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy.
Credit facilities may be secured by the Company’s assets.
The Company may also, subject to the overall limitations set out in
this Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy, guarantee or
pledge its assets in support of or otherwise provide credit support
(including by giving equity commitments) for the obligations of
Partner-firms in which it is invested, which may be structured as a
guarantee in full or by providing collateral or other credit support
for the full value (and not just a pro rata portion) of the obligations
of a Partner-firm.
EU Alternative Investment Fund Managers
Directive (“AIFMD”) Leverage Limit
In accordance with its risk management function and the
investment objectives of the Company, the Operator has set a
maximum level of leverage which the Operator may employ on
behalf of the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, this maximum
level of leverage only applies at the level of the Company
(including, where applicable, financial or legal structures involving
third parties controlled by the Company and specifically set up to
directly or indirectly increase leverage at the level of the Company).
The methods used for the determination of the maximum level of
leverage of the Company and the circumstances in which
borrowings are treated as leverage for these purposes, are
prescribed under EU AIFMD and are the gross method (as such
term is defined in article 7 of the AIFMD Delegated Regulation)
and the commitment method (as such term is defined in article 8
of the AIFMD Delegated Regulation). The Operator has determined
that leverage, for this purpose and calculated in this manner, will
not exceed 1,500% (expressed as percentage and calculated using
the gross method of calculation) and 1,500% (expressed as
percentage and calculated using the commitment method of
calculation), other than if and to the extent that leverage for these
purposes results from borrowings under revolving credit facilities
on a short-term basis to make investments pending the drawdown
of (and covered by) capital commitments of Shareholders
(“Subscription Facility Borrowings”) which, due to the way in which
such borrowings can impact the calculation of leverage for the
purposes of the EU AIFMD, may be unlimited. Such limits should
not be viewed as indicative of the amount of leverage that will be
employed on behalf of the Company or as a target for the Company,
and it may be that such leverage will be significantly lower in
practice. Shareholders should note that in exceptional
circumstances, the Central Bank of Ireland may impose limits on
the level of leverage (calculated in this manner) that the Operator
is entitled to employ or other restrictions on the management of
the Operator with respect to the Company.
Shareholders should note that the level of leverage as calculated
under the gross method of calculation does not necessarily provide
any reasonable illustration of the overall risk profile of the
Company as financial derivative instruments and borrowing of cash
or securities are used to manage risk as well as to seek return. This
is largely due to the fact that the gross method simply aggregates
the absolute sum of all long and short financial derivative
instrument positions, even if they are for hedging or offsetting
purposes, and further uses just notional values rather than
measures that calculate the overall contributions to risk which will
often explain why the leverage levels under this method appear
high. Shareholders should also note that the incurrence of
Subscription Facility Borrowings can lead to very high reported
leverage levels for the purposes of the EU AIFMD, for reasons
including the inability to include undrawn capital commitments in
determining the net asset value of the Company for these purposes
and the inability to exclude drawdowns under revolving facility
agreements as “temporary” in nature. Further details on the
average leverage level will be disclosed in the Company’s annual
financial statements for the relevant accounting period.
Shareholders should not expect that the Operator can or will lend
money to the Petershill Partners Group for the purposes of paying
interest, financing, transaction and other costs or for any other
purpose.
For the risks related to the Petershill Partners Group’s incurrence
of leverage, please see the risk factor entitled “The Operator may
cause the Petershill Partners Group to incur indebtedness pursuant
to the Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy” in Part 1 (Risk
Factors) of the Prospectus.
Changes to Investment Policy
The Company must at all times comply with its published
investment policy. Whilst the Ordinary Shares are listed on the
premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial
Conduct Authority (the “FCA”), no material change may be made to
the Company’s investment policy other than with the prior
approval of both the Company’s Shareholders and the FCA in
accordance with the Listing Rules.
27 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Operator’s Report
Financial and Operating Review
The Company’s purpose is to give investors the opportunity to
participate in the growth of the alternative asset management
industry. Despite the industry’s reputation for complexity, the
Company’s model is simple. Investors share in the fees generated by
first-class Partner-firms that manage alternative investments
predominantly in private markets and other unquoted assets. In a
higher inflation environment, which tends to lower real returns,
alternative investments can be particularly attractive.
To assist readers, we refer throughout this section to adjusted
measures which the Company considers to be Alternative
Performance Measures or APMs and Operating Metrics. APMs are
non-IFRS measures that analyse our performance, using a variety of
measures that are not specifically defined under IFRS; while
Operating Metrics are non-IFRS measures that are based on the
performance of the Partner-firms which are not related to the
Group’s financial statements.
APMs and Operating Metrics are used by the Directors and the
Operator to analyse the business and financial performance, track the
Company’s progress, and help develop long-term strategic plans and
they also reflect more closely the cash flow of the Company. The
Directors believe that these APMs and Operating Metrics are useful
to investors, analysts and other interested parties as supplemental
measures of performance and liquidity.
Definitions of APMs and Operating Metrics, along with reconciliations
to the relevant IFRS measures for APMs, where appropriate, can be
found in the Glossary of Key Operating Metrics on pages 134 to 135
and Alternative Performance Measures on pages 127 to 133.
A simple business model
Technical Note
As part of the initial acquisition of the portfolio of Partner-firms on
28 September 2021, the Company acquired interests in several
trusts, which previously issued $350 million of long-term debt with
a 5% coupon and a maturity date of 2039. The debt was secured by
the rights to the cash flows of certain Partner-firm interests held
by the Company and other interests held by the Petershill Funds
managed by the Operator. The debt was retired and the interests
owned by the Petershill Funds securing that debt was released
when the Company raised $500 million of new, unsecured
long-term debt. However, under IFRS the Company was required to
consolidate these interests through 19 December 2022. This
consolidation resulted in all of the income, investment gain and
finance costs appearing in the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income. However, Shareholder returns were only
affected by the interests that the Company owned.
Since these interests were de-consolidated at 19 December 2022,
they are not included in the Consolidated Statement of Financial
Position at 31 December 2022 or 31 December 2023. The
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income reflected the
effects of consolidation for the period from 1 January 2022 to
19 December 2022. This did not have an impact on the financial
statements and results for 2023.
The APM basis presents the financial information on a non-IFRS
basis, excluding the impact of the assets, liabilities, income,
investment gain and finance cost which do not affect Shareholder
returns. It can therefore aid Shareholders in assessing their
investment in the Company.
The IFRS and APM basis numbers discussed and presented below
include significant “unrealised” and non-cash items that include
unrealised change in fair value of investments, and it should be
noted that, while permitted, it is not the Company’s core strategy
to exit or realise these investments. Therefore, management
results are also presented, excluding the unrealised change in fair
value of investments at fair value through profit and loss and
related unrealised divestment fee.
Management Results
Year Ended
31 December
2023
$m
Year Ended
31 December
2022
$m
Income
Partner Fee Related Earnings
1
203.0 213.2
Partner Realised Performance Revenues
1
54.7 131.6
Partner Realised Investment Income
1
34.4 25.4
Total Partner Distributable Earnings
1
292.1 370.2
Interest income 27.3 8.6
Total Income
2
319.4 378.8
Operating costs
Board of Directors’ fees and expenses (1.7) (1.5)
Other operating expenses
3
(11.3) (13.2)
Operator charge (21.9) (27.8)
Profit share charge (0.1) –
Total operating costs (35.0) (42.5)
Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and
Tax (EBIT)
2
284.4 336.3
Finance cost
4
(37.1) (28.3)
Adjusted Earnings Before Tax (EBT)
2
247.3 308.0
Tax and tax related expenses
2
(47.7) (35.4)
Adjusted profit after tax
2
199.6 272.6
Reconciliation of Adjusted profit after
tax to IFRS profit / (loss) for the period
after tax
Adjusted profit after tax
2
199.6 272.6
• Movement in financial assets and
liabilities held at fair value
2
220.6 (776.5)
• Unrealised divestment fee (expense)
credit (50.5) 0.9
• Non-recurring expenses
5
1.2 (18.5)
• Change in liability for Tax Receivables
Agreement (21.5) (19.0)
• Adjustment for Tax and tax related
expenses
6
(28.3) 87.6
IFRS profit / (loss) for the period
aftertax 321.1 (452.9)
1. Partner-firm key operating metrics. Refer to the glossary on page 139 for additional
information.
2. Financial measure defined as Alternative Performance Measure, or (“APM”). Further
information on page 127.
3. 2023 amount excludes $1.2m VAT reclaim. 2022 amount excludes $1.2m in connection
with the IPO.
4. 2022 amount excludes non-recurring finance cost of $17.3m related to the retirement
of Notes payable and issuance of Unsecured Notes and the change in liability for the
Tax Receivables Agreement.
5. 2023 amount includes $1.2m VAT reclaim. 2022 amount includes the non-recurring
expense of $1.2m and finance cost of $17.3m noted above.
6. Includes deferred tax (expense) / credit related to movement in financial assets and
liabilities held at fair value.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202328
Company Performance
The Company’s income reduced in 2023 as subdued exits reduced
PRE significantly and increased Partner-firm expenses reduced FRE
margins. FRE decreased 5%, PRE decreased 58% over the prior year
and Partner Realised Investment Income increased 35% in 2023,
resulting in an overall decline in Partner Distributable Earnings of
21% over the prior year. Fund-raising by Partner-firms was robust
despite the challenging environment. The $23 billion fee-eligible
AuM raise in 2023 is attributable to the high quality of our Partner-
firms and the diversification of our portfolio. Aggregate Partner-
firm AuM grew 7% and Aggregate Fee-paying AuM grew 14% for
the year. Ownership weighted AuM increased 3% year-over-year to
$37 billion and Fee-paying ownership-weighted AuM increased 8%
year-over-year to $28 billion.
The Company’s results for 2023 represent the period from
1 January 2023 through 31 December 2023 and are presented
with comparative data for 2022, the Company’s first full year
ofoperations.
Continued growth for AuM, supporting increasing management
fee income
The Company’s revenue model combines three types of income
from Partner-firms: management fee income, performance fee
income and investment income. Of these three, management fee
income in particular provides stable, recurring profits. FRE Margin
fell from 62% to 58%, the management fee income APM basis for
the year was $203 million (2022: $213 million), performance fee
income APM basis $55 million (2022: $132 million), and
investment income APM basis $34 million (2022: $25 million).
The IFRS profit and total comprehensive profit for the period after
tax was $321 million (2022: loss of $453 million) equating to an
Earnings Per Share (EPS) of 28.4 cents (2022: (39.4) cents). This
includes an increase in financial assets and liabilities held at fair
value of $221 million (2022: $777 million decrease APM basis), an
Unrealised Divestment Fee of $51 million (2022: $1 million credit),
non-recurring credit in expenses of $1 million (2022: $19 million
expense), change in liability towards Tax Receivables Agreement of
$22 million (2022: $19 million), an increase in deferred tax of
$53 million (2022: $56 million decrease) and excludes an expected
payment towards the Tax Receivables Agreement of $24 million
(2022: $31 million).
The Company’s Adjusted Profit after tax was $200 million (2022:
$273 million). The Company’s Adjusted EBIT for the year was
$284 million (2022: $336 million), resulting in an Adjusted EBIT
margin of 89% (2022: 89%). This highlights the key characteristics
of Petershill Partners as a business with significant growth of
durable capital, delivering stable and recurring revenues with a
highly efficient Adjusted EBIT margin and significant cash flow.
Dividends
Petershill Partners has set a progressive dividend policy which will
reflect earnings growth over time. The Board reviews the
distributable reserves periodically, including consideration of any
material changes since the most recent audited financial statements,
ahead of proposing any dividend. The interim dividend is set to
one-third of the prior year’s annual dividend amount, and the final
dividend proposed is set to reach the target for the year.
Shareholders will be given the opportunity to approve the final
dividend for the year at the Company’s Annual General Meeting.
Based on the financial results for the year, the Board has proposed a
dividend of 10.1 cents per Ordinary Share to be approved by
Shareholders at the AGM on 23 May 2024. This dividend, when
combined with the interim dividend declared of 4.9 cents per
Ordinary Share, totals 15.0 cents per Ordinary Share for 2023.
Given our financials are primarily driven by USD denominated
economics (management fees and USD denominated funds, and
performance fees and balance sheet income on USD denominated
funds), our dividends are proposed and paid in USD. However,
Shareholders have the option to elect for payment in either GBP
orEUR.
Progressive dividend policy
Investments at Fair Value through Profit or
Loss
2023
$m
2022
$m
At beginning of year 4,959 5,524
Investments (includes new, follow on, and
prior commitments, net of disposals) 69 212
Change in fair value of investments
through profit and loss APM basis 227 (777)
At end of year 5,255 4,959
The fair value of the Company’s investments in Partner-firms at
31 December 2023 was $5,255 million (31 December 2022:
$4,959 million). The fair value of the Company’s investments in
Partner-firms is determined using both earnings multiples and
discounted cash flow techniques, which are common industry
approaches. In valuing the investments, key assumptions include
estimates of future AuM growth, expected management and
performance fee margins, expected current and future underlying
fund returns and timing of realisations. Whilst an exit of an
investment is possible, we do not typically seek to exit an
investment as part of our strategy. The weighted average discount
rate used to value private markets fee related earnings decreased
modestly to 13.0% in 2023 from 13.3% in 2022. The weighted
average discount rate used to value private markets performance
fees related earnings was unchanged year over year at 25.2% for
2023. Refer to footnote 4, Investments at fair value through profit
or loss, beginning on page 97 for additional details.
The increase in the fair value of investments through profit and
loss was $227 million for the year ended 31 December 2023 (2022:
$(777) million decrease APM basis). The increase in fair value was
primarily due to the impact of the increase in valuation multiples
of comparable businesses. See Note 4 in the Notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements on page 97 for additional information.
29 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Operator’s Report continued
Cash and Investments in Money Market Funds
The Company’s balance sheet is strong and well-capitalised with
sufficient cash and money market investments to support its
operational needs. On 14 December 2023, the Company entered into
a fixed term deposit of $150 million, which matures on 15 March
2024. At 31 December 2023 the Company had $243 million in cash
and cash equivalents (2022: $98 million) and $62 million invested in
money market funds (31 December 2022: $483 million) with a AAA
credit rating.
Borrowing
The Company has $500 million of long-term, unsecured debt with an
effective interest rate of 6.2% and a range of maturities between 7
and 20 years. This debt was issued in 2022 and the proceeds were
used to retire $350 million of notes outstanding at the time.
On 6 January 2023 the Company entered into a $100 million
revolving credit facility with a term of three years. The Company is
subject to a fee on the drawn and undrawn amounts. The rate for any
drawn amount is based on reference rate plus a spread. The interest
rate on the revolving credit facility is subject to changes in market
interest rates. In 2023, the Company did not draw down on the
revolving credit facility. Any interest expense incurred is included in
finance cost.
Deferred Payment Obligations
Certain investments in Partner-firms are purchased with deferred
payment terms. These deferred payment obligations represent
amounts payable by the Company at various dates in the future.
When the Company enters into deferred payment obligations, a
portion of the purchase price is recognised as finance cost through
the settlement of the payables under the effective interest method.
The interest rate used is based on the reasonable borrowing rate for
the Company at the time of the transaction. In 2023, $6 million was
included in finance costs (2022: $6 million), which was associated
with deferred payment obligations.
Tax Receivables Agreement
The Company entered into a Tax Receivables Agreement as part of the
Initial Acquisition on 28 September 2021. The agreement provides for
the payment of 75% of cash tax savings, if any, in U.S. federal, state and
local income tax that the Company actually realises. The cash tax
savings are defined as the difference between the taxes actually due,
and the taxes due had there been no step-up in tax basis from the
Initial Acquisition. The Company expects these payments to arise over a
period of 15 years. The value of these estimated payments at
31 December 2023 is $175 million (31 December 2022: $186 million)
assuming an 18% discount rate and using the Company’s most recent
projections relating to the estimated timing of the payments. The
change in liability for the Tax Receivables Agreement related to the
accretion of the discount was $22 million (2022: $19 million). The
expected payment for 2023 related to the Tax Receivables Agreement
is approximately $24 million (2022: $31 million). Refer to Note 3 in the
notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 96 for
additional information.
Operating Expenses
Operating expenses were $84 million (2022: $43 million). Included in
the operating expenses for 2023 was a $51 million expense related
to the fee payable on the divestment of investments. The accrual
iscalculated and charged to the income statement based on the fair
value of the Company’s investment in Partner-firms at the balance
sheet date. Divestment fees only become payable once gains
arerealised.
The Operator is entitled to such divestment fee calculated at 20%
of the realised profit on the exit of an investment. Although the
Company does not intend to exit its investments, an accrual is
reflected representing an amount that would be payable if the
Company were to exit all of its investments. At 31 December 2023,
the fee payable on divestment of investments was $95 million
(31 December 2022: $44 million). No payment was made in 2022
or2023.
The Operator is entitled to a fee (Operator charge) of 7.5% of Income
from investments in Partner-firms APM basis. The Operator charge
for the year was $22 million (2022: $28 million).
The Operator is entitled to a Profit-Sharing Charge on a quarterly
basis. The Profit-Sharing Charge is equal to 20% of total income
from investments in Partner-firms, as defined under IFRS, from
new investments made post admission, in the relevant quarter
and only after a two-year ownership period from the date on which
the investment is closed, and subject to the relevant investment
achieving an investment return of at least 6.0 per cent. The Profit-
Sharing Charge for the year was $0.1 million (2022: $nil).
The Directors’ fees for the year were $1.7 million (2022: $1.5 million).
Fees paid to Directors for the year are unchanged in local currency.
The Adjusted EBIT margin for 2023 was 89% (2022: 89%) reflecting
the relatively low cost to operate the Company.
Finance Cost
The finance cost for the year ended 31 December 2023 was
$37 million (2022: $46 million). Included in the finance cost for
2023 is an amount of $6 million (2022: $6 million) of imputed
interest relating to deferred payment obligations and a fee of
$0.6 million relating to the $100m revolving credit facility (2022:
$nil). Included in the finance cost for 2022 was $17 million in
non-recurring costs resulting from the retirement of $350 million
of debt.
Refer to Note 10 page 105 in the notes to the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
Tax Expense
The Company’s tax charges are comprised primarily of certain taxes
in the United States (where the 2023 federal corporate tax rate
was 21% and state and local taxes may vary) as well as certain
taxes in the United Kingdom (where the 2023 corporate tax rate
was 23.5%). Accordingly, the effective tax rate payable by the
Company may vary from year to year based on the geographic mix
and nature of the income earned by the Company. Notably, a
substantial amount of income derived from Management fee
income will be subject to United States federal corporate tax as
well as applicable state and local taxes. Income derived from
Performance fee income and Investment income may be subject to
taxes in the jurisdiction in which the investment in the Partner-firm
is held, including the United Kingdom.
As a result of the above considerations, as well as the items
discussed above under “Tax Receivables Agreement”, the Company
calculates tax and related expenses and its Adjusted tax and
related expense rate by combining the estimated payment under
the Tax Receivables Agreement and the current tax.
Current tax expenses comprise obligations to tax authorities
related to current period reporting. Deferred tax expenses arise
with respect to temporary differences between carrying amounts
of assets and liabilities and their tax bases.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202330
Analysis of Tax
2023
$m
2022
$m
Analysis of tax on profit
Current tax 23.5 4.2
Deferred taxation 52.5 (56.4)
Tax (credit)/expense 76.0 (52.2)
The tax expense does not include the related expected payments
under the Tax Receivables Agreement for the current year. The
expected payment under the Tax Receivable Agreement for the year
ended 31 December 2023 was $24 million (2022: $31 million).
The tax and related expenses for the year, which considers both the
current tax and the expected payment under the Tax Receivable
Agreement (“TRA”) were $48 million (2022: $35 million) and the
adjusted tax and tax related expense rate was 19.3% (2022: 11.5%).
These amounts represent current taxes payable in addition to any
expected payments under the Tax Receivables Agreement for the
year and exclude deferred taxes.
The current tax of $24 million for 2023 includes approximately
$13 million related to estimates from the prior year. Excluding the
$13 million related to estimates from the prior year, tax and related
expenses for 2023 were $35 million and the Adjusted tax and tax
related expense rate was 14.0%.
Capital
As at 31 December 2023, the Company’s issued share capital
comprised of 1,122,202,824 Ordinary Shares (31 December
2022: 1,135,399,597). During the period the Company commenced a
share buyback and purchased 13,196,773 shares at an average price
of 157.8p per share.
Total Shareholders’ funds was $4,834 million at 31 December 2023
(31 December 2022: $4,719 million). As at 31 December 2023, there
were retained earnings of $3,133 million (31 December 2022:
$329 million loss). These retained earnings include the change in fair
value of investments for the year of $227 million (2022: ($777) million
APM basis) which does not have an impact on the realised profits.
In 2023, the Company paid dividends totalling $180 million and
bought back Ordinary Shares totalling $26 million resulting in a
reduction to capital of $206 million in the form of a capital return to
Shareholders.
Approximately 77% of Petershill Partners shares are held by
long-dated private funds managed by Goldman Sachs Asset
Management. Goldman Sachs Asset Management is the manager of
these shares and exercises discretion over how and when they could
be sold in the future, on behalf of the investors in those funds.
Petershill Partners Operating Metrics
31 December
2023 2022 Δ
Aggregate Partner-firm AuM ($bn) 304 283 7%
Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM ($bn) 221 194 14%
Ownership Weighted Partner-firm AuM ($bn) 37 36 4%
Ownership Weighted Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM ($bn) 28 26 8%
Partner Blended Net Management Fee Rate (%) 1.31% 1.41% -10 bps
Implied Blended Partner-firm FRE Ownership (%) 13.3% 13.5% -20 bps
Partner Net Management and Advisory Fees ($m) 350 342 2%
Management Fees ($m) 356 337 6%
Fee Offsets ($m) (18) (16) 13%
Transaction and Advisory Fees ($m) 12 21 (43%)
Partner Fee Related Expenses ($m) (147) (129) 14%
Partner FRE ($m) 203 213 (5%)
Partner Realised Performance Revenues (PRE) ($m) 55 132 (58%)
Partner Realised Investment Income ($m) 34 25 36%
Partner Distributable Earnings ($m) 292 370 (21%)
Partner FRE Margin (%) 58% 62% -4 pts
Partner Distributable Earnings Margin (%) 67% 74% -7 pts
Partner Realised PRE as a percentage of Partner Revenue (%) 13% 26% -13 pt
Partner Realised PRE over Average Aggregate Performance Fee Eligible Partner-firm AuM* (bps) 2.0 bps 5.6 bps -3.6 bps
* Realised Performance Fee Revenues for the period divided by the Average Aggregate Performance Fee Eligible Partner-firm AuM. The Average Aggregate Performance Fee Eligible
Partner-firm AuM represents the average of the beginning and ending period stated. 
31 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Operator’s Report continued
Partner-firm Full Year Performance
Key Operating Metrics
We provide significant detail on our Partner-firms in our key
Operating Metrics as this gives investors insight into the revenues
and revenue model of the Company.
In 2023, fundraising continued across the Company’s Partner-firms
with Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM growing 14%
year-on-year to $221 billion. Ownership weighted AuM grew 3% to
$37 billion (2022: $36 billion). Strong aggregate Partner-firm AuM
and Aggregate Fee-paying AuM growth are the basis for future
earnings development and highlight the positive operating dynamics
and pricing power of our high-quality Partner-firms. This growth has
translated into robust, recurring, and high-quality earnings from our
Partner-firms – with full year Partner Distributable Earnings of
$292 million, despite the challenging environment.
Petershill Partners is not reliant on any one firm, one fund-raising,
one track record, or one brand. Our approach is to invest in a range
of high-quality, high-performing alternative asset management
firms, who manage a diverse range of funds, giving the Company
stable, high-quality, recurring earnings.
Our total AuM at year-end comprised over 200 funds, spanning
private equity, absolute return and other private capital funds,
with an average life cycle of 9 years. That means their capital is
locked in for an average duration of 9.0 years, generating recurring
management fees and the opportunity for meaningful profit
participation throughout this time. We believe our long-term
approach differentiates us and provides for enhanced alignment
with the key principals at each Partner-firm and, as a result, allows
the Company to participate in their income streams in a way that
provides high-margin, diversified and stable cash flows for our
Shareholders.
Partner Fee Related Earnings (FRE)
Partner FRE, drawn from management fees, declined 5% year-over-
year to $203 million (2022: $213 million), primarily reflecting higher
expenses and lower transaction and advisory fees over the
comparable period. Partner Fee Related Expenses were $147 million
in 2023, up from $129 million in 2022. Higher costs due to Partner-
firm fundraising and team expansions contributed to the reduction in
the Partner FRE margin year-over-year to 58% (2022: 62%).
Transaction and advisory fees were $12 million in 2023 down from
$21 million in the prior year. The lower transaction and advisory fees
reflected the subdued transaction environment that impacted global
markets in 2023. In 2023, the Partner Blended Net Management Fee
Rate was 1.31% (2022: 1.41%).
Partner Realised Performance Revenues (PRE)
PRE, which represents direct participation in the upside
performance of Partner-firms’ funds and products, declined
year-over-year to $55 million for 2023 (2022: $132 million) in
difficult market conditions with a relatively unattractive realisation
environment. Performance of the absolute return strategies was
lower compared to the prior year, which also contributed to the
year-on-year decline in PRE. $10 million was attributable to the
absolute return strategy in 2023 (2022: $57 million). 13% of total
partner revenue in 2023 was derived from PRE (2022: 26%).
Partner-firms manage a variety of performance fee-eligible funds
at different stages of their life cycle. Due to this diversification, the
Company anticipates that Realised Performance Revenues will be
earned regularly from a wide range of funds going forward, with a
range of 20–30% of total Partner-firm revenues over the medium
term, assuming market conditions and environment are broadly
supportive.
Partner Private Markets Accrued Carried Interest was $615 million
at 31 December 2023, broadly stable with the $611 million at
31 December 2022.
Partner Realised Investment Income
As an owner in the Partner-firms, the Company shares in a percentage
of the investment and balance sheet income of the Partner-firms and
realises this through a number of direct positions in the funds of
underlying Partner-firms, known as Realised Investment Income. This
totalled $34 million in 2023, up from $25 million APM basis in 2022.
Petershill Partners Operating Metrics***
31 Dec
2023
30 Sep
2023
30 Jun
2023
31 Mar
2023
31 Dec
2022
FY 2023**
Δ
Aggregate Partner-firm AuM ($bn) 304 303 300 290 283 7%
Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM ($bn) 221 197 196 195 194 14%
Average Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM* ($bn) 201 193 190 188 178 13%
Aggregate Performance Fee Eligible Partner-firm AuM ($bn) 275 276 274 266 259 6%
Average Aggregate Performance Fee Eligible Partner-firm AuM* ($bn) 270 265 258 251 236 14%
Additional metrics:
Partner Private Markets Accrued Carried Interest ($m) 615 613 608 600 611 1%
Investment Capital ($m) 423 398 398 383 383 10%
* Average Aggregate AuM figures represent the twelve-month mean and use the start and each quarter-end of the reporting period adjusted for acquisitions and dispositions where
applicable.
** Percentage change relative to 31 December 2022.
*** Represents key Operating Metrics that reflect data reported to the Operator on a three-month lag.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202332
Differentiated
Investment Insights
Through the unique investment research and engineering
expertise we have across Goldman Sachs, we provide our
GPs with access to diligence support on potential new
investments within their funds.
This year we have supported one of our technology buyout
firms by providing access to our internal GS Engineering
teams, who provided diligence support covering the software
systems at a target firm in areas such as cybersecurity,
identity verification and authorisation, governance and
privacy compliance, data backup and recovery.
16
One-on-one calls between Partner-firm deal
teams and Goldman Sachs Engineering to
support the diligence of potential investments*
GP Services Case Study
*Inclusive of all Partner-firms across the Petershill platform.
33 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Our Stakeholders
Stakeholder Engagement
The Company’s stakeholders are key to our long-term success. The importance of each key stakeholder and the Board’s engagement with
them are described below. Highlights of some of the principal decisions that have been made as a result of this engagement can be found
within the section 172 statement as outlined on pages 36 and 37. Given the Company has no employees and the Directors have all been
appointed on a Non-Executive basis, it must rely upon the Operator to perform certain executive functions and other third-party service
providers, including the Administrator, to perform other administrative and operational functions.
Stakeholder How the Board engages
Shareholders, prospective
Shareholders and lenders
Continued Shareholder
support, engagement and
attracting new investors
critical to the success of the
Company and the delivery of
its long-term strategy
• Receives updates from the Operator at every Board meeting on investor relations,
with a comprehensive report delivered twice a year
• Engages regularly with the Company’s corporate brokers, and receives frequent market
and trading updates
• Communicates with Shareholders and lenders through the Operator; with financial reporting and
updates published on the Company’s website
• Meets Shareholders through general meetings
• The Chairman has met with and continues to be available to meet with Shareholders
• Holds strategy meetings to ensure the Board is acting in Shareholders’ and lenders’ best interests
Goldman Sachs Asset
Management (the Operator)
Fundamental to the business
model, overall strategy and
long-term success of the
Company
• Oversees the performance of investment management services that are integral to the Company’s
operations and financial performance
• Active dialogue and regular meetings with the Operator
• Open, respectful, and clear communication, with constructive challenge and a strong
partnership ethos
• Detailed monitoring of the Partner-firms and investment process
• Strategic planning with the common goal of helping the Company fulfil its purpose
• Visits the Operator’s offices
• Requests ad-hoc meetings and updates as necessary
• Works with the Operator to evolve Board reports and share insights
Community
Full support of ESG as
integral to the Company’s
success
• Addresses service providers’ ESG policies and initiatives
• For additional information on the impact of the Company’s operations on the community
and the environment, please refer to pages 38 and 39
Partner-firms
Effective relations to
facilitate growth
• Maintains regular dialogue with the Operator on partnerships
• Receives formal Partner-firm performance review from the Operator
• When opportunity arises, meets with leaders of Partner-firms, to hear direct presentations and
feedback from them
Service providers
Effective relations to provide
advice and support and foster
compliant and efficient
operations
• Maintains regular interaction as part of the provision of services
• Receives reports from core service providers at Board meetings
• Formal performance review conducted annually
• Receives updates from the Operator on dialogue with lenders and service providers
Regulators
Effective relations to comply
with all regulations
• Engages with regulators in a transparent manner, completing required filings and other submissions
and acts responsively and thoughtfully in relation to any inbound queries
Lenders
Availability of funding and
liquidity is important to the
Company’s ability to take
advantage of investment
opportunities as they arise
• Regular updates provided on covenant compliance and current positioning from the Operator
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202334
Engagement with Shareholders
The Company reports to Shareholders in a number of formal ways,
including its Annual Report, interim report and regulatory news
releases, all of which are approved by the Board and are made
available on the Company’s website. In addition, the Company’s
website contains comprehensive information, including Company
notifications, share information, financial reports, Acquisition
Strategy and Investment Policy, investor contacts and information
on the Board and corporate governance. Shareholders and other
interested parties can subscribe to email news updates by
registering on the website.
The AGM, detailed below, is used as a forum for the Board and the
Operator to communicate Company performance and future plans
and prospects. It is expected that all members of the Board will be
in attendance and will be available to answer any Shareholder
questions. The Company’s website contains comprehensive
information for Shareholders and provides regular market
commentary at www.petershillpartners.com.
In addition, the Chairman, the Administrator and the Operator’s
contact email addresses are also available for Shareholders to
contact the Company outside of the AGM. The Board invites
representatives from its brokers to provide regular analysis of
Shareholder movements, industry changes and contact with
investors. The Company Secretary also receives informal feedback
via queries submitted through the Company’s website, and these
are addressed by the Board, the Operator or the Company
Secretary, as applicable.
Employees, Social, Human Rights,
Environment and Community Issues
The Board has a responsibility to help protect, preserve and
promote human rights around the world. The Board supports
statements made by the Operator’s parent company, The Goldman
Sachs Group, Inc., on human rights, modern slavery, and human
trafficking. As the Company has outsourced operations to third
parties, there are no significant greenhouse gas emissions or other
environmental matters to report in relation to the operation of the
Company. The Board encourages all service providers associated
with the Company to consider matters of ESG, including diversity
and inclusion, and report on progress to the Board annually.
Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy
The Company seeks to achieve its investment objective through
acquiring stakes in alternative asset managers, via direct
investments representing a non-controlling ownership position.
The Operator adopts a responsible investing approach which takes
into account the Company’s ESG principles and strategy, as
outlined on pages 38 and 39. The Board has reviewed and
approved the Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy on pages
26 to 27. The Company reports to Shareholders through regulatory
news releases, using the London Stock Exchange Regulatory News
Service and interim and annual reports. Significant new
investments are announced promptly, and portfolio updates,
realisations, valuation updates and distribution announcements
are all communicated in a timely manner through these means.
Dividend Policy
The Board has reviewed the Company’s dividend policy, as set out
on page 29, and agreed that it remained appropriate. The Board
proposes a final dividend of 10.1 cents per share to be approved by
Shareholders at the AGM on 23 May 2024, delivering a full year
dividend of 15.0 cents per share to the Company’s Shareholders.
2024 Dividend Timetable
Dividend Announcement Tuesday, 26 March 2024
Ex-Dividend Date Thursday, 9 May 2024
Record Date Friday, 10 May 2024
Currency election Friday, 24 May 2024
Payment Date Friday, 14 June 2024
Board Committees
The Audit and Risk Committee, Nomination Committee,
Remuneration Committee and Management Engagement
Committee were formed in order to establish a good corporate
governance framework for the Company. The Chairperson of each
Committee attends the AGM to answer any questions on their
Committee’s activities. More information on the Committees’
activities can be found on pages 60 to 62.
AGM
The AGM of the Company will be held at 1.00 pm (BST) on
Thursday, 23 May 2024 at the Goldman Sachs London office.
Details of the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM, together with
explanations, appear in the notice of meeting available on the
Company’s website www.petershillpartners.com. As a matter of
good practice, all resolutions will be conducted on a poll and the
results will be announced to the market as soon as possible after
the AGM.
Employees and Officers of the Company
The Company does not have any employees and therefore
employee policies are not required and a statement detailing the
split between employees and senior managers is not relevant. The
Directors of the Company are detailed on pages 48 and 49. As at
the date of this report, the Board comprises three men and two
women, all of whom are Non-Executive Directors who are
considered to be independent of the Operator and free from any
business or other relationship that could materially interfere with
the exercise of their independent judgement.
35 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Details of the Company’s key stakeholders are set out on page 34. In particular, the Directors recognise the importance of acting in a way that
promotes the long-term success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole.
The Board considers that the interests of the Company and its stakeholders must be balanced for the Company to succeed. Key decisions are
those that are material or of strategic importance to the Company or are significant to any of the Company’s key stakeholders, as described
on page 34. The below key decisions were made or approved by the Directors during the year, with the overall aim of promoting the
long-term success of the Company for the benefit of its members as a whole, while considering the impact on its members, stakeholders and
the wider society. For more information on the approach to ESG please see pages 38 to 39.
Key decisions made
by the Board in 2023
Considerations of factors set out in section 172(1)
in the decision-making process
Outcomes as a result
of these considerations
Capital structure:
Reduction of capital
In considering proposals put forward by the Operator, the Board
considered the existing capital structure and how undertaking a
reduction of capital through the cancellation of the non-
distributable reserve represented by the share premium account
would increase the distributable reserves of the Company.
Increasing the available distributable reserves enhances the
Company’s ability to make returns to Shareholders and thus
contribute to the Company’s long-term strategy, while having
regard to its Shareholders, the Operator, Partner-firms, regulators,
and other service providers.
The Board was mindful of the regulatory requirements involved and
engaged advisors such as corporate brokers, external legal counsel,
and other service providers to provide advice and support
throughout the process.
The reduction of capital was approved by Shareholders at the AGM
on 24 May 2023 and was confirmed by His Majesty’s High Court on
20 June 2023. The reduction of share capital was completed when
registered by Companies House on 26 June 2023.
The primary outcome was the creation of
additional distributable reserves of
approximately US$3.35 billion which
gives the Company more flexibility to
deliver value to Shareholders and
therefore contributes to the long-term
success of the Company.
More information on the delivery of our
strategy and our business model can be
found on page 9.
Capital structure:
Share buyback
programme
The Board is focused on the efficient and disciplined management
of capital with the overriding objective of driving Shareholder value.
The conclusion to commence a further buyback programme on
17 May 2023 involved careful consideration by the Board after
evaluating the likely impact on the Company's net asset value per
share, capital structure and leverage as well as the cost associated
with the share buyback programme.
The Board was mindful of the regulatory requirements involved and
engaged advisors such as corporate bankers, external legal counsel
and other service providers to provide advice and support
throughout the process.
With the support of Shareholders via special resolutions passed at
the AGM on 24 May 2023, in the period to 31 December 2023 the
Company purchased a total of 13,196,773 shares at an aggregate
cost of $26 million.
Undertaking a share buyback programme
was beneficial in returning capital to
Shareholders.
More information concerning
the programme can be found
on page 31.
Section 172 Statement
Directors’ Responsibilities Pursuant to
Section 172 of the Companies Act 2006
The Directors are responsible for acting in a way that they consider, in good
faith, is most likely to promote the success of the Company for the benefit of
its members as a whole. In doing so, they have had regard to the factors set
out in section 172(1)(a) to (f) of the UK Companies Act 2006, which includes
the needs of stakeholders and the wider society.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202336
Key decisions made
by the Board in 2023
Considerations of factors set out in section 172(1)
in the decision-making process
Outcomes as a result
of these considerations
ESG Whilst the Company’s operations are limited (with all substantive
operations being conducted by its third-party service providers), ESG
is an important area of focus for the Company and the Board
considers it important to ensure that steps taken are sensible and
proportionate in order to ensure compliance and competitiveness of
the Company and to avoid green washing.
As a Shareholder value-focused Company, the Board is interested in
understanding how a broader ESG strategy could fit into its unique
operating model. Transparency and integrity in reporting is a top
priority for the Board, for the benefit of investors and the wider
stakeholder base. The Board is interested in the indirect impact of
the Company’s operations and has discussed minimum standards
expected of our service providers and suppliers, ensuring these are
incorporated into the Company’s onboarding processes.
The Company intends to stay ahead of the ever-changing regulatory
environment, with the view that this readiness will ensure a smooth
transition into compliance or early adoption in future. As such, ESG
continues to be an important standing agenda item for the Board.
The current primary outcome, taking the
long-term aspirations of the Board into
consideration, was embedding ESG as a
strategic objective.
The desired outcome is to manage a
considerate and low-impact Company,
attracting the discerning investor through
a best practice approach to ESG.
More information concerning ESG can be
found on pages 38 and 39.
Dividend policy
and payments
The Board reviewed the Company’s dividend policy and agreed that it
remained appropriate. In determining the appropriateness of the
dividend policy, the Board considered the interests of all its
stakeholders, ensuring a balance between the short-term
expectation of returns to Shareholders and the longer-term growth
opportunities and capital needs of the Company.
The Board continues to maintain a
progressive dividend policy which will
reflect earnings growth over time. The
Board proposes a final dividend of 10.1
cents per share to be approved by
Shareholders at the AGM on 23 May 2024.
More information on the dividend policy can
be found on page 29.
Approval of the
interim and annual
financial statements
and AUM statements
The Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for monitoring the
integrity of the Group and the Company’s financial statements and
regulatory announcements relating to its financial performance. As
part of this, the Company’s interim and annual financial statements
and AUM statements are prepared by the Operator and thoroughly
reviewed by the Audit and Risk Committee ahead of recommendation
to the Board for approval. The Operator and the independent auditor
were in attendance at these meetings to provide further insight and
comfort and address queries as necessary.
The primary outcome was to provide
Shareholders with accurate and
understandable high-quality financial
statements that met all applicable
requirements.
More information on the Audit and Risk
Committee can be found on pages 66 to
68.
Revolving Credit
Facility
In January 2023, the Company entered into a $100 million revolving
credit facility with a term of three years (additional details can be
found on page 30). In 2023, the Company did not draw down on the
revolving credit facility.
As a result of the close of the revolving
credit facility, the Company has a strong and
sound debt capital structure appropriate for
a substantial public company, which will
provide additional flexibility to facilitate the
funding of future growth.
More information on borrowing can be
found on page 30.
Strategy session In February 2023, the Board held a strategy session with the
Operator outside of the scheduled quarterly Board meetings. Topics
discussed included macro environment market and industry trends
and current and emerging risks, Partner-firm updates, and investor
engagement. In November 2023, the Board also attended the
Goldman Sachs Alternative Investment Summit in New York as well
as meetings with key personnel from some of the Company’s
Partner-firms and considered areas such as business and industry
updates and strategic options for value creation.
The primary outcome was to regularly
consider the Company’s strategic
objectives to strengthen a clear and
collaborative vision for the strategic
direction of the Company, while taking
into account the views and needs of
stakeholders. The Board will continue to
conduct a strategy session annually.
More information on the strategy and
investment objective can be found on page
25.
Annual review of
service providers
The Management Engagement Committee met during the year to
review the Company’s external service providers, including the
Operator and the Administrator, and, in particular, the quality and
costs of the services provided (details of the review are included on
pages 34 and 43). The Management Engagement Committee was
mindful of the importance of the Company fostering positive
business relationships with service providers for Shareholder value
creation.
The Management Engagement Committee
concluded that the interests of the
Company’s Shareholders would be best
served by the ongoing appointments of
the Operator, the Administrator and other
key service providers on the existing terms.
More information on the annual review of
service providers can be found on page 34.
37 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
As an investment company without employees or physical
operations, Petershill Partners does not itself engage in operations
that directly impact the environment or the community. It is not
subject to requirements to make climate-related financial
disclosures under the Listing Rules, Companies Act 2006 or the EU
Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation ((EU) 2019/2088)
(“SFDR”). Instead, Petershill Partners relies on the policies,
processes and procedures of the Operator, Goldman Sachs Asset
Management Limited.
ESG Integration into the investment process
The Board of Petershill Partners believes that businesses which
promote and embrace ESG will be more successful over time, and
therefore supports the Operator in its effort to incorporate an ESG
strategy into the investment process.
The investment team considers ESG risks and opportunities as part
of the acquisition due diligence process. All investment proposals
submitted to the Petershill Investment Committee for
consideration include an assessment of ESG among many factors
and, where appropriate, are also assessed against an internal five
factor ESG framework to derive a blended ESG score. This includes
the following factors:
• Firm ethos – The extent to which the Partner-firm is committed
to ESG and incorporates sustainable practices into the
management of its business
• Investment philosophy – The degree to which ESG is viewed as a
material driver of risk and returns
• Team and resources – The depth, breadth and organisation of
the team incorporating ESG, and the level and use of other
external resources
• Investment process – The degree to which ESG-related factors
are formally incorporated into the investment process with the
objective of enhancing risk-adjusted returns
• Portfolio engagement – The level and type of engagement with
portfolio companies on ESG and the ability to add value post
investment and the degree to which this is reflected in outcomes
ESG Commentary
Environmental, Social and Governance
(“ESG”) at Petershill Partners
At Petershill Partners, we understand that considering the ESG characteristics
and long-term sustainability of assets can reduce investment risk and enhance
long-term returns. Within the asset management industry, corporations are
publicly committing to become carbon neutral; employees are insisting on
corporate leadership on ESG topics; and investors are driving growth in ESG-
oriented investment products. We are proud to be part of this global shift
towards ESG and sustainability.
Goldman Sachs’ and Goldman Sachs Asset
Management’s Partnerships and Affiliations
Goldman Sachs Asset Management became a signatory
to the United Nations Principles for Responsible Investing
(UNPRI) in December 2011. As a signatory, the Operator has
committed to considering the investment implications of
ESG issues within its portfolio management and investment
decision-making processes where appropriate. The Operator
reports annually to the UNPRI on its ESG and impact-investing
commitment and activities, and publicly discloses the report
on its website.
ESG Integration into the supply chain
The Board has recognised that it can reflect an acknowledgement
or a commitment to sustainability in its choice of the vendors or
service providers who act on its behalf. All vendors selected by
recommendation of the Operator are subject to the Goldman Sachs
vendor management system and selected in accordance with
Goldman Sachs policies on Vendor Diversity, Modern Slavery and
Anti-Corruption.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202338
• ESG-focused modules are produced
by our General Partner Services
team, which is focused on value
creation
• Sharing of industry best practices
through diagnostic exercises which
help identify potential development
opportunities
• Development of a framework for
collecting information on ESG
practices at our Partner-firms, to
incorporate this into our ongoing
monitoring of investment
performance
• ESG diligence on all new
Partner-firm acquisitions
• Quantitative assessment as part of
acquisition-factor framework
• Focus on firm ethos, investment
philosophy/process, resources and
portfolio engagement
Acquisition
due diligence
Ongoing
Partner-firm
engagement
Further to the above six factors frameworks, the investment
committee may reflect diversity, equity, and inclusion (“DEI”)
considerations in its investment process where appropriate,
applicable and such information is reliably available.
In addition, pursuant to the Operator Agreement, the Operator
from time to time consults with the Petershill Investment
Committee, who abide by regulations set forth in the Operator’s
broader Goldman Sachs policies. For example, Goldman Sachs’
Firmwide Reputational Risk Committee (“FRRC”) maintains a List
of Prohibited Transactions, which sets forth transactions that are
prohibited by Goldman Sachs. The FRRC is also responsible for
maintaining an Escalation Criteria Grid (the “Grid”), which sets
forth the types of transactions that would need to be escalated to
the FRRC. The List of Prohibited Transactions and the Grid are
constantly monitored and may be amended from time to time.
Please note that the Petershill Partners portfolio does not
promote environmental or social characteristics and does not
have sustainable investment as its investment objective. It does
not commit to environmental or social targets and does not
score or assess its portfolio assets with reference to any
sustainability themes including environmental or social factors.
For the purposes of the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure
Regulation, disclosure is made with reference only to the
integration of sustainability risk in the investment decision-
making process. The above information should be read in
thiscontext.
The Operator’s Approach to ESG
at Petershill Partners
The Operator focuses on sustainability
throughout its business
Ongoing Partner-firm Engagement on ESG
After an investment has been made, management teams at our
Partner-firms can request the support of the Petershill GP Services
team on a range of issues. These could include support with ESG
matters such as the integration of best-practice ESG policies,
processes and systems within their business. The integral
relationship the Operator has with Goldman Sachs provides access
to extensive resources in addressing this important topic.
The Operator is actively developing a framework for collecting
information on ESG practices at our Partner-firms, with the
aimofincorporating this into its ongoing monitoring of
investmentperformance.
39 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Risk Management
Our Risk Management Approach
The Board believes a good risk culture enables effective
management of risk. An open and transparent environment which
encourages the Operator and the Company’s other service
providers to embrace risk management is critical to the
achievement of the Company’s strategic objectives. Our cultural
framework is set out on page 58.
On behalf of the Board, the Audit and Risk Committee reviews the
effectiveness of the Group’s risk management processes, focusing
on the assessment of current identified principal risks and the
process to identify emerging risks. The Audit and Risk Committee,
with support from the Operator, carries out a robust assessment of
the principal and emerging risks facing the Group by providing a
risk matrix to the Board for review and discussion, on an annual
basis, and also as and when it is thought necessary by the Audit
and Risk Committee and the Board. The Operator prepares the risk
matrix, which sets out the key risks faced by the Group, their
likelihood and impact, and the associated control procedures and
mitigating measures. This is primarily achieved through the Risk
and Control Self-Assessment (“RCSA”) process. The Audit and Risk
Committee reviews the risk matrix, providing an independent
assessment, oversight and challenge of the risks identified. The
Audit and Risk Committee also monitors and reviews the adequacy
and effectiveness of internal control and risk management systems
and advises the Board on the Group’s overall risk appetite.
The Operator, as delegated by the Board, provides portfolio
management and risk management services to the Group. The
Operator is accountable for the application and execution of the
Company’s investment strategy, and therefore has a key role in
managing the Group’s risk. The Operator, in its normal course of
business, faces various risks and leverages the “three lines of
defence” model employed by Goldman Sachs to delineate the roles
and responsibilities for risk-taking, risk management and risk
assurance activities for the Group.
• The first line of defence is the Goldman Sachs Asset
Management Petershill Group, which is responsible for
implementing effective internal controls and maintaining
processes for managing risks of the Operator.
• The second line of defence is the independent risk oversight and
control functions of Goldman Sachs, which provide independent
assessment, oversight and challenge of the risks taken by the
first line of defence. Independent risk oversight and control
functions include Goldman Sachs’ Conflicts Resolution Group,
Controllers, Global Compliance, Legal, Risk, and Tax functions.
• The third line of defence is Goldman Sachs’ Internal Audit
division, which provides independent risk assurance to senior
management, the Board of Goldman Sachs and regulators that
the governance, risk management, and control activities of the
first and second lines of defence are effective.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The Company’s underlying investments are high-risk and illiquid
assets within the alternative investment industry. Its principal risks
are therefore related to revenue generated by the alternative asset
managers in which the Company invests and the performance of
the Partner-firms, their funds, and the products they manage. The
Operator seeks to mitigate these risks through active engagement
and action as outlined in the Acquisition Strategy and Investment
Policy (pages 26 to 27) and by carrying out due diligence work on
potential targets before entering into any investments. The
Company’s business model involves the acquisition of non-
controlling investments in independent Partner-firms, and,
although the Company has certain controls as part of contractual
rights, the Company does not control the risk tolerance of the
underlying Partner-firms.
The Board thoroughly considers the process for identifying,
evaluating and managing any significant risks faced by the Group
on an ongoing basis, and these risks are reported and discussed at
Board meetings. The Board ensures that effective controls are in
place to mitigate these risks and that a satisfactory compliance
regime exists to ensure all applicable local and international laws
and regulations are upheld.
For each risk, the likelihood and impact are identified, management
controls and frequency of monitoring are confirmed, and results are
reported to and discussed by the Audit and Risk Committee on a
quarterly basis. The Audit and Risk Committee has reviewed the
Group’s risk management process and has evaluated the principal
and emerging risks, which are discussed on pages 41 to 44.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202340
The key areas of risk faced by the Group and mitigating measures are summarised below:
Strategy/
Investment Risk Description/Impact Mitigating Measures
Residual
Risk Trend
1. Alternative
Assets Industry
Risk
The alternative investments industry may
not grow at the same rate as it has in the
past, in line with forecasts or at all. If the
alternative investments industry does not
grow sufficiently, whether as a result of
evolving laws and regulation or any other
risk, the Company’s investments may not
produce attractive returns and the
Operator may not be able to identify
additional investment targets on suitable
terms or at all. In addition, industry
dynamics could negatively impact the fee
rates that managers in the alternative
investments industry are able to charge,
which could negatively impact the
Company’s income from Partner-firms
derived from management fees.
The Company’s revenue streams are diverse
and are composed substantially of income
from Partner-firms derived from
management fee income on contractually
committed, long-dated assets, therefore
minimising the concentration of risk.
Investments in Partner-firms span multiple
asset classes providing diversification within
the alternative asset industry. The Company
has limits on how much any new investment
may represent as a percentage of Partner
FRE or the Company's gross assets. Board
approval is required when proposed
acquisitions exceed 12% of the Company's
market capitalisation. The Company
monitors its exposure to the different asset
classes which it is exposed to.
2. Partner-firm
Revenue Risk
The Company’s revenue is largely
dependent on the management fees
generated by the Partner-firms in which
the Company invests. The Company’s
revenue is also dependent on the
performance of their funds and the
products they manage, as well as the
growth and profitability of their
businesses. The Company is therefore
exposed to the risk that the Partner-firms
may not be able to generate adequate
management fees and performance
fee-related earnings. Additionally, the
investments made by the Partner-firms
include high-risk, illiquid assets. The
Partner-firms may not be able to sell or
otherwise dispose of investments in their
funds when they desire and therefore may
not be able to realise the full value of such
investments, resulting in impact to
performance-related fees.
While Partner-firm specific revenue risk
cannot be eliminated, it can be reduced by
diversifying the Company’s investments
across different Partner-firms. The Operator
monitors the concentration of revenue
quarterly. A significant amount of the
Company’s revenues are derived from a
capital base that is long-term. The Company
has limits on how much any new investment
may represent as a percentage of Partner
FRE or the Company's gross assets. Board
approval is required when proposed
acquisitions exceed 12% of the Company's
market capitalisation. The Company
monitors its exposure to the different asset
classes which it is exposed to.
3. Investment
Diligence Risk
The due diligence process that the
Operator undertakes in connection with
investments may not reveal all facts that
may be relevant in connection with an
acquisition. Any shortcomings in the due
diligence process in respect of the
Company’s investments, including as a
result of fraud by the seller or target, could
result in diminished returns or losses on
the acquisitions by the Company compared
to the financial projections used when
evaluating such partnership.
Investment decisions are underpinned by
an established and rigorous investment
due diligence process to determine the
feasibility and attractiveness of an
investment. The Operator has a track
record of evaluating and undertaking due
diligence exercises on non-controlling
stakes in alternative asset managers, and
also extensive expertise in negotiating and
structuring bilateral contracts which
govern the minority investor rights. For
each potential acquisition, the Operator
conducts due diligence of the following
types: Partner-firm, product, asset-level,
operational, legal and audit and tax.
Key
Residual risk Trend
Low Medium High Increased No change Decreased
41 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Strategy/
Investment Risk Description/Impact Mitigating Measures
Residual
Risk Trend
4. Macroeconomic
Risk
Macroeconomic uncertainty on a global
basis due to rising inflation and interest
rates that may result in increased costs to
the Partner-firms. The possibility of softer
fundraising assumptions and portfolio
realisations for individual Partner-firms
can lead to lower expectations of future
income from Partner-firms. In addition,
volatility and disruption in the equity and
credit markets can adversely affect the
underlying earnings of the Partner-firms
and the value of their earnings, and
therefore the Company’s balance sheet
andincome.
Rising interest rates may result in reduced
Partner-firm Performance related Earnings
both in frequency as assets are held for
longer, and in quantum as multiples of
realisation are lower. The impact of
inflation on returns may challenge the
ability of Partner-firms to enhance
operating margins given the challenges of
rising costs and may potentially impact
profitability. The Company uses leverage
aspart of its overall operating strategy,
which may be impacted by changes in
interest rates.
The Company’s revenue streams are diverse
and are composed substantially of
contractually committed, high and stable
income derived from Partner-firms’
management fee income on long-dated
assets. Additionally, there is a rigorous
investment due diligence process which
includes detailed financial and valuation
analysis and stress testing to ensure an
investment is resilient across varying
factors and outcomes.
The Company monitors its ongoing risks to
interest rates and foreign exchange. The
Company’s long-term debt is at fixed rates.
Partner-firms operating within the private
credit, private real assets, credit and some
absolute return asset classes may
potentially benefit from increases in rates
and inflation, as these asset classes have
historically presented a hedge to rising
rates and inflation.
5. Regulatory
Risk
The Company and the Operator are subject
to extensive laws and regulations in various
jurisdictions. These laws and regulations
(and the interpretations thereof) may
change, and the imposition of stricter laws
and regulations could result in increased
compliance costs for the Partner-firms
andthe Operator or could limit their
operational flexibility and efficiency.
TheCompany is also subject to Listing
Rules and UK-Adopted International
Accounting Standards.
Moreover, governmental policy changes
and regulatory or tax reform (for example,
in relation to prevailing tax rates, the
treatment of a foreign corporation as such,
or the treatment of carried interest) could
also have a material effect on the Operator
and/or the Partner-firms and their funds
and the products they manage.
The Operator, Board, Administrator and
Company Secretary have established
policies, procedures and oversight
functions to ensure compliance with
applicable laws and regulations. Changes
to the regulatory framework, as well as
compliance with all reporting, notifications
and filing requirements are closely
monitored. The Operator also leverages the
expertise of its external tax and legal
counsel and other advisors as needed to
analyse the impact of potential
governmental policy changes and
regulatory or tax reform.
6. Key Persons
Risk
The Operator relies on highly skilled
qualified investment professionals.
Because the Operator will perform
investment management services that are
integral to the Company’s operations and
financial performance, a failure by the
Operator to retain its senior leadership or
to recruit and retain additional qualified
investment, sales and other professionals
could have a material adverse effect on the
Company’s investment performance and, as
a result, its business, financial condition,
results and the value of its assets.
The Operator benefits from the global
footprint of Goldman Sachs, whose
professional employees possess a
combination of deep industry knowledge,
financial expertise and operating
capabilities. The Board believes that the
Operator has appropriate experience and
expertise to implement the Company’s
investment policy and strategies
successfully. A strong culture of excellence
is essential to attract and retain the best
talent. The Operator’s strategy for its
human resources is focused on attracting
individuals with drive and values aligned
with its wider team and retaining and
rewarding those individuals who make an
exceptional contribution to the team.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202342
Strategy/
Investment Risk Description/Impact Mitigating Measures
Residual
Risk Trend
7. Operator,
Administrator
and Service
Provider
Resiliency and
Performance
Risk
The Company has no employees and relies
on the Operator, Administrator, and other
service providers. Failure by the Operator
or other third-party service providers to the
Operator, the Administrator and other
service providers to carry out their
obligations could have a material adverse
effect on the Company’s performance.
The Company has entered into detailed
agreements with the Operator,
Administrator and other service providers
and the performance of all service
providers is formally reviewed annually.
The Board believes this risk is mitigated by
the fact that the Operator and the
Administrator are well-established and
resourced companies with robust track
records. Both have robust business
continuity plans in place, which are
updated and tested on an ongoing basis, to
ensure the continued ability to service the
Company in the event there are disruptions
of normal operations.
8. Partner-firm
Reporting Risk
The Operator depends on the continuation
of its relationships with Partner-firms in
order to maintain current data on its
investments and private market activity.
Restrictions on the Operator’s ability to use
the data it obtains for its reporting and
monitoring processes could adversely
affect its ability to provide the same level
of disclosure for the Company, which
couldhave a material adverse effect on
theCompany.
The Operator has contractual information
rights in place for all Partner-firms, which
all specify timing in relation to
communicating information, to provide the
Company with sufficient information for its
regulatory reporting requirements. The
Operator has implemented processes to
review certain financial and other
information reported by the Partner-firms
and assess for reasonableness.
9. Cyber/
Information
Security Risk
Cyber and security risks could adversely
affect the Operator and the Company. The
Operator and the Company rely on its
information technology infrastructure to
conduct daily business operations, and any
cybersecurity attacks or threats to this
infrastructure could result in business
disruption and the breach of confidential
and proprietary information.
The Operator is committed to
implementing the highest standards of
information security to protect the privacy
and confidentiality of information related
to its activities.
The Operator has implemented processes,
procedures and internal controls designed
to mitigate cybersecurity risks and cyber
intrusions, including maintaining physical,
electronic and procedural safeguards to
protect the information against loss,
misuse, damage or modification and
unauthorised access or disclosure.
Additionally, the Operator has a dedicated
Security Incident Response Team which
handles information security threats and
incidents that may have an impact on the
confidentiality, integrity or availability of
the Operator’s information and technology
environment.
10. Liquidity Risk The risk that the Company is not able to
meet its financial obligations as they fall
due or can do so only at an excessive cost.
To protect the Company, the Operator
monitors its liquidity needs including those
under stressed conditions. The liquidity is
monitored to ensure there are sufficient
liquid assets at all times to cover cash flow
movements and fluctuations in funding
and enable the Company to meet all
financial obligations and to support
anticipated growth. Liquidity conditions
under stressed conditions are considered
as part of the Guidelines on liquidity stress
testing in UCITS and AIFS by the European
Securities and Markets Authority (“ESMA”).
Key
Residual risk Trend
Low Medium High Increased No change Decreased
43 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Emerging Risks
Emerging risks are risks to which the Group is exposed and are
uncertain in terms of their impact and timelines. These risks have
the potential to become principal risks but are not yet considered
to be so. The Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for carrying
out an assessment of the emerging risks, and overseeing
procedures for identifying emerging risks as well as procedures for
managing these risks. The Audit and Risk Committee, as part of its
responsibilities, identifies and assesses emerging risks to be
referred to the Board for review. This process includes monitoring
the external environment for global trends or potential changes
that may impact the drivers of growth and performance of the
Company. Emerging risks may also arise from internal factors.
Monitoring pressure points on operational processes, personnel
and third-party vendors is another avenue for identifying emerging
risks. The monitoring and management of emerging risks include
ongoing assessments of the time horizon in which an emerging risk
may potentially become a principal risk and the level of impact to
the Group if it were to become a principal risk.
The Board, via the Audit and Risk Committee, has discussed several
emerging risks through the year, which include geopolitical risks,
elevated levels of inflation, higher interest rates and implications
of the UK Government’s audit and Corporate Governance reform.
Viability Statement
In accordance with the UK Corporate Governance Code (the “UK
Code”) and the Association of Investment Companies Code of
Corporate Governance (the “AIC Code”), the Board has assessed the
viability of the Company. The Board has considered the Group’s
strategic plan as well as the Group’s principal risks in its assessment.
The Board has chosen a period of three years to 31 December 2026
for its formal assessment of viability on the basis that assumptions
made during this period are the most reliable due to the visibility of
earnings from investments in Partner-firms. The Board is satisfied
that this forward-looking assessment of the Group is sufficient to
enable a reasonable statement of viability.
The assessment reflects on the Group’s Acquisition Strategy and
Investment Policy as outlined on pages 26 to 27. Key
considerations in the assessment are:
• the investments in Partner-firms are long-term investments
with no plan to exit;
• the amount and timing of returns from investments in Partner-
firms comprised management fee income, performance fee
income and investment income;
• the fixed operational costs of the Group are low relative to its
recurring revenues; and
• the Operator charge is variable based on the income from
investments in Partner-firms.
The assessment of viability requires the Board to consider the
principal risks to the Group, which appear on pages 41 to 43.
While all of the risks outlined may have an impact on the Group’s
performance, there are certain risks that are more likely to have a
greater impact on the future solvency and liquidity of the Group in
the three-year period considered:
• Partner-firm revenue risk – the risk that Partner-firms are unable
to generate adequate fees, which would result in lower-than-
expected revenue for the Group; and
• Macroeconomic risks – volatility in the markets may affect the
Partner-firms’ ability to realise investments, which could delay
or reduce the income the Group is expected to earn.
The Group’s investments in Partner-firms are long term and the
Group has no exit strategy for its investments. As a result, the
Group expects long-term recurring revenues from its investments
in Partner-firms. Income from investments in Partner-firms is
derived from management fee income, performance fee income
and investment income. Management fee income is typically based
on private capital commitment funds managed by the Partner-
firms that are locked up for a period of eight or more years.
The income from management fees is therefore stable and
recurring. Income derived from performance fee income and
investment income from Partner-firms is dependent on underlying
fund and underlying investment performance of the Partner-firms.
The Group has a low, and relatively stable, cost structure. The
Operator charge is variable and based on the income earned by the
Group from its investments in Partner-firms. The other operating
expenses and finance costs are considerably lower than the income
derived from management fee income. The Group has a strong
balance sheet with substantial funding headroom in place. The
Group’s unsecured loan notes are long term in duration and the
interest rates are fixed. The Board reviewed the key risks and
considered options available to the Group to mitigate these risks
and to ensure the viability of the Group.
Stress testing has been performed, which considers the impact of
the Group’s key risks over the three-year period to 31 December
2025. A severe but plausible downside scenario was assessed,
which includes:
• a 90% reduction in income from Partner-firms derived from
performance fee income and investment income because of
underlying fund and underlying investment performance risk of
the Partner-firms. This translates to a substantial reduction in
overall income from Partner-firms over the three years. Such a
reduction might be a result of Partner-firm revenue and
macroeconomic risks;
• a 20% decline in the fee-paying AuM held by absolute return
funds, while private market funds AuM remains relatively stable.
This would have a slight impact on the management fee income;
• the Operator charge is based on the amount of income from
Partner-firms and therefore changes commensurate with the
change in income from Partner-firms;
• the Company's access to the revolving credit facility and the
$500m private placement debt and associated financial
covenants remain unchanged;
• if interest rates were to increase in the future, this would not
have a material negative effect since the Group's long-term debt
has fixed interest rates; and
• any reduction in the valuation of investments at fair value
through profit and loss would not impact free cash flow, debt
covenants or leverage limitations.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202344
The severe but plausible downside scenario also applied the
following actions which could be reassessed, if the circumstances
determined this to be necessary:
• Maintaining the Group’s dividend policy
• Putting a hold on additional investments in Partner-firms
The Group’s ability to pay its expenses, including the Operator
charge, can continue under the severe but plausible downside
scenario. The Group would remain in compliance with its financial
covenants, satisfy the requirements under ESMA’s liquidity stress
tests guidelines for alternative investment funds and continue to
conform to the leverage limits prescribed in the Acquisition
Strategy and Investment Policy.
The Board has concluded that it has a reasonable expectation that
the Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its
liabilities as they fall due, for the three years to 31 December 2026.
The Board’s assessment has been made with reference to the
Group’s current position, the Group’s outlook, its strategy and the
Group’s principal risks.
Given the above, the Board also considered it appropriate to
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis as set
out on page 94.
Going Concern Statement
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Board has a
responsibility to evaluate whether the Group has adequate
resources to continue its operational existence for the foreseeable
future and at least for the 12 months following the issuance of the
financial statements.
The Group’s business activities are set out in the Strategic Report
on pages 2 to 27. The financial position of the Group is described in
the Operator’s Report on pages 28 to 32. The Board has taken into
account the Group’s risk management process set out on page 40.
The Board has made an assessment of going concern, which takes
into account the current performance and the Group’s outlook,
using information that is available as of the date of these financial
statements.
The Group’s business model involves earning income from
investments in Partner-firms. The Group’s investments in Partner-
firms are long-term and the Group has no exit strategy for its
investments. As a result, the Group expects long-term recurring
revenues from its investments in Partner-firms. Income from
investments in Partner-firms is derived from management fee
income, performance fee income and investment income.
Management fee income is typically based on private capital
commitment funds managed by the Partner-firms that are locked
up for a period of eight or more years. The income from
management fees is therefore stable and recurring. Income derived
from performance fee income and investment income from
Partner-firms is dependent on underlying fund and underlying
investment performance of the Partner-firms. The Group has good
visibility into the income from investments in Partner-firms.
The Group has a low, and relatively predicable, cost structure. When
taken together with the visibility into the income from investments in
Partner-firms the Group has reasonably stable earnings.
As at 31 December 2023, there was $62 million invested in money
market investments and $243 million of cash and cash equivalents.
There were liabilities related to Notes payable of $500 million at
31 December 2023. The Company had a revolving credit facility of
$100 million which remained undrawn at 31 December 2023.
In making the assessment of going concern, the Board has
considered the scenario prepared in conjunction with the viability
statement.
The Board acknowledges its responsibilities related to the financial
statements. After making an assessment of going concern, the
Board has concluded that the preparation of the financial
statements on a going concern basis for at least 12 months from
the date of the approval of the financial statements is appropriate.
The 2023 Annual Report and Financial Statements for Petershill
Partners incorporates:
• the Strategic Report;
• the Report of the Directors;
• the Corporate Governance Report;
• the Directors’ Remuneration Report; and
• the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Each of which have been approved by the Board of Directors of
Petershill Partners.
Naguib Kheraj
Chairman
9 April 2024
45 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Governance
Report
47 Chairman’s Introduction
48 Our Board
50 Report of the Directors
53 Directors’ Remuneration Report
57 Directors’ Responsibilites Statement
58 Corporate Governance Report
66 Audit and Risk Committee Report
46 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Chairman’s Introduction
Dear Shareholder
I am pleased to introduce the Corporate Governance section of this
year’s Annual Report. The report sets out our governance
framework and how we have complied with the AIC Code of
Corporate Governance. The Board believes that a strong corporate
governance culture is essential for the Company to achieve its
investment objectives, to mitigate downside risk, and to take
account of the interests of key stakeholders as part of its decision-
making process. Further information on the Company’s
engagement with stakeholders and the key decisions made with
the aim of promoting the long-term success of the Company can be
found on pages 36 to 37.
The Board in 2023
The Board focused on a number of important topics throughout the
year and, whilst the below list is by no means exhaustive, it
provides an overview of the key subjects addressed at Board
meetings:
• Capital structure and allocation, share buybacks, dividend and
tax strategy;
• Financial disclosures by way of trading statements, financial
statements, and the Company’s tax statement, based on the
recommendations of the Audit and Risk Committee;
• The governance framework, ESG considerations and the
application of the AIC Code of Corporate Governance, policies,
terms of reference, and the structure and conduct of meetings
including the quality of reporting to the Board;
• The annual review of service providers, including the Operator
and the Administrator;
• The identification of risk, risk management, internal controls and
oversight;
• The investment valuation process;
• Implementation of a revolving credit facility;
• Monitoring and reviewing the performance of Partner-firms;
• Investor relations and how we communicate with stakeholders;
and
• Strategic options for value creation and recognition for the
Shareholder base.
The Board formally met 10 times during the year to consider the
above topics which involved significant contribution from all
Directors and a full list of meetings can be found on page 62. Our
annual Board effectiveness evaluation concluded that the Board
continue to operate effectively and more information about the
process and outcomes can be found on page 63. An external Board
effectiveness evaluation is due to take place in 2024.
Corporate Governance
The Board recognises the role it has in ensuring the Company
operates in a manner that is consistent with the highest standards
of corporate governance. We have continued to strengthen Board
governance this year, which has included reviewing and updating
governance processes and policies and continuing to develop
reporting on risk management and internal controls.
Relations with Shareholders
The Board welcomes Shareholders’ views and places great
importance on communication with its Shareholders. The
Company’s AGM in particular provides a forum for Shareholders to
meet and discuss issues with the Directors of the Company, who
are also available to meet with Shareholders to hear their views
and discuss any issues or concerns, including in relation to Board
composition, governance and strategy. The Board values the
insight it gains from Shareholder engagement and I have been
delighted to have been able to meet with a range of Shareholders
this year alongside the Operator.
The Company’s Annual General Meeting will be held at 1 pm on
23 May 2024 at Plumtree Court, 25 Shoe Lane, London and details
of the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM, together with
explanations, will appear in the Notice of Meeting to be distributed
to Shareholders together with this Annual Report.
Looking Ahead
Looking forwards into 2024, the Board intends to continue to focus
on the above important matters. It will also aim to ensure new
initiatives are embedded and, taking the macroeconomic backdrop
into consideration, that they remain relevant and proportionate to
the activities of the Company. With the assistance of the Operator
and the Administrator, the Board is confident that the Company is
well positioned to continue to promote the success of the Company
as a whole.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend my thanks to all the
members of the Board and to all our service providers for their
continued dedication to the Company this year. To our
Shareholders and wider stakeholders, I thank you for your
continued support.
Naguib Kheraj
Chairman
9 April 2024
Chairman’s Introduction
47 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Our Board
An Experienced and
Independent Board
The Board comprises five individuals from relevant and complementary
backgrounds. The Directors are of the opinion that the Board as a whole
comprises an appropriate balance of skills, experience and diversity. The
Directors of the Company who were in office during the year and up to the
date of signing the financial statements are listed below.
Mr Kheraj is Chairman of Rothesay Life, a specialist
pensions insurer, and is a Senior Adviser to the Aga
Khan Development Network where he serves on the
boards of a number of entities within its network and
chairs its Endowment Committee. He is also an
advisor to the Queensway Group Ltd, a hospitality
focused business and a Member of the Board of Gavi,
The Vaccine Alliance where he chairs the Audit and
Finance Committee.
Mr Kheraj began his career at Salomon Brothers
in 1986 and went on to hold senior positions at a
number of leading financial institutions. Over the
course of 12 years at Barclays, Mr Kheraj served as
Group Finance Director and Vice-Chair and in various
business leadership positions in wealth management,
institutional asset management and investment
banking. He also served as Chief Executive Officer
of JP Morgan Cazenove. Mr Kheraj was also Deputy
Chairman of Standard Chartered plc, a major
international bank. During his tenure of over 8 years
at Standard Chartered, he served as Chairman of the
Board Risk Committee and the Board Audit Committee
and as Senior Independent Director.
Mr Kheraj is a former Non-Executive Director of
NHS England and served as a Senior Adviser to Her
Majesty’s Revenue and Customs and to the Financial
Services Authority in the United Kingdom. He has also
served as a member of the Investment Committee of
the Wellcome Trust, the Finance Committee of Oxford
University Press and the Finance Committee of the
University of Cambridge.
Mr Kheraj was educated at Dulwich College London
and Cambridge University where he graduated with
a degree in Economics.
Mr Simmons began his career as a commercial
litigation attorney in Bermuda in 1997 before
moving to the United States for business school and
joining Goldman Sachs as an investment banker in
2004. Returning to Bermuda, he became Managing
Partner/Chief Executive Officer of a reinsurance law
firm for 14 years. Mr Simmons is currently Chair and
Chief Executive Officer of Rose Investment Limited, a
Bermuda-based advisory business focused on
financial services and corporate restructuring.
Mr Simmons has a vast array of board experience. He
was Lead Director and then Chair of the Board of the
Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son Limited, where he
served from 2011 to 2017 during its ownership by
private equity after its listing on the NYSE, having
led a co-investment in the bank alongside Carlyle
and CIBC. Mr Simmons served on the board of
Bermuda’s financial services regulator, the Bermuda
Monetary Authority, for 10 years. He also previously
served as a Director at FIL Limited and currently
serves as a Director at Eight Roads, the international
public and private investing platforms of Fidelity.
Mr Simmons also serves as a Senior Advisor at
Further Global Capital Management, a private
equity firm focused on financial services companies.
Mr Simmons is Chair of the Public Funds Investment
Committee, responsible for the investment of
Bermuda’s pension funds, where he has spent 16 years
as a member of the Board. He currently leads the
Pension Fund Reform Committee established to
address the underfunded status of Bermuda’s pension
funds, serves as an advisor to Bermuda’s Minister
of Finance and sits on the Board of Argus Group,
a Bermuda multiline insurer. Mr Simmons was
appointed as a Director to the Ivy UK Co-Invest Vehicle
II Limited and Ivy Re II Limited in 2022, and Ivy Peak
Co-Invest Re Limited and Ivy Peak Co-Invest LLC in
2023. He was also appointed as a Director of Soteria
Reinsurance Ltd in June 2023 and as a Director of
Hamiliton Insurance Group in August 2023.
Mr Simmons attended the University of Kent at
Canterbury where he graduated with a law degree,
the Inns of Court School of Law where he qualified
as a barrister, and Harvard Business School where he
graduated with a Masters in Business Administration.
A R N ME
Naguib Kheraj, CBE
Chairman of the Board
Appointed
4 September 2021
R N ME
Everard Barclay
Simmons
Senior Independent
Director
Appointed
4 September 2021
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202348
Ms Durbin has 35 years of international business and
banking experience with ANZ Banking Group and
Standard Chartered PLC. Having qualified and
practised as a commercial barrister and solicitor, in
New Zealand, she moved into banking in 1987 with
ANZ. Ms Durbin joined Standard Chartered PLC, a
FTSE100 international banking group, in 1995 and
went on to hold a number of senior positions including
being CEO and executive director of a large, publicly
listed banking subsidiary in Thailand and, separately,
as CEO in the Philippines. Latterly she served as Group
Company Secretary of Standard Chartered and as a
member of the banking Group Executive Committee
with a broad portfolio of responsibilities.
Ms Durbin has served on public company boards since
2012 and currently is a non-executive director and
Chair of the Remuneration Committee at Persimmon
Plc and Chair Designate of Yorkshire Building Society.
She is also an executive coach/mentor.
Until December 2023 Ms Durbin was the senior
ringfence bank director and Remuneration Committee
Chair for Santander UK plc and Chair of Cater Allen
Private Bank.
Other former roles included being Chair of the
Listing Authority Advisory Panel (LAAP) in the United
Kingdom (advising the Financial Conduct Authority on
the effectiveness of primary markets), Non-Executive
Director & Remuneration Committee Chair of
WHSmith PLC, Non-Executive Director of Ladbrokes
Coral PLC and Fleming Family & Partners Ltd.
Ms Durbin has degrees in Law and Commerce from
the University of Auckland, is a qualified barrister
and solicitor and has a Masters (MSc) in Executive
Coaching from Ashridge Business School. She is also
a Fellow of The Chartered Governance Institute.
Ms Handling began her career in 1988 at Allen &
Overy LLP before moving to Weil, Gotshal & Manges
LLP to help open their office in London. She became
a partner there in 1998 and moved a team to Ashurst
LLP in 2001 where she founded a securities and
structured finance practice. After 10 years at Ashurst
she moved to take on the role of General Counsel in
Europe for Barclays Investment Bank from 2011 to
2015, where she served on the EMEA Executive
Committee and Global Operating Committee. She
then moved to BlackRock from 2015 to 2019 as
European General Counsel, where she served on
various boards and committees.
Ms Handling left BlackRock in 2019 to develop a
career as an executive coach, non-executive director
and charity trustee.
In addition to the Petershill Partners Board, Ms
Handling is a member of the Supervisory Board of
Dutch market maker Optiver Holding B.V.
Ms Handling also spends time working with various
charities in the criminal justice sector and is currently
Deputy Chair of St Giles Trust, as well as Chair of
Spark Inside which provides coaching in prisons.
Ms Handling was educated at Wycombe High School
and Exeter University where she graduated with a
degree in Law (LLB) before attending Guildford
Law School.
Mr Merson began his career in the financial services
division of Arthur Andersen in London in 1989,
becoming a partner in 1999. He provided audit and
advisory services to banking and investment
businesses throughout Europe before moving to
Tokyo as steward of Andersen’s investment into its
financial services business in Japan. He subsequently
returned to London to become a partner in Deloitte
Business Consulting.
In 2003, Mr Merson joined Barclays PLC as Group
Financial Controller, as the bank adopted International
Accounting Standards. In a 14-year career at Barclays
he went on to become Head of Investor Relations;
CFO for Corporate & Investment Banking; and, latterly,
Deputy Group Finance Director, in which role he was
leader of the global finance function.
Mr Merson is a founding partner of Veritum Partners
Limited, advisors to European financial services
companies on their interaction with the equity market.
In a non-executive capacity, Mr Merson is Chair
of Absa Securities UK Limited and a governor of
Sevenoaks School. He was formerly an independent
non-executive director of Absa Group Limited,
chairing the Board Finance Committee, the Group
Risk and Capital Management Committee and the
Group Credit Risk Committee.
Mr Merson is a chartered accountant and a graduate
of Oxford University.
A
A
R
R
N
N
ME
ME
Committee Membership
A
Audit and Risk
Committee
R
Remuneration
Committee
N
Nomination
Committee
ME
Management Engagement
Committee
Chair
Annemarie Durbin
Non-Executive Director
Appointed
4 September 2021
Erica Handling
Non-Executive Director
Appointed
4 September 2021
Mark Merson
Non-Executive Director
Appointed
4 September 2021
N
A
R
ME
49 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Report of the Directors
Report of the Directors
The Directors present their Annual Report and Audited Financial Statements of
the Group for the year ended 31 December 2023. The Corporate Governance
Report on pages 58 to 65 forms part of this report.
Throughout the financial year, the Board was comprised of five
Non-Executive Directors, whose details can be found on pages 48
and 49.
Capital Structure
The Company is incorporated and registered in England and Wales
under the Companies Act 2006 with registered number 13289144
as a public limited company under the name Petershill Partners plc.
As at 31 December 2023, the Company’s issued share capital
comprised 1,122,202,824 Ordinary Shares (2022: 1,135,399,597).
No shares were allotted during the year.
Shareholders are entitled to all dividends paid by the Company. On
a winding up, provided the Company has satisfied all its liabilities,
Shareholders are entitled to the surplus assets of the Company.
Shareholders are entitled to attend and vote at all general
meetings of the Company and, on a poll, to one vote for each
Ordinary Share held.
Reduction of Capital
Following approval of the cancellation of the amount standing to the
credit of the Company’s share premium account in full (“Reduction of
Capital”) by the Company’s Shareholders at its AGM held on 24 May
2023 and formal approval on 20 June 2023 by His Majesty’s High
Court in England, the court order confirming the Reduction of Capital
and a statement of capital approved by the Court were registered by
the Registrar of Companies on 26 June 2023. The Reduction of
Capital created additional distributable reserves of approximately
$3.35 billion and did not involve any distribution or repayment of
capital by the Company and does not change the total number of
shares issued by the Company or the total Shareholder funds.
Authority to Purchase Own Shares
At the AGM held on 24 May 2023, the Company was generally and
unconditionally authorised to make market purchases (within the
meaning of section 693(4) of the Companies Act 2006) of its
Ordinary Shares of $0.01 each in the capital of the Company,
subject to the following conditions:
I. The maximum number of Ordinary Shares authorised to be
purchased is 113,539,959, representing 10% of the Company’s
issued Ordinary Share capital as at 5 April 2023;
II. The minimum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for
an Ordinary Share is $0.01;
III. The maximum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for
each Ordinary Share is the higher of: (i) an amount equal to
105% of the average of the middle-market quotations of an
Ordinary Share as derived from the London Stock Exchange
Daily Official List for the five business days immediately
preceding the day on which the Ordinary Share is contracted to
be purchased; and (ii) an amount equal to the higher of the
price of the last independent trade of an Ordinary Share and the
highest current independent bid for an Ordinary Share on the
trading venue where the purchase is carried out;
IV. The authority shall expire at the close of the AGM of the Company
held in 2024 or 28 June 2024, whichever is earlier; and
V. A contract to purchase Ordinary Shares under the authority may
be made before the expiry of the authority (as per paragraph iv
above), and concluded in whole or in part after the expiry of the
authority (as per paragraph iv above).
During the year, 13,196,773 shares were purchased for a total cash
consideration of $26.3m under the above authority following a
share buyback programme announced on 17 May 2023 and the
purchased shares were cancelled. More information may be found
in note 17 on pages 107 and 108.
Special resolution 14 will be proposed at the forthcoming AGM
seeking renewal of this authority until the 2025 AGM or 30 June
2025, whichever is the earlier. The Directors believe that the renewal
of the Company’s authority to purchase shares is in the best interests
of Shareholders as a whole and therefore recommend Shareholders
to vote in favour of special resolution 14.
Major Interests in Shares
Significant shareholdings as at 31 December 2023 are
detailed below.
Ordinary Shares held %
31 December 2023
Petershill Funds 76.6%
Blacksheep Fund Management 2.9%
The Company has not been notified of any changes to the
significant shareholdings detailed above between 31 December
2023 and the date of this report.
Shares held by Goldman Sachs Asset
Management’s Private Funds
Approximately 77% of Petershill Partners shares are held by the
Petershill Funds’ private funds and funds managed for certain
co-investors. Teams within Goldman Sachs Asset Management
manage these shares and exercise discretion over how and when
they could be sold in future, on behalf of the investors in the
Petershill Funds.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202350
The following table provides further details on the holdings of the
Petershill Funds as at 31 December 2023.
As at 31 December 2023
Amount %
PH II GP Aggregator LP 108,330,412 9.7
PH II IM Aggregator LP 128,249,969 11.4
PH PE GP Aggregator LP 143,267,721 12.8
PH PE IM Aggregator LP 273,135,529 24.3
VF VII GP Aggregator LP 43,906,398 3.9
VF VII IM Aggregator LP 84,910,220 7.6
Co-Invest GP Aggregator LP 26,242,364 2.3
Co-Invest IM Aggregator LP 51,760,204 4.6
The Petershill II fund complex holds shares in Petershill Partners
through PH II GP Aggregator LP and PH II IM Aggregator LP, the
Petershill PE and the Petershill III fund complex hold shares in
Petershill Partners through PH PE GP Aggregator LP and PH PE IM
Aggregator LP, the Vintage VII fund complex holds shares in Petershill
Partners through VF VII GP Aggregator LP and VF VII IM Aggregator LP
and certain co-investor structures hold shares in Petershill Partners
through Co-Invest GP Aggregator LP and Co-Invest IM Aggregator LP.
In addition, co-investors are able to withdraw their shares from within
the pertinent management structures at any time, subject to notice,
lock-up and other customary requirements.
The interests of the Petershill II fund complex, the Petershill PE
fund complexes and the co-investor structures, on the one hand,
and the interests of the Vintage VII fund complex, on the other
hand, are managed on a day-to-day basis by distinct teams within
the larger Goldman Sachs Asset Management platform. In addition,
co-investors are able to withdraw their shares from within the
pertinent management structures at any time, subject to notice,
lock-up and other customary requirements.
Vintage VII Funds (VF VII)
While the management structure of each of the Vintage VII Funds
is slightly distinct due to the difference in jurisdiction of
incorporation and applicable legal requirements, Goldman Sachs
Asset Management, L.P., which forms part of Goldman Sachs Asset
Management, has the role of an investment manager/investment
advisor, as applicable.
Within Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P., there is (a)
a specific team (Vintage Team) responsible for day-to-day
management of investments to pursue the investment objective of
Vintage VII Funds and (b) a specific investment committee
responsible for oversight and final say on investments. These
teams are distinct from those responsible for the Petershill family
of funds, including the Company.
With respect to co-investments with the Petershill Funds, including
holdings in the Company, the Vintage Team seeks input from (and
may give weight to the views of) the Petershill team within the
Operator but does not delegate decision-making to such team.
For FTSE purposes, we believe that this setup is analogous to more
conventional equity funds managed by a single asset management
institution but with distinct and different portfolio managers.
Companies Act 2006 Disclosures
In accordance with Schedule 7 of the Large and Medium Sized
Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008,
the Directors disclose the following information:
• the Company’s capital structure is detailed in note 17 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements. Ordinary Shareholders are
entitled to attend and vote at all general meetings of the
Company. On a show of hands, every holder of Ordinary Shares in
the capital of the Company who is present in person shall have
one vote and, on a poll, every holder of Ordinary Shares present
in person or by proxy shall have one vote per Ordinary Share. All
Ordinary Shares are non-redeemable;
• There are no restrictions on voting rights and the Company is not
aware of any agreement between holders of securities that
would result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or on
voting rights;
• Other than as described below, there are no restrictions on the
transfer of securities of the Company, subject to applicable law
and regulation and contractual lock-ups for certain
Shareholders;
• The Board may, in its absolute discretion, decline to transfer,
convert or register any transfer of Ordinary Shares to any person:
(i) whose ownership of Ordinary Shares may cause the Company’s
assets to be deemed “plan assets” for the purposes of the US
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended
(“ERISA”) or the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended
(“the US Tax Code”); (ii) whose ownership of Ordinary Shares may
cause the Company to be required to register as an “investment
company” under the US Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (“the US Investment Company Act”) or to lose an
exemption or a status thereunder to which it might otherwise be
entitled (including because the holder of Ordinary Shares is not a
“qualified purchaser” as defined in the US Investment Company
Act); (iii) whose ownership of Ordinary Shares may cause the
Company to be required to register under the US Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (“the US Exchange Act”) or any similar
legislation; (iv) whose ownership of Ordinary Shares may cause the
Company to be a “controlled foreign corporation” for the purposes
of the US Tax Code or may cause the Company to suffer any
pecuniary disadvantage (including any excise tax, penalties or
liabilities under ERISA or the US Tax Code); (v) whose ownership of
Ordinary Shares may cause the Company to cease to be considered
a “foreign private issuer” for the purposes of the US Securities Act
of 1933, as amended or the US Exchange Act; or (vi) whose
ownership of Ordinary Shares would or might result in the
Company not being able to satisfy its obligations on the Common
Reporting Standard developed by the Organisation for Economic
Co-Operation and Development, the Foreign Account Tax
Compliance Act or such similar reporting obligations on account of,
inter alia, non-compliance by such person with any information
request made by the Company (each person described in (i) to (vi)
above, being a “Non-Qualified Holder”). Under the Company’s
Articles of Association, the Directors have the power to require the
sale or transfer of Ordinary Shares, or refuse to register a transfer
of Ordinary Shares, in respect of any Non-Qualified Holder;
• Subject to consultation with the Operator and within certain
restrictions, the Directors may determine changes to the
Company’s capital structure, including any reduction of capital,
share buybacks (including the use of treasury shares) or issue of
shares or other securities (subject to the existing Shareholder
authority granted on 24 May 2023 and which the Company will
seek to renew at its forthcoming AGM);
• There exist no securities carrying special rights with regard to
the control of the Company;
• The Company does not have an employees’ share scheme;
• The rules concerning the appointment and replacement of
Directors are contained in the Company’s Articles of Association
and the Companies Act 2006;
• There are no provisions in the Company’s Articles of Association
relating to amendments to the Articles of Association; there
exist no agreements to which the Company is party that may
affect its control following a takeover bid;
• There exist no agreements between the Company and its Directors
providing for compensation for loss of office that may occur
because of a takeover bid;
51 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
• The Directors’ responsibilities pursuant to section 172 of the
Companies Act 2006 are as detailed in the Strategic Report on
pages 36 and 37; and
• No political or charitable donations have been made during
theyear.
Business Review and Diversity
A business review is detailed in the Operator’s Report on pages 28
to 32, and the Company’s policy on diversity is detailed in the
Corporate Governance Report on page 61.
Directors’ Indemnity
Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance cover is in place in
respect of the Directors. The Company’s Articles of Association
state that each Director is entitled to be indemnified out of the
assets of the Company against any liability incurred by them for
negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to
the affairs of the Company to the extent permitted by law against
any loss or liability incurred by them in the execution of their
duties in relation to the affairs of the Company.
Third-party indemnity provisions in favour of the Directors were in
force for the financial year and up to the date of this report which
conform to the requirements for qualifying third-party indemnity
provision under the Company Act 2006.
Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions
All of the Company’s activities are outsourced to third parties. The
Company therefore has no greenhouse gas emissions to report
from its operations, nor does it have responsibility for any other
emissions-producing sources under the Companies Act 2006
(Strategic Report and Directors’ Reports) Regulations 2013. For
the same reasons as set out above, the Company considers itself to
be a low energy user under the UK Streamlined Energy and Carbon
Reporting regulations and therefore is not required to disclose
energy and carbon information under those regulations.
Stakeholder Engagement
The stakeholders of the Company comprise its Shareholders and
prospective Shareholders, lenders, the Operator, the Administrator,
the Company Secretary, other Service Providers, Partner-firms,
regulators and the community, and the Board recognises and
values these stakeholders and gives regular consideration to the
need to foster the Company’s business relationships with them. As
a public limited company with no employees, trade suppliers or
customers, the Company’s relationship with its service providers is
of particular importance. The effect of this consideration upon the
key decisions taken by the Company during the year is set out in
further detail in the Strategic Report on pages 34 and 35.
Risks and Risk Management
The Group is exposed to financial risks such as price risk, interest
rate risk, credit risk and liquidity risk, and the management and
monitoring of these risks are detailed in note 21 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements.
Strategic Report
A review of the business and future outlook, the going concern
statement and the principal risks and uncertainties of the Group
have not been included in this report as they are disclosed in the
Strategic Report on pages 2 to 46. In accordance with section 414C
(11) of the Companies Act 2006, the Company has chosen to
include in its Strategic Report the following information, which
would otherwise be disclosed in this Report of the Directors:
• Our engagement with suppliers, customers and others in a
business relationship with the Company; and
• Future developments in the business of the Group.
Independent Auditor
The Directors recommend the reappointment of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s independent
auditor, and resolutions concerning this and the remuneration of
the Company’s independent auditor will be proposed at the AGM.
At the time that this report was approved:
• so far as each of the Directors is aware, there is no relevant audit
information of which the independent auditor is unaware; and
• each Director has taken all the steps they ought to have taken as
a Director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant
audit information and to establish that the independent auditor
is aware of that information.
Annual Report
After due consideration, the Directors believe that the Annual
Report and Financial Statements, taken as a whole, are fair,
balanced and understandable and therefore are of the opinion that
the Annual Report provides the information necessary for
Shareholders to assess the position, performance, strategy and
business model of the Group and Company.
The Board recommends that the Annual Report, the Report of the
Directors and the Independent Auditors’ Report for the year ended
31 December 2023 are received and adopted by the Shareholders
and a resolution concerning this will be proposed at the AGM.
Dividend
The Board has recommended a final dividend of 10.1 cents per
share, with respect to the year ended 31 December 2023. For more
information on the Company’s dividend policy see page 29.
Subsequent Events
Significant subsequent events have been disclosed in note 24
to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
On behalf of the Board
Naguib Kheraj
Chairman
9 April 2024
Report of the Directors continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202352
Chair’s Statement
The Directors’ Remuneration Report that follows has been
prepared in accordance with the Listing Rules, the Large and
Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports)
(Amendment) Regulations 2013 and the Companies Act 2006.
We were pleased with the support given for the remuneration
resolution passed at the Company’s AGM on 24 May 2023, with
almost 100% of votes in favour approving the Directors’
Remuneration Report for the period ended 31 December 2022.
This Directors’ Remuneration Report covers the year ended
31 December 2023. As a reminder, the Company does not have any
executive directors, management or employees, so this report relates
solely to the Chairman and other Non-Executive Directors.
This Directors’ Remuneration Report consists of three parts:
• The Directors’ Remuneration Policy (the “Policy”) which sets out
the remuneration framework that applies to the Chairman and the
other Non-Executive Directors. This was approved by Shareholders
at the Company’s AGM on 31 May 2022 and the Policy will next be
put to a vote by Shareholders at the 2025 AGM;
• The Annual Report on Remuneration. This explains how the
Directors have been paid in the financial year and will be subject
to an advisory vote at the Company’s forthcoming AGM; and
• The Annual Statement, which summarises the Remuneration
Committee’s activities, including our approach to remuneration,
key decisions made and the context for those decisions.
The Context of Remuneration Decisions
The Board’s remuneration remains consistent with the
disclosures contained in the Company’s Prospectus dated
28 September 2021 and fees have not increased since the Company
listed on 1 October 2021. The fees set out in the remainder of this
report reflect the scale and complexity of the Company and its
intended growth strategy, as well as the alternative opportunities
that otherwise would have been available to the Non-Executive
Directors, based on their skills and experience.
The original fees anticipated the time commitment which would be
expected of the Chairman and Non-Executive Directors and although
the time commitment continues to be higher than originally
anticipated, it is becoming more normalised as the Company
continues to mature. Whilst there is no proposal to revisit fees at this
stage, in accordance with best practice, in Q1 2024, the Committee’s
remuneration advisor, FIT Remuneration Consultants LLP (“FIT”),
reported on remuneration market trends, including benchmarking
data for the Chairman’s and the Non-Executive Directors’ fees.
Directors’ Remuneration Policy
The Directors’ Remuneration Policy was approved by Shareholders at
the Company’s AGM on 31 May 2022. When designing the Policy, the
Remuneration Committee was mindful of the six factors listed in the
UK Code: clarity, simplicity, risk, predictability, proportionality and
alignment to culture. The Company has no employees and, therefore,
the Policy relates solely to the fees which are payable to the
Chairman and other Non-Executive Directors. No elements of the fees
are linked to financial or other performance of the Company.
Implementing the Policy for Full Year 2024
There are no planned changes to the fee levels for 2024.
Conclusions
We will continue to engage with our Shareholders and other
stakeholders on an ongoing basis. I welcome any feedback or
comments on the Directors’ Remuneration Report more generally.
Annemarie Durbin
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
9 April 2024
Directors’ Remuneration Report
Directors’ Remuneration Report
53 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Directors’ Remuneration Policy
The Directors’ Remuneration Policy was approved by Shareholders at the Company’s AGM on 31 May 2022. The Remuneration Committee
intends that the Policy will operate for three years and will next be submitted for approval by Shareholders at the Company’s 2025 AGM.
It is not part of the Company’s strategy to appoint executive directors (or indeed any employees). However, in the highly unlikely event that
the Company subsequently chooses to appoint executive directors, it would then develop a policy which would be subject to Shareholder
approval before such Board appointments could be made.
Fees Policy for Chairman and Non-Executive Directors
The following table summarises the fees policy for the Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors.
Element of pay Purpose/link to strategy Operation/performance Maximum
Fees To provide a competitive fee
to attract Non-Executive
Directors who have the
requisite skills and experience
to oversee the implementation
of the Company’s strategy.
Fees for the Chairman are set by the Committee.
Fees for the other Non-Executive Directors are
set by the Board. Directors are recused from any
decision relating to their fees.
Fees are reviewed, but not necessarily increased,
annually.
Fee levels are determined based on expected
time commitments for each role and by
reference to comparable fee levels in other
similar-sized companies.
Additional fees are payable to the Senior
Independent Director and Chairs of Board
Committees to reflect their additional
responsibilities.
Additional fees may be paid for other
responsibilities which include a higher time
commitment than normal.
The overall aggregate annual
limit for fees payable to the
Chairman and Non-Executive
Directors is £2 million.
Expenses To facilitate the performance
of their duties.
Reasonable business expenses (including any tax
thereon) will be reimbursed.
Variable pay Bonuses, shares and long-term
incentives.
There is no provision for the payment of variable
pay. The Chair and Non-Executive Directors do not
receive bonuses or LTIP awards from the Company.
Therefore, there are no recoupment (malus or
clawback) provisions relating to variable pay.
There is no minimum shareholding requirement.
Actual shareholdings are shown on page 56.
Directors’ Remuneration Report continued
Non-Executive Directors’ Terms of
Appointment
The Non-Executive Directors do not have service contracts with
the Company, but instead have letters of appointment. The date of
appointment and length of service for each Non-Executive Director
up to the year-end are shown in the table below:
Date of appointment Length of service
Naguib Kheraj (Chairman) 4 September 2021 28 months
Everard Barclay Simmons 4 September 2021 28 months
Annemarie Durbin 4 September 2021 28 months
Erica Handling 4 September 2021 28 months
Mark Merson 4 September 2021 28 months
Each Non-Executive Director is subject to annual re-election by
Shareholders at the AGM. None of the Non-Executive Directors are
appointed for a fixed term. The appointment of the Chairman may be
terminated by either the Chairman or the Company giving six months’
notice. The appointment of each of the other Non-Executive Directors
may be terminated by either that Non-Executive Director or the
Company giving three months’ notice. Payment may be made in lieu
of providing the full notice period.
Statement of Consideration of
Shareholder Views
The Committee is advised on investor views and continues to
engage with Shareholders and to respond to Shareholder feedback.
Material changes to the Policy will be subject to prior consultation
with major Shareholders.
The Company has no employees and, therefore, there were no such
persons with whom to consult.
Recruitment Policy
The remuneration package for any new Chairman or Non-Executive
Director will be set in accordance with the terms of the Policy in
place at the time of appointment, including the overall cap on fees.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202354
Annual Report on Remuneration
Single Total Figure of Remuneration (Audited)
For the year ended 31 December 2023 For the year ended 31 December 2022
2023 Fees
(£’000)
Taxable
1
Benefits
(£’000)
Total 2023
(£’000) (£’000)
Taxable
1
Benefits
(£’000)
Total
(£’000)
Naguib Kheraj 475 – 475 475 – 475
Everard Barclay Simmons 175 28 203 175 9 184
Annemarie Durbin 155 – 155 155 – 155
Erica Handling 150 – 150 150 – 150
Mark Merson 170 – 170 170 – 170
Total 1,125 28 1,153 1,125 9 1,134
2023 Fee
% change
2023 Taxable
Benefits %
change
1
2022 Fee
% change
2022 Taxable
Benefits %
change
1
Naguib Kheraj - - – –
Everard Barclay Simmons - 211.1% – (69.0)%
Annemarie Durbin - - – –
Erica Handling - - – –
Mark Merson - - – –
Notes to Single Total Figure of Remuneration Table
1.Taxable benefits relate to reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses to attend Board meetings, together with associated taxes.
Fees
The Company is operationally complex and, in the absence of any employees, the expectation on the Company’s Board members is
considerably greater when compared to traditional investment companies. This is reflected in the fees paid to the Chairman and other
Non-Executive Directors. The Board’s skills matrix reflects the balance of the knowledge, skills, qualifications, and experience required to
discharge its duty of stewardship over the Group.
The Chairman and Non-Executive Director fees remain unchanged from 2022 as set out below and have not increased since the company
listed on 1 October 2021:
Fees
(£’000)
Chairman of the Board fee 475
NED base fee 120
Senior Independent Director fee 25
Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee 35
Chair of the Remuneration Committee 10
Member of the Audit and Risk Committee 15
Member of the Nomination, Remuneration or Management Engagement Committees (per Committee) 5
There are no proposed changes for 2024.
Expenses
Expenses includes the reimbursement (including any tax payable) of business-related costs.
55 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
As Independent Non-Executive Directors, no Director participates
in any form of incentives. The Company’s mid-market share price at
the close of business on 31 December 2023 was 170p (2022: 169p)
and the range of the mid-market price during the year was 142p to
179p (from year-end 2021 to year-end 2022: 165p to 286p).
Total Shareholder Return Performance
The following chart shows the value of £100 invested in the
Company (at the date of Admission) compared with the value of
£100 invested in the FTSE 250 Index. We have chosen the FTSE 250
Index as it provides the most appropriate and widely recognised
index for benchmarking the Company’s corporate performance
since Admission.
Total Shareholder Return
Value of a 100 unit investment made at Admission
Annual Statement on the
Role and Activities of the
Remuneration Committee
Role and Responsibilities of the
Remuneration Committee
Whilst the Board is ultimately responsible for setting the Directors’
remuneration, the Remuneration Committee is responsible for
determining the remuneration of the Chairman and setting the
fees accordingly and reviewing the ongoing appropriateness and
relevance of remuneration levels of the Board as a whole. Any
remuneration consists only of fees and expenses. The Committee is
also responsible for appointing external remuneration
consultants. Directors do not set their own levels of remuneration
and are expected to recuse themselves from discussions pertaining
to their fees. The Committee is responsible for recommending the
Remuneration Policy for approval by Shareholders every three
years, and approval of the annual disclosures in relation to the
implementation of the Remuneration Policy. FIT Remuneration
Consultants LLP remain as advisors to the Committee on
remuneration matters.
The Remuneration Committee meets at least once a year. The
members of the Remuneration Committee are Annemarie Durbin
(Chair), Naguib Kheraj, Everard Barclay Simmons, Erica Handling
and Mark Merson. As all of the Directors are independent and there
are no executives, the Committee’s membership comprises the
whole Board.
Advisors
The Committee appointed FIT Remuneration Consultants LLP
as its independent advisor early in 2022. FIT is a member of the
Remuneration Consultants’ Group and complies with its Code of
Conduct which sets out guidelines to ensure that its advice is
independent and free of undue influence. Fees charged for time
incurred in respect of the year ended 31 December 2023 amounted
to £12,970 ($15,970) (2022: £11,508 ($13,925)). FIT has no other
connection with the Company and its only connection with its
Non-Executive Directors is as advisor to other remuneration
committees on which they may serve.
Key Activities During the Year
The Committee held a meeting on 19 January 2023 in which the
remuneration of the Chairman was reviewed and the remuneration
of the other Board members was considered. The Committee also
reviewed the Committee terms of reference, which were
recommended for approval by the Board.
Other Statutory Requirements
Share Interests (Audited)
There is no requirement for Directors to hold shares in the
Company. The Directors who held office during the year and had
interests in the Ordinary Shares of the Company as at 31 December
2023 are set out below.
Shares owned
31 December 2023
Shares owned
31 December 2022
Naguib Kheraj* 895,000 550,000
Everard Barclay Simmons – –
Annemarie Durbin – –
Erica Handling 85,714 85,714
Mark Merson 114,285 114,285
* 300,000 of Mr Kheraj’s shares are held directly and the balance is held through a
Self-Invested Personal Pension.
Directors’ Remuneration Report continued
Relative Importance of Spend on Pay
The table below shows amounts paid to the Company’s Non-
Executive Directors compared to amounts distributed to
Shareholders by way of dividends and share buybacks.
Non-Executive
Director Fees
£m
Distributions by way
of dividends and
share buybacks
$m
For the year ended
31 December 2023 1.1 206.5
For the year ended
31 December 2022 1.1 120.3
Percentage change - 71.6%
CEO Pay Ratio
The Company has no Chief Executive or any equivalent executives
and no employees, so no such ratio is required.
Payments for Loss of Office and/or Payments
to Former Directors (Audited)
No payments for loss of office, nor payments to former Directors,
were made during the year.
On behalf of the Remuneration Committee
Annemarie Durbin
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
9 April 2024
Petershill Partners FTSE 250 Index
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Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202356
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report
and Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and
regulations.
The Companies Act 2006 requires the Directors to prepare
financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the
Directors have prepared the Group’s and the Company’s financial
statements in accordance with UK-Adopted International Accounting
Standards. Under company law the Directors must not approve the
financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true
and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Company and of
the profit or loss for the Group for that period.
In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to:
• select suitable accounting policies in accordance with International
Accounting Standard 8 “Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting
Estimates and Errors” and then apply them consistently;
• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable
and prudent;
• present information, including accounting policies, in a manner
that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable
information;
• provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific
requirements of IFRS are insufficient to enable users to
understand the impact of particular transactions, other events
and conditions on the Group and Company financial position and
performance;
• state whether applicable UK-adopted International Accounting
Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures
disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and
• prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless
it is inappropriate to presume that the Company and/or the
Group will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting
records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group and
Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy
at any time the financial position of the Group and Company
and enable them to ensure that the financial statements and the
Directors’ Remuneration Report comply with the Companies Act
2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of
the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
In the case of each Director in office at the date the Report of the
Directors is approved:
• so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit
information of which the Group’s and Company’s independent
auditor is unaware; and
• they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a
Director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit
information and to establish that the Group’s and Company’s
independent auditor is aware of that information.
Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors are also
responsible for preparing a Strategic Report, Report of the Directors,
Directors’ Remuneration Report and Corporate Governance Report
that comply with that law and those regulations.
The Directors are also responsible under section 172 of the
Companies Act 2006 for promoting the success of the Company for
the benefit of its members as a whole and in doing so having regard
for the needs of wider society and other stakeholders.
Website Publication
The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of
the Company’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing
the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ
from legislation in other jurisdictions.
Directors’ Responsibilities Pursuant to DTR4
The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge:
• the Group and Company financial statements, which have been
prepared in accordance with UK-adopted International Accounting
Standards, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities and
financial position and profit or loss of the Group and Company, and
of the profit or loss of the Group;
• the Annual Report and Financial Statements, including the
Strategic Report, includes a fair review of the development and
performance of the business and the position of the Company
and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as
a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and
uncertainties that they face; and
• they consider that this Annual Report and Financial Statements,
taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and
provides the information necessary for Shareholders to assess the
Company’s and the Group’s position and performance, business
model and strategy.
On behalf of the Board
Naguib Kheraj
Chairman
9 April 2024
Directors’ Responsibilities Statement
Directors’ Responsibilities
Statement
57 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Corporate Governance Report
This Corporate Governance Report forms part of the Report of the Directors
as disclosed on pages 50 to 52. The Board operates under a framework for
corporate governance which is appropriate for closed-ended investment
funds. This report describes how the Company has applied the principles
identified in the Association of Investment Companies Code of Corporate
Governance (the AIC Code) during the year ended 31 December 2023.
The AIC Code
The Board is committed to the highest standards of corporate
governance and operates under an appropriate framework for
corporate governance for a listed investment company. All
companies with a premium listing of equity shares in the UK are
required under the UK Listing Rules to report on how they have
applied the UK Corporate Governance Code in their Annual Report
and financial statements. The Company became a member of the
AIC with effect from 1 October 2021 and has put in place
arrangements to comply with the AIC Code unless otherwise
disclosed. By reporting against the AIC Code, as explained by the
AIC Guide, the Company meets its obligations in relation to the UK
Corporate Governance Code.
The AIC Code and the related AIC Guide are available on the AIC’s
website, www.theaic.co.uk. It includes an explanation of how the
AIC Code adapts the principles and provisions set out in the UK
Corporate Governance Code to make them relevant for investment
companies.
The Company has complied with the recommendations and
relevant principles and provisions of the AIC Code, during the year
ended 31 December 2023.
Purpose and Culture
The Company’s purpose is to provide Shareholders with best-in-
class access to the growth and profitability of the alternative asset
management industry, focusing on the quality of recurring
earnings.
As the Company has no employees, the Board has agreed that its
culture and values should be aligned with those of the Operator to
encourage a culture that is responsive to the views of its
stakeholders. This is reflected in the way in which Board meetings
are conducted. The Chairman promotes and facilitates a strong
culture of open debate on topics, encouraging participation and
input from all Directors, the Operator and other advisors and
service providers to ensure a wide exchange of views. The
Directors are committed to providing the highest standards of
diligence in governance and reporting and to maintaining a
constructive and collaborative relationship with the Operator,
while ensuring that the Operator manages conflicts of interest
appropriately. The Company has delegated its operating
responsibilities to the Operator and is reassured by and supportive
of the Operator’s values.
The Board sets the strategy for the Company to align with its
purpose. Having a strong culture of collaboration and transparency
will help the Company achieve its strategy to offer high-quality
Partner-firms a “win-win” solution as a source of partnership and
capital. It will also help Partner-firms build enduring businesses
that are responsive to the trends we expect to shape the future,
while maintaining alignment with our Shareholders, Operator,
Partner-firms and service providers. The Board has focused on
ensuring that this culture is embedded across the Company’s
operations and monitors progress in that regard.
The Board undertakes continued engagement with the Operator
and other advisors and service providers to ensure that practices
and behaviour throughout the business are aligned with the
Company’s purpose and strategy. They are also formally reviewed
as part of the Board and the Operator evaluation process.
The Board
The Company is led and controlled by an independent Board of
Directors, who are collectively responsible for the long-term
success of the Company. It does this by creating and preserving
value and has acting in the interests of Shareholders, other
stakeholders and wider society as its foremost principle. The
importance of the Board’s role to the delivery of the Company’s
purpose, values and strategy is further outlined within the
Strategic Report, in the Chairman’s Statement (pages 6 and 7) and
in our Business Model (pages 8 and 9).
The Company believes that the composition of the Board will be
a fundamental driver of its success, as the Board must provide
strong and effective governance of the Company. The Directors, as
their biographies on pages 48 and 49 illustrate, bring a breadth of
knowledge, skills and business experience to the Company. The
Non-Executive Directors provide independent challenge and
review, bringing wide experience, specific expertise and a fresh
objective perspective.
The Company has no employees, and all five Directors, who were
appointed on a Non-Executive basis on 4 September 2021, are
independent of the Company’s Operator and free from any
business or other relationship that could materially interfere with
the exercise of their independent judgement.
The AIC Code requires that Directors be subject to an annual
re-election by Shareholders, and the Directors comply with this
requirement. All of the Directors, including the Chairman, shall
offer themselves for re-election at the forthcoming AGM. Having
considered their effectiveness, demonstration of commitment to
the role, length of service, attendance at meetings and
contribution to the Board’s deliberations, the Board approves the
nomination for re-election of all of the Directors at the
forthcoming AGM.
Corporate Governance Report
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202358
The Chairman of the Board is independent and is appointed in
accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association. Mr Kheraj is
considered to be independent because he, among other criteria:
• has no current or historical employment with the Operator;
• has not provided services to the Operator within the last three
years; and
• has no current Directorships or partnerships in any other
investment fund managed by the Operator.
The responsibilities of the Chairman are available on the
Company’s website. The terms and conditions of appointment of
non-executive Directors are available for inspection from the
Company’s registered office.
The Board has regular planned formal meetings at least four times
during a full year and holds such additional ad-hoc meetings as are
necessary to fulfil its duties. See page 62 for a full list of meetings
that have taken place during the year. Directors are given access to
the information necessary to assist them in the performance of
their duties. An agenda and Board papers are circulated to the
Directors in advance of Board meetings to allow them adequate
opportunity for review and preparation for Board meetings.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Directors have adopted a formal schedule of matters
specifically reserved for Board approval, which are set out on the
Company’s website. The primary focus at Board meetings is a
review of investment activity, performance, business conduct and
policy and associated matters such as asset allocation, share price
discount/premium management, investor relations, acquisitions,
acquisition policies, peer group information, capital structure,
industry issues and principal risks and uncertainties – in particular
those identified in the Strategic Report on pages 41 to 43.
The Directors have overall responsibility for overseeing the
performance of the Operator and the Group’s activities. The Company
has entered into the Operator Agreement with the Operator, pursuant
to which the Operator is responsible for the risk and portfolio
management of the Group’s assets, and has full discretionary authority
to enter into transactions for and on behalf of the Group provided they
are permitted by the Company’s Acquisition Strategy and Investment
Policy, subject to the following:
• Where the value of a proposed acquisition of an Alternative
Asset Manager Stake represents between 5% and 12% of the
Company’s market capitalisation, the Operator will submit such
proposal to the Board for review and consultation; and
• Where the value of a proposed acquisition of an Alternative Asset
Manager Stake represents more than 12% of the Company’s
market capitalisation, the Operator will submit such proposal to
the Board for approval and will publicly announce the acquisition
with such announcement also subject to Board approval.
The Directors also review and supervise the Company’s advisors
and service providers, including the Operator. The Directors may
delegate certain functions to other parties. In particular, the
Directors have delegated responsibility for management of the
Company’s portfolio of investments to the Operator. Between
meetings there is regular contact with the Operator and the
Administrator. The Board is supplied with information by the
Operator, the Administrator and other advisors in a form
appropriate to enable it to discharge its duties.
The Board has responsibility for ensuring that the Company keeps
proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy
at any time the financial position of the Company and which enable it
to ensure that the financial statements comply with applicable
regulation. It is the Board’s responsibility to present a fair, balanced
and understandable Annual Report, which provides the information
necessary for Shareholders to assess the position, performance,
strategy and business model of the Company. This responsibility
extends to the half-year and other price-sensitive public reports.
The Directors have access to Ocorian as Administrator, a third-
party service provider that provides company secretarial and
governance advice and services and is responsible to the Board
for ensuring that Board procedures are followed and that it
complies with applicable law and regulations of the London Stock
Exchange and the provisions of the AIC Code. Where necessary, in
carrying out their duties, the Directors may seek independent
professional advice and services at the expense of the Company.
The Company maintains Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance
in respect of legal action against its Directors on an ongoing basis.
UK Market Abuse Regulation
The Company has adopted a code of securities dealings based on
the requirements of the UK Market Abuse Regulation. The Directors
are responsible for taking all proper and reasonable steps to
ensure compliance with this code.
The Board also considers whether the Company has inside
information and if an announcement obligation has arisen. The
Board reviews the scope and content of disclosures in order to
ensure that information released to the market by the Company is
appropriate. It is responsible for reviewing the systems, procedures
and controls in place to enable the Company to comply with its
legal and regulatory obligations in relation to inside information.
Conflicts of Interest
The Board is also responsible for reviewing and considering
any actual or potential conflicts of interest referred to it in
accordance with the Company’s conflicts of interest policy and for
approving any such conflicts. At least annually, the Board reviews
the adequacy of disclosure to Shareholders regarding potential
conflicts of interest and the effectiveness of the Company’s
conflicts of interest policy. In addition, the Board is responsible
for reviewing and approving any related party transactions. Other
key matters requiring Board approval include capital allocation
and capital structure, the Company’s dividend policy and changes
to the Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy.
In accordance with Provision 9 of the AIC Code, the appointment
of any Director has included consideration of the time they have
available to the role. Any additional external appointments will be
submitted by Directors to the Board for approval before the
appointment is accepted.
Communicating with Shareholders
In the performance of its duties, the Board is committed to
maintaining a good understanding of the views of Shareholders
and considerable importance is attached to communicating with
Shareholders.The Board’s responsibilities for the Annual Report
are set out in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement.
Senior Independent Director
The Company has appointed Everard Barclay Simmons as Senior
Independent Director. The Senior Independent Director acts as a
sounding board for the Chairman, serves as an intermediary for the
other Directors and Shareholders, and leads the annual review of
the Chairman’s performance. The responsibilities of the Senior
Independent Director are available on the Company’s website.
59 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Board Committees
The Company has established an Audit and Risk Committee,
a Remuneration Committee, a Nomination Committee and a
Management Engagement Committee, each of which have formally
delegated duties and responsibilities and written terms of reference
that have been approved by the Board. The terms of reference for
each Committee are available on the Company’s website and
reviewed on an annual basis.
The Directors believe that the Board and its Committees have an
appropriate composition and blend of skills, experience, independence
and diversity of backgrounds to discharge their duties and
responsibilities effectively. The Directors are of the view that no one
individual or small group dominates decision-making. The Board keeps
its membership, and that of its Committees, under review to ensure
that an acceptable balance is maintained, and that the collective skills
and experience of its members continue to be refreshed. It is satisfied
that all Directors have sufficient time to devote to their roles and that
undue reliance is not placed on any individual.
All Committee members are provided with appropriate induction on
joining their respective Committees, as well as ongoing access to
training. Minutes of all meetings of the Committees are made
available to all Directors, and feedback from each of the Committees
is provided to the Board by the respective Committee Chairs at the
next Board meeting. The Chair of each Committee attends the AGM to
answer any questions on their Committee’s activities.
The Board and its Committees are provided with information that
enables the Directors to discharge their duties effectively. All
Directors are able to make further enquiries of the Operator
whenever necessary and have access to the services of the
Company Secretary.
Audit and Risk Committee
The members of the Audit and Risk Committee are Mark Merson
(Chair), Everard Barclay Simmons, Annemarie Durbin and Erica
Handling. The Audit and Risk Committee, the Operator, the
Administrator and the independent auditor have held discussions
regarding the audit approach and identified risks. The Audit and
Risk Committee meets at least four times a year pursuant to its
terms of reference. Further details on the roles and responsibilities
of the Audit and Risk Committee and its key activities during the
year are contained in the Audit and Risk Committee Report on
pages 66 to 68.
Remuneration Committee
The members of the Remuneration Committee are Annemarie
Durbin (Chair), Naguib Kheraj, Everard Barclay Simmons, Erica
Handling and Mark Merson. In accordance with the
recommendations of the AIC Code, all members of the Remuneration
Committee are Non-Executive Directors, and the Chair of the
Remuneration Committee has the relevant experience and
understanding of the Company. Given the small size of the Board, all
members of the Board are members of the Remuneration
Committee. Further details on the roles and responsibilities of
Remuneration Committee and its key activities during the year are
contained in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 53 to 56.
Nomination Committee
The members of the Nomination Committee are Naguib Kheraj
(Chair), Everard Barclay Simmons, Annemarie Durbin, Erica
Handling and Mark Merson. Given the small size of the Board, all
members of the Board are members of the Nomination Committee.
The Nomination Committee meets at least once a year pursuant to
its terms of reference.
Roles and Responsibilities
The Nomination Committee leads the process for Board appointments,
reappointments and the succession planning process. The Nomination
Committee is responsible for monitoring and assessing the structure,
size and composition of the Board, including the skills, knowledge,
independence, experience and diversity of its members, and making
recommendations to the Board with regard to any changes. With
regard to Board appointments, the Nomination Committee prepares
specifications of the roles and responsibilities, including expected time
commitments, and consideration is given to the existing experience,
knowledge and background of current Board members, as well as the
strategic and business objectives of the Company. The Committee
would then use open advertising and/or an external search consultancy
to facilitate recruitment. The appointment of any new Director is made
on merit and against objective criteria with the aim of bringing
complementary skills and different perspectives to the Board, while
promoting diversity of gender, and of social and ethnic background.
Any additional external appointments are submitted for Board
approval before the appointment is accepted. The Nomination
Committee is responsible for ensuring an annual Board evaluation
process is conducted detailing the nature and extent of any external
evaluator’s contact with the Board and individual Directors (once every
three years), the outcomes and actions taken and how it influences
Board composition. As a result, the Nomination Committee also makes
recommendations to the Board in relation to the composition of the
Audit and Risk Committee and Remuneration Committee, and any
other Board committees as appropriate.
Key Activities During the Year
The Nomination Committee held a meeting on 19 January 2024 to
consider Board succession planning and the Board skills matrix and
to discuss the recommendations following the internal Board
evaluation review. More information on the process and outcomes
of the internal Board evaluation are contained on page 63. The
Nomination Committee also reviewed the Committee terms of
reference, which were recommended for approval by the Board.
Management Engagement Committee
The members of the Management Engagement Committee are
Naguib Kheraj (Chair), Everard Barclay Simmons, Annemarie Durbin,
Erica Handling and Mark Merson. Given the small size of the Board,
all members of the Board are members of the Management
Engagement Committee. The Management Engagement Committee
meets at least once a year pursuant to its terms of reference.
Roles and Responsibilities
The role of the Management Engagement Committee is to provide
a formal mechanism for the review of the performance of the
Operator and the Company’s other advisors and service providers.
It carries out this review through consideration of a number of
objective criteria and through a review of the terms and conditions
of the advisors’ and service providers’, appointments with the aim
of evaluating performance, identifying any weaknesses and
ensuring value for money for Shareholders. The Management
Engagement Committee specifically considers matters such as:
• monitoring and evaluating the Operator’s investment
performance and, if necessary, providing appropriate guidance;
• regularly reviewing the scope and the continued retention of the
Operator’s services;
• considering the merit of obtaining, on a regular basis, an
independent appraisal of the Operator’s services; and
• reviewing the level and method of remuneration, the basis of
profit-sharing charge and the notice period.
Corporate Governance Report continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202360
The Management Engagement Committee is responsible for
reviewing the terms of the Operator Agreement and monitoring
and evaluating the performance of the Operator and its compliance
with the Operator Agreement.
Key Activities During the Year
The Management Engagement Committee held four meetings
during the year, on 27 March 2023, 24 May 2023, 7 September
2023 and 2 November 2023. During the year, the Board evaluated
the performance of the Operator, the Administrator and Company
Secretary in Q2 2023 and, whilst improvement points have been
noted and an action plan is underway, the Board concluded that
their performance had been satisfactory. Furthermore, the Board
evaluation process produced specific action points for the
Operator, Administrator and Company Secretary to enhance their
support to the Board in contribution to the improvement of the
Board’s effectiveness. More information about the Board
evaluation can be found on page 63.
The Management Engagement Committee formally reviewed
the performance of the other key service providers in Q1 2023. No
material issues were raised and all key service providers continue
to deliver in line with the terms of their engagements.
Directors’ Attendance at Board and
Committee Meetings
One of the key criteria the Board uses when selecting Non-
Executive Directors is their confirmation prior to their appointment
that they will be able to allocate sufficient time to the Company to
discharge their responsibilities in a timely and effective manner.
The Board formally met ten times during the year ended
31 December 2023.
Directors are encouraged when they are unable to attend a meeting
to give the Chairman their views and comments on matters to be
discussed, in advance. In addition to their meeting commitments, the
Directors also liaise with the Operator whenever required and there is
regular contact outside the Board meeting schedule.
Board Diversity Policy
The Board acknowledges the importance of all aspects of
diversity for the effective functioning of the Board and commits
to supporting diversity in the boardroom. During the year, the
Board approved a Company-specific diversity policy which will be
reviewed at least once a year. It is the Board’s ongoing aspiration
to have a diverse Board, and the Board broadly complies with
gender and ethnicity guidelines currently. Appointments to the
Board are based on merit and objective criteria and within this
context promote diversity of gender, of social and ethnic
background and of cognitive and personal strengths. The Board
also values diversity of business skills and experience because
Directors with diverse skill sets, capabilities and experience gained
from different geographical backgrounds, enhance the Board by
bringing a wide range of perspectives to the Company.
The Company’s compliance with the FCA’s diversity disclosure
requirements is set out below. These targets are:
• At least 40% of the board are women;
• At least one of the senior board positions (Chair, Chief Executive
Officer (CEO), Senior Independent Director (SID) or Chief
Financial Officer (CFO)) is a woman; and
• At least one member of the board is from a minority ethnic
background.
The Board is cognisant that the positions of Chairman and Senior
Independent Director are both currently occupied by men, which
does not meet the FCA's targets on board diversity set out at
Listing Rule 9.8.6R(9)(a)(ii) relating to a senior board position
being held by a woman. However, the Board notes that such
requirements were not specifically designed with companies which
may not have any executive directors in mind, which is specifically
acknowledged by the FCA in Listing Rule 15.4.29AR.
Notwithstanding this, the Company has met, or exceeded, the targets
contained in Listing Rule 9.8.6R(9)(a)(i) and (iii) relating to gender
and ethnic diversity. The Board has committed to setting criteria for
future appointments and, in considering succession planning, to
ensure that the targets relating to a senior board position being held
by a woman are met in future. However, given the short tenure of the
Board and in the interest of continuity, this target cannot reasonably
be met at this time.
As at the date of this report, and as explained above, the
composition of the Board is as follows (for the purposes of Listing
Rule 9.8.6R(10)):
Number
of Board
members
in scope
Percentage
of the Board
Number of senior
positions on the
Board (CEO, CFO,
SID and Chair)*
Men 3 60% 2
Women 2 40% 0
Not specified/prefer not to say 0 0% 0
* The positions of CEO and CFO are not applicable to the Company as an externally
managed investment fund with no employees. Senior Board positions will continue to
be reviewed.
Number
of Board
members
in scope
Percentage
of the Board
Number of senior
positions on the
Board (CEO, CFO,
SID and Chair)*
White British or other White
(including minority-white
groups) 3 60% 0
Mixed/Multiple Ethnic Groups 1 20% Chairman
Asian/Asian British – – –
Black/African/Caribbean
/Black British 1 20%
Senior
Independent
Director
Other ethnic group, including
Arab – – –
Not specified/prefer not to say – – –
The above information is based on voluntary self-declaration from
the Directors, who were asked to indicate which of the categories
specified in the prescribed tables were most applicable to them.
The Operator has a diverse employee base and continues to
dedicate recruiting resources to increasing diversity across all
positions and levels. The Operator recognises that diversity at
senior management level is an area for improvement, particularly
female representation at executive level.
The Board recognises the importance of an inclusive and diverse
Board in facilitating a collaborative culture and enhancing the
delivery of the Company’s strategic objectives. The Board will
continue to monitor and actively work on ensuring that it maintains
and nurtures a Board that is as diverse as possible. This baseline
representation and understanding will help inform the
development of future initiatives on diversity and inclusion.
61 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Board Tenure and Re-Election
As the Company was incorporated on 24 March 2021 and all
Directors were appointed on 4 September 2021, no issues have
arisen to be considered by the Board with respect to long tenure. In
accordance with the AIC Code, in the event that any Director shall
have been in office (or on re-election would have been in office at
the end of that term of office) for more than nine years, the
Directors will consider further whether there is a risk that such a
Director might reasonably be deemed to have lost independence
through such long service. In accordance with the AIC Code, the
Board recognises that Directors serving nine years or more may
appear to have their independence impaired. However, the Board
may nonetheless consider Directors to remain independent beyond
nine years’ tenure and in such circumstances would provide a clear
explanation within future annual report and financial statements
as to its reasoning.
The Board approved the Chair Tenure Policy in November 2023.
The Company’s policy on Chair tenure is that the Chair should
normally serve no longer than nine years as a Director and Chair
but, where it is in the best interests of the Company, its
Shareholders and stakeholders, the Chair may serve for a limited
time beyond that. In such circumstances, the independence of the
other Directors will ensure that the Board as a whole remains
independent. The Board's view is that the continuity and
experience of its Directors is important and that a suitable balance
needs to be struck with the need for independence and the
refreshing of the skills and expertise of the Board. The Directors
believe that some limited flexibility in its approach to Chair tenure
will enable it to manage succession planning more effectively.
The Board considers its composition and succession planning on an
ongoing basis. All Directors will stand for re-election at the
Company’s AGM on 23 May 2024. A Director who retires at an AGM
may, if willing to continue to act, be elected or re-elected at that
meeting. If, at a general meeting at which a Director retires, the
Company neither re-elects that Director nor appoints another
person to the Board in the place of that Director, the retiring
Director shall, if willing to act, be deemed to have been re-elected
unless at the general meeting it is resolved not to fill the vacancy
or unless a resolution for the re-election of the Director is put to
the meeting and not passed.
See page 60 for a description of the Board appointment process.
Following a full review of the effectiveness of the Board, its
Committees and each Director, the Board considers that each
Director continues to make an effective contribution to the running
of the Company and therefore recommends that Shareholders vote
in favour of the re-election of all Directors at the forthcoming AGM.
The number of meetings of the full Board and Committees during the year ended 31 December 2023 and attendance by each Director are set
out below:
Board
Meetings
(min 4)
Remuneration
Committee
Meetings
(min 1)
Audit and Risk
Committee
Meetings
(min 4)
Nomination
Committee
Meetings
(min 1)
Management
Engagement
Committee
Meetings
(min 1)
Tenure as at
31 December
2023
Director A B A B A B A B A B
Naguib Kheraj 10 10 1 1 7 7 1 1 4 4 28 months
Everard Barclay Simmons 10 9* 1 1 7 6 1 1 4 4 28 months
Annemarie Durbin 10 10 1 1 7 7 1 1 4 4 28 months
Erica Handling 10 10 1 1 7 7 1 1 4 4 28 months
Mark Merson 10 10 1 1 7 7 1 1 4 4 28 months
Column A: indicates the number of meetings held during the year.
Column B: indicates the number of meetings attended by the Director during the year.
* Absence due to a travel conflict
A quorum comprises any two members of the Board or Committee from time to time, to perform administrative and other routine functions on behalf of the Board, subject to such
limitations as the Board may expressly impose on a Committee from time to time.
Naguib Kheraj is not a member of the Audit and Risk Committee but attends as an observer.
Corporate Governance Report continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202362
Board Performance and Evaluation
In accordance with Provision 26 of the AIC Code, the Board is required
to undertake a formal and rigorous evaluation of its performance on
an annual basis. Such an evaluation of the performance of the Board
as a whole, the Audit and Risk Committee, the Nomination
Committee, the Remuneration Committee, the Management
Engagement Committee, individual Directors and the Chairman was
carried out under the mandate of the Nomination Committee.
The Board believes that the current mix of skills, experience,
knowledge and age of the Directors is appropriate to the
requirements of the Company.
An internal evaluation of the Board, its Committees and individual
Directors was conducted during 2023 in the form of annual
performance questionnaires and discussions to determine
effectiveness and performance in various areas. This process was
facilitated by the Company Secretary. The evaluation commenced
in November 2023 and the results were considered by the Board at
its meeting in January 2024. The review concluded that, while the
Board and its Committees were operating effectively, there were a
number of areas in which performance could be improved. The
Board considered the recommendations on the work of the Board
and its Committees including areas such as (i) Governance and
Succession Planning; (ii) Performance and Strategy; (iii) Risk
Management and Controls Reporting; and (iv) adequate
reporting to the Board at meetings.
An action plan covering the recommendations and their
implementation will be monitored during 2024. In accordance
with Provision 26 of the AIC code, an external Board evaluation is
due to take place in 2024.
Directors regularly meet with senior management employed by the
Operator and Administrator, both formally and informally, to
ensure that the Board remains regularly updated on all issues.
Members of the Board are members of professional bodies and/or
serve on other boards, which ensures they keep abreast of the
latest technical developments in their areas of expertise.
The Board arranges for presentations from the Operator, the
Company’s brokers and other advisors and service providers on
matters relevant to the Company’s business. The Board will assess
the training needs of Directors on an annual basis as set out in the
terms of reference of the Nomination Committee.
An external board evaluation is due to take place in 2024.
Internal Control and Financial Reporting
The Directors acknowledge that they are responsible for establishing
and maintaining the Company’s system of internal control and
reviewing its effectiveness. Internal control systems are designed to
manage rather than eliminate the failure to achieve business
objectives and can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance
against material misstatements or loss. However, the Board’s
objective is to ensure that the Group has appropriate systems in
place for the identification and management of risks. The Directors
carry out a robust assessment of the Group’s principal and emerging
risks, including events or circumstances that might threaten its
business model, future performance, solvency or liquidity and
reputation. As further explained in the Audit and Risk Committee
Report, the principal risks and uncertainties in relation to the Group
are outlined in a risk matrix set out on pages 41 to 43 of the
StrategicReport.
The Board continually reviews its policy setting. The risk register is
reviewed quarterly and the risk framework is reviewed at least annually
to ensure that procedures are in place with the intention of identifying,
mitigating and minimising the impact of risks should they crystallise.
The key procedures which have been established to provide
internal control are that:
• the Board has delegated the oversight of internal controls and
financial reporting to the Operator and relies on the Operator to
perform such functions;
• the Board has delegated the day-to-day operations of the
Company to the Administrator, Company Secretary and Operator;
however, it retains accountability for all functions it delegates.
Each contract was entered into after detailed consideration of
the quality and cost of services provided;
• the Board clearly defines the duties and responsibilities of the
Company’s advisors and service providers and appointments are
made by the Board after due and careful consideration. The
Board monitors the ongoing performance of such advisors and
service providers and will continue to do so through the
Management Engagement Committee;
• the Operator Agreement details defined duties and
responsibilities with lines of control and reporting. There is a
formal structure in place to review the Operator through the
Management Engagement Committee which then makes
recommendations to the Board. The Board is also given updates
on developments arising from the operations and strategic
direction of the underlying investee companies;
• the Administrator provides administration services to the Company
and maintains a system of internal control on which it reports to
the Board; and
• the Audit and Risk Committee monitors risks, including those of
the Administrator and Operator.
The Board, via the Audit and Risk Committee, has reviewed the
need for an internal audit function and has decided that the
systems and procedures employed by the Administrator and
Operator, including their own internal controls and procedures,
provide sufficient assurance that an appropriate level of risk
management and internal control, which safeguards Shareholders’
investments and the Company’s assets, is maintained. The Board
has also considered that the Operator leverages the risk
management framework of Goldman Sachs, which includes an
internal audit function responsible for independently assessing
and validating the effectiveness of key controls undertaken by the
Operator. During the year, the Operator’s internal audit function
engaged directly with the Directors providing assurance reports
which were discussed at the Company’s Audit and Risk Committee
meetings held in May and September 2023. Additional information
on the risk framework of Goldman Sachs is set out on page 40.
An internal audit function specific to the Company is therefore
considered unnecessary.
Internal controls over financial reporting are designed to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial
reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external
reporting purposes. The Administrator and Operator both operate
risk-controlled frameworks on a continual ongoing basis within a
regulated environment. The Administrator formally reports to the
Board, via the Audit and Risk Committee, quarterly through a
compliance report and holds International Standard on Assurance
Engagements (ISAE) 3402 Type 2 certification. This entails an
independent rigorous examination and testing of its controls and
processes. The Operator formally reports to the Board quarterly
and also engages with the Board on an ad-hoc basis as required.
No weaknesses or failings within the Administrator or Operator
have been identified.
The systems of control referred to above, which have been in place to
date, are designed to ensure that the Company can effectively
identify and manage its risks as well as ensuring that it is in
compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. In establishing
63 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
the systems of internal control, regard is paid to the materiality of
relevant risks, the likelihood of costs being incurred and the costs of
control. It follows therefore that the systems of internal control can
only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance against the risk
of material misstatement or loss. The Board has reviewed the
effectiveness of the risk management and internal control processes
and is satisfied that they are in accordance with the FRC’s internal
control publication titled Guidance on Risk Management, Internal
Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting.
Operator Agreement
The Company and Goldman Sachs Asset Management Fund Services
Limited entered into an agreement originally dated 28 September
2021, pursuant to which the Operator was appointed as the
Company’s exclusive alternative investment fund manager and is
responsible for the day-to-day operation and portfolio management
of the Group’s investment portfolio. The Operator is subject at all
times to the overall supervision of the Board in accordance with the
terms of the Operator Agreement, as well as the Company’s
Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy (adopted by the Board in
September 2021), the Listing Rules and applicable law. The Company
undertakes in the Operator Agreement to authorise no one other
than the Operator to deal in the Company’s assets for the duration of
the Operator Agreement, except on the advice of the Operator. A
summary of the fees paid to the Operator are given in note 6 to the
financial statements. In accordance with the Listing Rules, the
Directors confirm that the continued appointment of the Operator
under the current terms of the agreement is in the interests of
Shareholders. The Board also reviewed the performance of other
service providers and examined the effectiveness of the Company’s
internal control systems during the year. As set out in more detail on
pages 65 and 116, certain new subsidiaries were introduced into the
Group structure on 1 January 2024 to enable employees of the
Operator to be direct beneficiaries of a portion of the Profit Sharing
Charge (if any) payable by the Company to the Operator. The
Operator Agreement was amended and restated, and acceded to by
Petershill Partners II Ltd and Petershill Partners II, Inc., on 1 January
2024 in order to implement those arrangements.
Authority of the Operator
Pursuant to the Operator Agreement, the Operator has discretion
to acquire, dispose of and manage the direct and indirect assets of
the Company subject to and in accordance with the Company’s
Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy. All activities engaged
in under the Operator Agreement by the Operator are at all times
subject to the overall policies, supervision, review and control of
the Board.
The authority granted to the Operator pursuant to the Operator
Agreement is subject to the Company’s Acquisition Strategy and
Investment Policy, pursuant to which the Operator is required to
notify the Board or to seek approval from the Board or the
Shareholders before undertaking acquisitions or disposals or
incurring leverage at certain thresholds established by the Board
from time to time.
The Operator may delegate certain of its functions, powers
and duties under the Operator Agreement to any affiliate of the
Operator. The Operator has exercised this power and has delegated
its portfolio management functions to Goldman Sachs Asset
Management International Ltd. which has further delegated the
provision of portfolio management services to Goldman Sachs
Asset Management International, LP as the Investment Advisor.
The Operator has also established an Investment Committee to
oversee portfolio construction and monitoring. Currently, the
members of the Investment Committee are senior executives of
Goldman Sachs selected by the Operator and serve without
compensation for their services.
The Operator is liable for the acts or omissions of any person to whom
any of its functions, powers and duties may be delegated to the
extent that it would itself have been liable for such acts or omissions.
Term and Termination
The Operator Agreement has an initial term of seven years, after
which it will automatically renew on an annual basis until terminated
in accordance with its terms.
During the initial term of seven years (the Initial Term), the Operator
Agreement is terminable by the Company on three months’ written
notice if, in the opinion of the independent members of the Board
acting reasonably, the Operator is in material breach of the Operator
Agreement and such breach is incapable of remedy or has not been
remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company during this
three-month notice period. Additionally, during the Initial Term, the
Operator Agreement may be terminated on immediate written notice
if (a) in the opinion of the independent members of the Board acting
reasonably, the Operator has (i) committed an act of wilful
misconduct in relation to the Company which has resulted in material
harm to the Company’s business or (ii) committed an act of fraud, or
(b) the Operator has ceased to have the necessary authorisations to
provide the services it has agreed to provide under the Operator
Agreement and there is no suitable replacement, in the sole
judgement of Goldman Sachs, within the Goldman Sachs Group.
After the Initial Term, the Operator Agreement is terminable by the
Company if, in the opinion of the independent members of the Board
acting reasonably, (i) the Operator is in material breach of the
Operator Agreement and such breach is incapable of remedy or has
not been remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company
within three months of providing written notice to the Operator, or
(ii) the Operator has committed an act of (a) wilful misconduct in
relation to the Company which has resulted in material harm to the
Company’s business or (b) fraud, or (iii) the Operator has failed to
provide the Company with services to the standard or with the due
care and attention that would be expected of an Operator of a
comparable listed company where such failure has not been
remedied to the reasonable satisfaction of the Company within six
months of the Company giving notice to the Operator specifying such
failure. Additionally, after the Initial Term, the Operator Agreement
may also be terminated without cause with the approval of at least
three-quarters of the independent members of the Board, subject to
the payment referred to below.
The Operator may terminate the Operator Agreement at any time
(i) by giving 12 months’ notice to the Company, if the Company is in
material breach of its obligations under the Operator Agreement,
(ii) if the Company undergoes a change of control, (iii) if the
Company undertakes a material action, or declines to act, and such
action or inaction is against the advice of the Operator and where
the Operator notified the Company in writing of its disagreement
with such proposed action or inaction or (iv) the Company
materially amends its Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy
without the prior consent of the Operator.
The Operator Agreement may also be terminated by either party at
any time if the other party is subject to a bankruptcy or other
similar insolvency event (other than in the context of a scheme for
solvent amalgamation or reconstruction).
Other than the payment required to be made in the event that the
Company terminates the Operator Agreement without cause and
described below, termination of the Operator Agreement in
accordance with its terms does not require payment of a penalty or
other additional payment from either party save that the Company
shall pay any outstanding portion of the Recurring Operating
Charge (defined below under Operator Charges and Alignment) to
Corporate Governance Report continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202364
the Operator pro-rated to the date of termination of the Operator
Agreement and the Company shall honour any authorised
transactions entered into before the date of any such termination.
In the event the Company terminates the Operator Agreement
without cause after the Initial Term, the Operator will be entitled
to receive (i) payment of an amount equal to the aggregate
Recurring Operating Charge for the most recent four fiscal quarters
multiplied by three, and (ii) crystallisation of the Profit-Sharing
Charge (defined below under Operator Charges and Alignment)
based on the immediately prior fiscal quarter’s holding values.
During the year, the Board as a whole reviewed the Company’s
compliance with the UK Code, the Listing Rules, the Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rules and the AIC Code. In accordance
with Listing Rule 15.6.2(2)R and having formally appraised the
performance and resources of the Operator prior to the IPO, as
outlined under the roles and responsibilities of the Management
Engagement Committee on page 60, in the opinion of the Directors
the continuing appointment of the Operator on the terms agreed is
in the interests of Shareholders as a whole.
Operator Charges and Alignment
The Operator fee structure is designed to align with performance
against the strategic objectives, taking into consideration the
Company’s culture and values. The fee structure is underpinned by
the level of investments in Partner-firms, encouraging the
Operator’s focus on long-term relationships, collaboration and the
success of the Partner-firms and aligning with Company and
Shareholder interests.
As consideration for its services pursuant to the Operator
Agreement, the Company pays the Operator a Recurring Operating
Charge in respect of the management of its assets. The Recurring
Operating Charge is payable quarterly in arrears in an amount
equal to 7.5% of the Group’s income from investments in Partner-
firms, as defined under IFRS, for the relevant quarter.
The Company also pays the Operator a Profit-Sharing Charge on a
quarterly basis. The Profit-Sharing Charge comprises a profit-sharing
charge of 20% of total income from investments in Partner-firms, as
defined under IFRS, from new investments made by them post
Admission, in the relevant quarter (net of any Recurring Operating
Charge in respect of such new investments), chargeable only after a
two-year ownership period from the date on which the investment
closed, and subject to the relevant investment achieving an
investment return of at least 6.0%. The Profit-Sharing Required
Investment Return is calculated at the end of each quarter only on
the total invested capital funded to date; in other words, it excludes
any potential deferred consideration embedded in the total
investment amount, if not yet paid. The Profit-Sharing Charge is only
applicable if the average annual return, comprising income from
investments in Partner-firms and change in fair value of the
investment since the date of acquisition, as defined under IFRS,
exceeds the Profit-Sharing Required Investment Return of 6.0%. 
While the Group does not typically seek to exit its assets, in the
event that there are realisations, the Company will pay to the
Operator a divestment Profit-Sharing Charge of 20% of the total
profits from the divestment (in respect of any investments which
pre-date the Initial Acquisition, to be based upon the contribution
value of such asset pursuant to the Initial Acquisition).
The total profits from the divestment, which represent the capital
return of the investment, will be calculated as the sale price minus
the contribution value of such asset as defined at the Initial
Acquisition, excluding any income from investments in Partner-
firms received over the holding period (and on which the Company
has already paid Recurring Operating Charges and, in the case of
new investments made by them following Admission, Profit-
Sharing Charges).
On 1 January 2024, new subsidiaries were introduced into the
group structure to enable employees of the Operator to be direct
beneficiaries of a portion of the Profit-Sharing Charge (if any)
payable by the Company to the Operator. This was done to further
improve the alignment of the interest in the incentives of the
Company, the Operator and the employees of the Operator. There
is no change to the amount or timing of any Profit-Sharing Charge
payable by the Company under the original Operator Agreement.
Furthermore, this arrangement is not expected to give rise to any
material tax consequences for the Company and all initial and
ongoing costs of implementing this arrangement have been and
will be borne by the Operator.
Engagement with Other Stakeholders
The Board places great importance on communication with
Shareholders, as well as with the Operator, Administrator and other
key stakeholders. Service providers have been selected and engaged
based on due diligence and references including consideration of
their internal controls and expertise. The Company has established a
Management Engagement Committee, which reviews the
performance of each service provider annually and provides feedback
as appropriate, to maintain good working relationships.
More information on stakeholder engagement may be found on
pages 34 and 35 of this report.
The Board recognises that relationships with suppliers are
enhanced by prompt payment and the Operator, in conjunction
with the Administrator, ensures all payments are processed within
the contractual terms agreed with the individual suppliers.
Consumer Duty
On 31 July 2023 the FCA introduced a new Principle for Businesses
(Principle 12) applicable to authorised firms in the UK which carry
on “retail market business” and who can determine, or materially
influence retail customer outcomes. This new Principle 12 was
accompanied by a package of rules and guidance, which are
collectively known as the Consumer Duty.
The Company is not subject to the Consumer Duty as it is not an
FCA authorised firm. However, the Company is aware that its shares
may be held by or on behalf of retail customers, and that other
firms within the distribution chain of its shares are within scope of
the Consumer Duty requirements. Accordingly, it is the Board’s
intention that the Company will respond to information and other
requests from UK authorised firms in the distribution chain of the
Company’s shares in such a way.
Whistleblowing
As the Company has no employees, it does not have a formal
whistleblowing policy concerning the raising, in confidence, of any
concerns about possible improprieties for appropriate independent
investigation. The Board relies on the Operator and Administrator’s
whistleblowing policies and It has concluded that adequate
arrangements are in place for the proportionate and independent
investigation of such matters and, where necessary, for appropriate
follow-up action to be taken within their organisations. However,
any matters concerning the Company may be raised with the
Chairman or Senior Independent Director.
By order of the Board
Naguib Kheraj
Chairman
9 April 2024
65 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
The Audit and Risk Committee, chaired by Mark Merson, operates
within clearly defined terms of reference which are available on the
Company’s website and include all matters indicated by Disclosure
Guidance and Transparency Rule 7.1, the AIC Code and the UK
Code. Its other members are Everard Barclay Simmons, Annemarie
Durbin and Erica Handling. Advisors and department heads from
the Operator are invited to attend meetings from time to time and,
in line with corporate governance best practice, the Chairman of
the Board is not a member of the Committee but attends in an
advisory capacity. The Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee also
acts as the Company’s Senior Accounting Officer from a tax
perspective.
Members of the Audit and Risk Committee must be, and are,
independent of the Company’s independent auditor and Operator.
The Audit and Risk Committee meets no less than four times in a
year at appropriate points in the reporting and auditing cycle and
at such other times as the Audit and Risk Committee Chair shall
require. The independent auditor attends the Audit and Risk
Committee meetings and meets at least once a year with the Audit
and Risk Committee without the presence of the Operator or the
Administrator.
The Committee members have considerable financial and business
experience, and the Board has determined that the membership as
a whole has sufficient recent and relevant sector and financial
experience to discharge its responsibilities and that at least one
member has competence in accounting or auditing. The
biographies of each member of the Committee, detailing their
relevant qualifications and experience, are on pages 48 and 49.
Responsibilities
The main duties of the Audit and Risk Committee are:
• to monitor the integrity of the Group and Company’s financial
statements and regulatory announcements relating to its
financial performance, and to review significant financial
reporting judgements;
• to report to the Board on the appropriateness of the Company’s
accounting policies and practices;
• to consider the ongoing assessment of the Group as a going
concern and the assessment of longer-term viability;
• to review the valuations of the Company’s investments prepared
by the Operator, and provide a recommendation to the Board on
the valuation of the Company’s investments;
• to oversee the relationship with the independent auditor,
including agreeing its remuneration and terms of engagement,
reviewing reporting, monitoring independence, objectivity and
effectiveness, ensuring that any non-audit services are
appropriately considered, and making recommendations to the
Board on the independent auditor’s appointment,
reappointment or removal, for the Board to put to the
Shareholders in general meeting;
• to discuss and agree with the independent auditor the nature
and scope of the audit;
• to monitor and consider annually whether there is a need for the
Company to have its own internal audit function;
• to keep under review the effectiveness of the Group’s internal
controls, including financial controls and risk management
systems;
• to review and consider applicable requirements of the UK Code,
the AIC Code, and the AIC Guidance on Audit Committees; and
• to report to the Board on how it has discharged its
responsibilities.
The Audit and Risk Committee is aware that certain sections of the
Annual Report are not subject to formal statutory audit, including
the Chairman’s Statement, the Operator’s Report and certain
sections of the Directors’ Remuneration Report. Financial
information in these sections is reviewed by the Audit and Risk
Committee as part of its review of the overall Annual Report.
The Company continues to comply with the Statutory Audit
Services for Large Companies Market Investigation (Mandatory Use
of Competitive Tender Processes and Audit Committee
Responsibilities) Order 2014 for the financial year under review.
The Audit and Risk Committee reports its findings to the Board,
identifying any matters on which it considers that action or
improvement is needed, and making recommendations on the
steps to be taken.
Financial Reporting
The primary role of the Audit and Risk Committee in relation to
financial reporting is to review with the Administrator, the
Operator and the independent auditor the appropriateness of the
Annual Report and Financial Statements and interim results and to
report to the Board, concentrating on, among other matters:
• the quality and acceptability of accounting policies and
practices;
• the clarity of the disclosures and compliance with financial
reporting standards and relevant financial and governance
reporting requirements;
• material areas in which significant judgements have been
applied or where there has been discussion with the
independent auditor, including the going concern and viability
statement;
• whether the Annual Report and Financial Statements, taken as a
whole, are fair, balanced and understandable and provide the
information necessary for Shareholders to assess the Company’s
position and performance, business model and strategy;
• the consideration of disclosure and governance matters relating
to financial reporting by the Chair of the Audit and Risk
Committee in the first instance in consultation with the
Operator, and the engagement of the wider Board if necessary;
and
• any correspondence from regulators in relation to financial
reporting.
To aid its review, the Audit and Risk Committee considers reports
from the Administrator and the Operator and also reports from the
independent auditor on the outcomes of the half-year review and
annual audit.  
Audit and Risk Committee Report
Audit and Risk Committee Report
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202366
Meetings
During the year, the Audit and Risk Committee met seven times,
and there was ongoing liaison and discussion between the
independent auditor and the Audit and Risk Committee Chair with
regard to the audit approach and the identified risks. The matters
discussed at those meetings included:
• review of the terms of reference of the Audit and Risk
Committee, for approval by the Board;
• review of the accounting policies, content and format of the
financial statements;
• review of all proposed communications to Shareholders by the
Company, for approval by the Board;
• review and approval of the budget and other financial
projections and estimates;
• review and approval of the Company’s tax strategy;
• consideration of the independent auditors’ audit report on the
2022 financial statements and review of the 2023 Interim
Report;
• review and approval of the independent auditors’ audit plan for
2023;
• review of the internal audit plan of the Operator’s internal audit
function;
• review of the results of the work of the Operator’s internal audit
function as it pertains to the Company;
• consideration of the fee for the external audit and half-year
review;
• consideration of the introduction of new subsidaries to the
group structure to enable employees of the Operator to be direct
beneficiaries of a portion of the Profit-Sharing Charge (if any)
payable by the Company to the Operator;
• governance and compliance responsibilities of the Company;
• assessment of the independence of the independent auditor;
• requirement for climate-related financial disclosures;
• assessment of the effectiveness of the external audit process as
described below and in line with the FRC’s Minimum Audit
Standard; and
• review of the Group’s key risks and internal controls, including
reports from the Operator’s control functions and internal audit
function.
After the year ended 31 December 2023, the Audit and Risk
Committee met on 18 January 2024 and 25 March 2024 to
consider the significant areas of judgement, estimates and
assumptions in the draft financial statements; to review the results
of the external audit; to consider and approve the preliminary
results announcement and the Annual Report; and to consider the
adherence of the Company’s processes to the requirements set out
in ‘Audit Committees and the External Audit: Minimum Standard’
published by the Financial Reporting Council.
Significant Areas of Judgement Considered
by the Audit and Risk Committee
The significant areas of judgement, as well as estimates and
assumptions, considered by the Audit and Risk Committee are
outlined in note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The revenue recognition and valuations were discussed with the
Operator and with the independent auditor at the Audit and Risk
Committee meetings held on 20 November 2023, 18 January 2024
and 25 March 2024. The value of investments and other financial
assets and liabilities of the Company is determined periodically by
the Operator, with the assistance of Goldman Sachs & Co. acting
as Valuer, and is subject to review by the Valuation Committee
of the Operator.
The independent auditor has explained the results of its audit work
on valuations in the Independent Auditors’ Report on pages 71 to
79. There were no adjustments proposed and uncorrected that
were material in the context of the Annual Report and Financial
Statements as a whole.
Risk Management
On behalf of the Board, the Audit and Risk Committee has carried
out a robust assessment of the principal and emerging risks facing
the Group, including those threatening its business model, future
earnings potential, and operational resilience. It has also reviewed
the Group’s risk assessment process, the way in which significant
business risks are managed and the overall effectiveness of the
Group’s risk management processes. The Audit and Risk Committee
received reports from the Operator on the Group’s risk evaluation
process and reviewed changes to significant risks identified. The
work of the Audit and Risk Committee was driven primarily by the
Board’s assessment of its principal risks and uncertainties as set
out on pages 41 to 43 of the Strategic Report.
Internal Audit
Currently, the Audit and Risk Committee does not consider there to
be a need for the Company to maintain its own internal audit
function. There are no employees in the Company and all
outsourced functions are with service providers who have their own
internal controls and procedures. The Operator is subject to
internal audit by the Goldman Sachs internal audit function. The
Audit and Risk Committee has reviewed reports from the Goldman
Sachs internal audit function on the work of the Operator,
including in relation to the operation of the outsourced functions.
The Audit and Risk Committee reviewed and approved the audit
plan and received assurance reports and updates from the
Goldman Sachs internal audit function. During the year, the Audit
and Risk Committee was apprised of the methods and systems in
place at the Operator and how they apply to the Company. The
Audit and Risk Committee was satisfied that the systems in place
were robust and that the team was qualified to perform adequate
monitoring and oversight activities. The Operator’s internal
audit function is aware of the Audit and Risk Committee’s
responsibilities and will bring all matters requiring its
consideration to its attention. There is ongoing liaison through the
year between the Operator’s internal audit team and the Chair of
the Audit and Risk Committee.
Independent Audit
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has been the Company’s independent
auditor since 4 August 2021. There are no contractual obligations
restricting the choice of independent auditor, and the Company
will put the audit services contract out to tender at least every 10
years. Under the Companies Act 2006, the reappointment of the
independent auditor is subject to Shareholder approval at the
AGM. The Senior Statutory Auditor responsible for the audit will be
rotated at least every five years in accordance with professional
and regulatory standards in order to protect independence and
objectivity and to provide fresh challenge to the Company. Richard
McGuire, the current Senior Statutory Auditor, has held this role for
three years and intends to continue as Senior Statutory Auditor
until the conclusion of the 2025 audit. The Audit and Risk
Committee will continue to monitor the performance of the
independent auditor on an annual basis and will consider
independence and objectivity, taking account of appropriate
guidelines. In addition, the Committee Chair will continue to
maintain regular contact with the Senior Statutory Auditor outside
of the formal Committee meeting schedule, not only to discuss
formal agenda items for upcoming meetings, but also to review
any other significant matters. The Audit and Risk Committee
reviews the scope and results of the audit, its cost-effectiveness
67 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
and the independence and objectivity of the independent auditor,
with particular regard to the level of any non-audit fees.
Notwithstanding such services, the Audit and Risk Committee
considers PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to be independent of the
Company and that the provision of such non-audit services is not a
threat to the objectivity and independence of the conduct of the audit.
To further safeguard the objectivity and independence of the
independent auditor from becoming compromised, the Audit and
Risk Committee is aware of the cap on fees that may be charged by
a company’s independent auditor for non-audit services at 70% of
the average statutory audit fees for the previous three years. This
cap will become applicable to the Group for the year ending
31 December 2024 onwards. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP will be
precluded from providing, and does not provide, certain services
such as valuation work or accounting services. There is also a
presumption that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP should only be
engaged for non-audit services where it is best placed to provide
those services; for example engagement as Reporting Accountant
prior to the Company’s listing and a review of the Interim Report.
note 7 details services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
during the year. Fees payable for audit services for the year
excluding VAT were: £905k (2022: £1,085k (including £161k for
additional 2021 fees)). Fees payable for non-audit services for the
year excluding VAT were: £105k (2022: £99k excluding VAT).
To fulfil its responsibility regarding the independence of the
independent auditor, the Audit and Risk Committee considers:
• discussions with or reports from the independent auditor
describing its arrangements to identify, report and manage any
conflicts of interest; and
• the extent of non-audit services provided by the independent
auditor.
To assess the effectiveness of the independent auditor, the
Committee considers the nature and quality of the engagement
with the Senior Statutory Auditor through the year and reviews:
• the independent auditors’ fulfilment of the agreed audit plan,
through review of the audit plan, including the audit approach to
significant risks and monitoring any changes in response to new
issues identified and any variations from the audit plan;
• discussions or reports highlighting the major issues that arose
during the course of the audit; and
• feedback from other service providers evaluating the
performance of the audit team.
The Audit and Risk Committee is satisfied with
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s effectiveness and independence as
independent auditor, having considered the degree of diligence
and professional scepticism demonstrated. Having carried out the
review described above and having satisfied itself that the
independent auditor remains independent and effective, the Audit
and Risk Committee has recommended to the Board that
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP be reappointed as independent
auditor for the year ending 31 December 2024. Accordingly, a
resolution proposing the reappointment of
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as our independent auditor will be
put to Shareholders at the AGM.
On behalf of the Audit and Risk Committee
Mark Merson
Audit and Risk Committee Chair
9 April 2024
Audit and Risk Committee Report continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202368
Financial
Statements
70 Independent Auditors’ Report
80 Consolidated Financial Statements
84 Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
117 Company Financial Statements
120 Notes to the Company Financial Statements
Additional Information
127 Alternative Performance Measures
134 Glossary of Capitalised Defined Terms
136 The Petershill Partners Group’s Assets
139 Glossary of Key Operating Metrics
142 Company Information
143 Cautionary Statement
69 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Opinion
In our opinion, Petershill Partners plc’s Group financial statements and Company financial statements (the “financial statements”):
• give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Company’s affairs as at 31December2023 and of the Group’s profit and the
Group’s and Company’s cash flows for the year then ended;
• have been properly prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards; and
• have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.
We have audited the financial statements, included within the Annual Report, which comprise: Consolidated and Company Statement of
Financial Position as at 31December2023; Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated and Company Statement of
Changes in Equity and Consolidated and Company Statement of Cash Flows for the year then ended; and the notes to the financial
statements, comprising material accounting policy information and other explanatory information.
Our opinion is consistent with our reporting to the Audit and Risk Committee.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs (UK)”) and applicable law. Our responsibilities
under ISAs (UK) are further described in the Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We
believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Independence
We remained independent of the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements
in the UK, which includes the FRC’s Ethical Standard, as applicable to listed public interest entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical
responsibilities in accordance with these requirements.
To the best of our knowledge and belief, we declare that non-audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided.
Other than those disclosed in Note 7 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, we have provided no non-audit services to the Company or its
controlled undertakings in the period under audit.
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Petershill Partners plc
Report on the audit of the financial statements
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202370
Our audit approach
Context
In planning for our audit of Petershill Partners plc and its subsidiaries (the “Group”), we met with the Audit and Risk Committee, the Board of
Directors and the Operator to discuss and confirm our understanding of significant business activities during the year, and to understand
their perspectives on associated business risks. We used this insight when forming our own views regarding the business, as part of
developing our audit plan and when scoping and performing our audit procedures. The Group was formed with the objective of investing in
Partner-firms to achieve capital growth and to generate income. Given the complexity and judgements required in determining the value of
the investments we considered this a significant risk to both the Group and the Company. Income from investments in Partner-firms derived
from management fee income, performance fee income and investment income is based on contractual terms in place with the Partner-
firms, and are a significant proportion of the Group’s income and therefore considered a key audit matter. We have considered the carrying
value of the liability for the Tax Receivables Agreement, which arose on the initial acquisition of the stakes in the Partner-firms on
28 September 2021 to remain a significant risk to the Group, due to the complexity of the underlying tax laws and the magnitude of the
balance.
Overview
Audit scope
• We audited the consolidated financial information of the Group as a whole. As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and
assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. In particular, we looked at where the Directors made significant
judgements and estimates. As in all of our audits we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including
evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.
Key audit matters
• Valuation of unlisted investments at fair value through profit and loss (Group)
• Valuation of liability for Tax Receivables Agreement (Group)
• Valuation of investment in subsidiary undertakings (Company)
• Income from Investments in Partner-firms (Group)
Materiality
• Overall Group materiality: $48.3m (2022: $47.2m) based on 1% of Net assets.
• Overall Company materiality: $46.0m (2022: $44.8m) based on 1% of Net assets, capped at 95% of Group materiality.
• Performance materiality: $36.3m (2022: $35.4m) (Group) and $34.4m (2022: $33.6m) (Company).
The scope of our audit
As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements.
71 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in the auditors’ professional judgement, were of most significance in the audit of the financial
statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud)
identified by the auditors, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the
audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters, and any comments we make on the results of our procedures
thereon, were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not
provide a separate opinion on these matters.
This is not a complete list of all risks identified by our audit.
The key audit matters below are consistent with last year.
Key audit matter How our audit addressed the key audit matter
Valuation of unlisted investments at fair value
through profit and loss (Group)
Refer to the Audit and Risk Committee Report,
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
– Note 2, 3 and 4.
The investments at fair value through profit or loss
for the Group were $5,254.7 million as at
31 December 2023. The investments in Partner-
firms held by the Group are not quoted or traded in
an active market and as such their fair values are
determined using valuation techniques such as the
market approach or income approach. A third party
valuation advisor (“Valuer”) is engaged to assist
the Operator in the preparation of the fair
valuation of a selection of investments.
In valuing the investments, key assumptions
include estimates around future fundraise timing
and sizes, expected management and performance
fee rates, margins of the Partner-firms, expected
current and future fund returns and timing of
realisations. The inputs in the market approach
include observable data, such as market multiples
of comparable companies to the relevant
Partner-firms, and unobservable data, such as
forecast earnings for the Partner-firms. In
discounted cash flow models, unobservable inputs
are the projected cash flows of the relevant
Partner-firms and the discount rates applied. The
valuation of the Group investments at fair value
through profit and loss was identified as a key
audit matter given the valuation is inherently
subjective due to, among other factors, the
individual nature of each investment and the
expected future cash flows. The significance of the
estimates and judgements involved, coupled with
the fact that only a small percentage difference in
individual investment valuations, when
aggregated, could result in a material
misstatement, warranted specific audit focus in
this area.
We understood and evaluated the valuation methodologies applied, by reference to
industry practice and applicable accounting standards, and tested the techniques used
by management in determining the fair value of the investments.
We performed the following over the fair value of investments as at 31 December
2023:
• Discussed and challenged the Operator and Valuer’s approach to valuations and
significant estimates;
• Undertook further investigations by holding further discussions with the Operator
and Valuer and obtained evidence to support explanations received where
assumptions were outside the expected range or showed unexpected movements
based on our knowledge;
• Observed that alternative assumptions had been considered and evaluated by the
Operator and the Valuer before determining the final valuation. Challenged
management about the rationale of any non-observable inputs or significant
estimates used in valuations and obtained corroborative evidence such as past
performance of the Partner-firms or data provided by the Partner-firm. We
concluded that the assumptions used in the valuations were supportable in light of
available and comparable market evidence;
• Obtained confirmations directly from the Partner-firms to corroborate ownership
and other interests held;
• Performed recalculations of valuation workings to ensure mathematical accuracy;
• Agreed data inputs in the valuation model, such as fee rates and assets under
management, to supporting documentation on a sample basis; and
• Agreed the amounts per the valuation reports to the accounting records and the
financial statements.
In addition, given the inherent subjectivity involved in the valuation of the investments,
and therefore the need for specialised market knowledge when determining the most
appropriate assumptions and the technicalities of the valuation methodology, we
engaged our internal valuation experts to assist us in our audit of this area. The experts
performed the following procedures for a sample of investments:
• Reviewed the appropriateness of valuation methodology;
• Reviewed key valuation inputs and estimates used, such as comparable company
multiples and discount rates at 31 December 2023; and
• Reported their findings and conclusions to the Group audit team for overall
consideration and conclusions.
We considered the appropriateness and adequacy of the disclosures around the
estimation uncertainty and sensitivities on the accounting estimates.
Our testing did not identify any evidence of material misstatement.
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Petershill Partners plc continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202372
Key audit matter How our audit addressed the key audit matter
Valuation of liability for Tax Receivables
Agreement (Group)
Refer to the Notes to the consolidated financial
statements – Note 2 and 3
The Group recorded a Liability for the Tax
Receivables Agreement (“TRA”) of $174.7m as at
31 December 2023. The Operator, with the support
of an external tax specialist, has estimated the
step-up tax basis of the acquired assets based on
tax information provided by the Partner-firms,
projected the amortisation of the step-up tax
basis, applied an effective interest rate of 18% and
utilised the current effective tax rate of Petershill
Partners Inc in calculating the future tax benefits
and resulting payments under the TRA. The
valuation of the Liability for Tax Receivables
Agreement is identified as a key audit matter due
to the complexity of the underlying tax laws and
the magnitude of the balance.
We understood and evaluated the calculation and methodologies applied, by reference
to industry practice and relevant tax laws, and tested the techniques used by
management in determining the liability for the TRA.
We obtained management’s computations and workings relating to the amounts
recognised for the liability of the TRA as at 31 December 2023. We performed the
following procedures:
• Checked the mathematical accuracy of management’s calculation;
• On a sample basis agreed the inputs used in the computations to supporting
documentation;
• Challenged management about the rationale of assumptions used in the calculation
and obtained corroborative evidence;
• Confirmed management had appropriately reflected US federal and state tax rates in
the calculations; and
• Agreed the disclosures made in the financial statements back to supporting
documentation.
Given the complexity of tax laws, and therefore the need for specialised market
knowledge when determining the most appropriate assumptions and the technicalities,
we engaged our internal tax experts to assist us in our audit of this area.
Our testing did not identify any evidence of material misstatement.
Valuation of investment in subsidiary
undertakings (Company)
Refer to the Notes to the Company financial
statements– Note 1, 3 and 6.
The investments in subsidiary undertakings relate
to the direct ownerships in Petershill Partners Inc.,
Petershill Partners Ltd and Petershill Partners II
Ltd. These entities hold either directly or indirectly
interests in stakes in the Partner-firms. The
investments in subsidiary undertakings are held at
fair value which is their net asset value. The
valuation of the investments in subsidiary
undertakings was identified as a key audit matter
given the components of the underlying valuation
such as investments in Partner-firms are
inherently subjective as noted in the key audit
matter above.
We obtained management’s calculations of the fair value of the investments in
subsidiary undertakings. We performed the following procedures:
• Agreed inputs to supporting documentation and other audit work performed over
areas such as the valuation of investments at fair value through profit and loss as
noted in the key audit matter above;
• Tested the mathematical accuracy of the calculation; and
• Agreed ownership to supporting documentation.
Our testing did not identify any evidence of material misstatement.
73 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Key audit matter How our audit addressed the key audit matter
Income from Investments in Partner-firms (Group)
Refer to the Audit and Risk Committee Report,
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
– Note 2x.
The income from investments in Partner-firms for
the Group was $292.1m and is based on
contractual terms in place with the Partner-firms,
and are a significant proportion of the Group’s
income.
We confirmed our understanding of and evaluated the accounting policies relating to
recognition and measurement of the income from investments in Partner-firms, as well
as confirmed our understanding of the nature of each principal income stream on a
disaggregated basis.
We understood and evaluated the design of the relevant controls over income
recognition.
We performed the following procedures over income from investments in Partner-
firms:
• Reviewed the contracts of the Group with each Partner-firm to ensure that income
receivable from the Partner-firms is recognised in line with the contractual terms;
• Tested a sample of journals to supporting documentation, focusing on period end
adjustments and unusual account combinations;
• Agreed the income from the Partner-firms booked by the Group for the reporting
year, to confirmations received directly from the Partner-firms;
• Agreed the settlement of income received during the reporting year to the
distribution notices and bank statements. Confirmed the year-end balance of income
receivable to confirmations received directly from the Partner-firms;
• Tested post year-end settlements of the income receivable to the bank statements;
and
• Challenged the Operator on the appropriateness of the assumptions used in the
computation of the expected credit losses on the amounts receivable from the
Partner-firms.
Our testing did not identify any evidence of material misstatement.
How we tailored the audit scope
We tailored the scope of our audit to ensure that we performed enough work to be able to give an opinion on the financial statements as a
whole, taking into account the structure of the Group and the Company, the accounting processes and controls, and the industry in which
they operate.
We audited the consolidated financial information of the Group as a whole. As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and
assessed the risks of material misstatement in the Group and Company financial statements. In particular, we looked at where the Directors
made significant judgements and estimates. As in all of our audits we also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls,
including evaluating whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors that represented a risk of material misstatement due to fraud.
The impact of climate risk on our audit
As part of our audit we made enquiries of management to understand the extent of the potential impact of climate risk on the Group’s and
Company’s financial statements, and we remained alert when performing our audit procedures for any indicators of the impact of climate
risk. In particular, we understood management’s consideration of the impact of climate change in the valuation of investments in so far as
they are able. We also considered the consistency of the climate change disclosures included in the Strategic Report with the financial
statements and our knowledge from our audit. Our procedures did not identify any material impact as a result of climate risk on the Group’s
and Company’s financial statements.
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Petershill Partners plc continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202374
Materiality
The scope of our audit was influenced by our application of materiality. We set certain quantitative thresholds for materiality. These,
together with qualitative considerations, helped us to determine the scope of our audit and the nature, timing and extent of our audit
procedures on the individual financial statement line items and disclosures and in evaluating the effect of misstatements, both individually
and in aggregate on the financial statements as a whole.
Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole as follows:
Financial statements - Group Financial statements - Company
Overall
materiality
$48.3m (2022: $47.2m). $46.0m (2022: $44.8m).
How we
determined it
1% of Net assets 1% of Net assets, capped at 95% of Group materiality
Rationale for
benchmark
applied
Given the objective of the Group is to hold stakes in
Partner-firms, which will then generate returns,
the primary focus of financial statements was the
fair value of investments at fair value through
profit or loss. Therefore we consider that the net
assets of the Group is the appropriate benchmark
for calculating overall materiality.
Consistent with the Group’s objective to hold stakes in Partner-firms,
which will then generate returns, the primary focus for the financial
statements was the valuation of the investments in subsidiary
undertakings. Therefore we consider that the net assets of the
Company is the appropriate benchmark for calculating overall
materiality. This was restricted to 95% of the Group’s total
materiality.
We use performance materiality to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected
misstatements exceeds overall materiality. Specifically, we use performance materiality in determining the scope of our audit and the nature
and extent of our testing of account balances, classes of transactions and disclosures, for example in determining sample sizes. Our
performance materiality was 75% (2022: 75%) of overall materiality, amounting to $36.3m (2022: $35.4m) for the Group financial
statements and $34.4m (2022: $33.6m) for the Company financial statements.
In determining the performance materiality, we considered a number of factors - the history of misstatements, risk assessment and
aggregation risk and the effectiveness of controls - and concluded that an amount at the upper end of our normal range was appropriate.
In addition to overall Group materiality, a specific materiality was also applied to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income line
items that impact Adjusted EBIT, namely Income from investments in Partner-firms; Interest Income; Board of Directors’ fees and expenses;
Operator charge; Other operating expenses; Profit Sharing Charge and Finance Cost. We set a specific materiality level of $11.4m (2022:
$13.5m). In arriving at this judgement, we considered the fact that Adjusted EBIT is a secondary financial indicator of the Group.
We agreed with the Audit and Risk Committee that we would report to them misstatements identified during our audit above $2.42m (Group
audit) (2022: $2.4m) and $2.30m (Company audit) (2022: $2.2m) as well as misstatements below those amounts that, in our view, warranted
reporting for qualitative reasons.
75 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Conclusions relating to going concern
Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group's and the Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of
accounting included:
• Obtained the Directors’ going concern assessment and corroborated key assumptions to underlying documentation and ensured this was
consistent with our audit work in these areas;
• Assessed the appropriateness of the key assumptions used both in the base case and in the severe but plausible downside scenario,
including assessing whether we considered the downside sensitivities to be appropriately severe;
• Tested the integrity of the underlying formulae and calculations within the going concern and cash flow models;
• Considered the appropriateness of the mitigating actions available to management in the event of the downside scenario materialising.
Specifically, we focused on whether these actions are within the Group’s control and are achievable; and
• Reviewed the disclosures provided relating to the going concern basis of preparation and found that these provided an explanation of the
Directors’ assessment that was consistent with the evidence we obtained.
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or
collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group's and the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve
months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of
the financial statements is appropriate.
However, because not all future events or conditions can be predicted, this conclusion is not a guarantee as to the Group's and the Company's
ability to continue as a going concern.
In relation to the Directors’ reporting on how they have applied the UK Corporate Governance Code, we have nothing material to add or draw
attention to in relation to the Directors’ statement in the financial statements about whether the Directors considered it appropriate to
adopt the going concern basis of accounting.
Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this
report.
Reporting on other information
The other information comprises all of the information in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditors’ report
thereon. The Directors are responsible for the other information. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other
information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in this report, any form
of assurance thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether
the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit, or otherwise appears
to be materially misstated. If we identify an apparent material inconsistency or material misstatement, we are required to perform
procedures to conclude whether there is a material misstatement of the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other
information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are
required to report that fact. We have nothing to report based on these responsibilities.
With respect to the Strategic report and Report of the Directors, we also considered whether the disclosures required by the UK Companies
Act 2006 have been included.
Based on our work undertaken in the course of the audit, the Companies Act 2006 requires us also to report certain opinions and matters as
described below.
Strategic report and Report of the Directors
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit, the information given in the Strategic report and Report of the
Directors for the year ended 31December2023 is consistent with the financial statements and has been prepared in accordance with
applicable legal requirements.
In light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and Company and their environment obtained in the course of the audit, we did
not identify any material misstatements in the Strategic report and Report of the Directors.
Directors’ Remuneration
In our opinion, the part of the Directors' Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies
Act 2006.
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Petershill Partners plc continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202376
Corporate governance statement
The Listing Rules require us to review the Directors’ statements in relation to going concern, longer-term viability and that part of the
corporate governance statement relating to the Company’s compliance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code specified
for our review. Our additional responsibilities with respect to the corporate governance statement as other information are described in the
Reporting on other information section of this report.
Based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we have concluded that each of the following elements of the corporate governance
statement is materially consistent with the financial statements and our knowledge obtained during the audit, and we have nothing material
to add or draw attention to in relation to:
• The Directors’ confirmation that they have carried out a robust assessment of the emerging and principal risks;
• The disclosures in the Annual Report that describe those principal risks, what procedures are in place to identify emerging risks and an
explanation of how these are being managed or mitigated;
• The Directors’ statement in the financial statements about whether they considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of
accounting in preparing them, and their identification of any material uncertainties to the Group’s and Company’s ability to continue to do
so over a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements;
• The Directors’ explanation as to their assessment of the Group’s and Company’s prospects, the period this assessment covers and why the
period is appropriate; and
• The Directors’ statement as to whether they have a reasonable expectation that the Company will be able to continue in operation and
meet its liabilities as they fall due over the period of its assessment, including any related disclosures drawing attention to any necessary
qualifications or assumptions.
Our review of the Directors’ statement regarding the longer-term viability of the Group and Company was substantially less in scope than an
audit and only consisted of making inquiries and considering the Directors’ process supporting their statement; checking that the statement
is in alignment with the relevant provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code; and considering whether the statement is consistent with
the financial statements and our knowledge and understanding of the Group and Company and their environment obtained in the course of
the audit.
In addition, based on the work undertaken as part of our audit, we have concluded that each of the following elements of the corporate
governance statement is materially consistent with the financial statements and our knowledge obtained during the audit:
• The Directors’ statement that they consider the Annual Report, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable, and provides the
information necessary for the members to assess the Group’s and Company’s position, performance, business model and strategy;
• The section of the Annual Report that describes the review of effectiveness of risk management and internal control systems; and
• The section of the Annual Report describing the work of the Audit and Risk Committee.
We have nothing to report in respect of our responsibility to report when the Directors’ statement relating to the Company’s compliance with
the Code does not properly disclose a departure from a relevant provision of the Code specified under the Listing Rules for review by the
auditors.
77 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit
Responsibilities of the Directors for the financial statements
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial
statements in accordance with the applicable framework and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. The Directors are also
responsible for such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from
material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the Company’s ability to continue as a
going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the
Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditors’ responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement,
whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditors’ report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance,
but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists.
Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our
responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our
procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below.
Based on our understanding of the Group and industry, we identified that the principal risks of non-compliance with laws and regulations
related to UK regulatory principles, such as those governed by the Financial Conduct Authority’s Listing Rules, and we considered the extent
to which non-compliance might have a material effect on the financial statements. We also considered those laws and regulations that have
a direct impact on the financial statements such as the Companies Act 2006, as well as US State and Federal Tax rules. We evaluated
management’s incentives and opportunities for fraudulent manipulation of the financial statements (including the risk of override of
controls), and determined that the principal risks were related to posting inappropriate journal entries, management bias in accounting
estimates such as the valuation of investments and the carrying value of liability for the Tax Receivables Agreement. Audit procedures
performed by the engagement team included:
• Discussions with the Audit and Risk Committee, the Directors, the Administrator and the Operator, including consideration of known or
suspected instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud, and review of the reports made by management;
• Reviewing Board minutes as well as the relevant meeting minutes, including those of the Audit and Risk Committee;
• Performing audit procedures over the tax computations;
• Designing audit procedures to incorporate unpredictability around the nature, timing or extent of our testing;
• Challenging assumptions and judgements made by management in their significant areas of estimation; and
• Identifying and testing journal entries, in particular any journal entries posted with unusual account combinations.
There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures described above. We are less likely to become aware of instances of non-compliance with
laws and regulations that are not closely related to events and transactions reflected in the financial statements. Also, the risk of not detecting
a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate
concealment by, for example, forgery or intentional misrepresentations, or through collusion.
Our audit testing might include testing complete populations of certain transactions and balances, possibly using data auditing techniques.
However, it typically involves selecting a limited number of items for testing, rather than testing complete populations. We will often seek to
target particular items for testing based on their size or risk characteristics. In other cases, we will use audit sampling to enable us to draw a
conclusion about the population from which the sample is selected.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the FRC’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/
auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditors’ report.
Use of this report
This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the Company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 of
Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any
other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior
consent in writing.
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Petershill Partners plc continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202378
Other required reporting
Companies Act 2006 exception reporting
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:
• we have not obtained all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
• adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches
not visited by us; or
• certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
• the Company financial statements and the part of the Directors' Remuneration Report to be audited are not in agreement with the
accounting records and returns.
We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.
Appointment
We were appointed by the Directors on 4August2021 to audit the financial statements for the year ended 31December2021 and
subsequent financial periods. The period of total uninterrupted engagement is 3 years, covering the years ended 31December2021 to
31December2023.
Other matter
As required by the Financial Conduct Authority Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rule 4.1.14R, these financial statements form part of
the ESEF-prepared annual financial report filed on the National Storage Mechanism of the Financial Conduct Authority in accordance with
the ESEF Regulatory Technical Standard (‘ESEF RTS’). This auditors’ report provides no assurance over whether the annual financial report
has been prepared using the single electronic format specified in the ESEF RTS.
Richard McGuire (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
London
9 April2024
79 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income
For the year ended 31 December 2023
For the year ended For the year ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
Note
$m
$m
Income
Income from investments in Partner-firms derived from:
2(x)
Management fee income
203.0
213.0
Performance fee income
54.7
139.4
Investment income
34.4
32.6
Total income from investments in Partner-firms
292.1
385.0
Interest income from investments in money market funds
2(x)
24.7
8.6
Interest income from other assets
2(x)
2.6
–
Total income
319.4
393.6
Movement in financial assets and liabilities held at fair value
Change in investments at fair value through profit or loss
2(vi),4
227.0
(806.7)
Change in contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss
4
(6.4)
–
Total movement in financial assets and liabilities held at fair value
220.6
(806.7)
Expenses
2(xi)
Board of Directors' fees and expenses
(1.7)
(1.5)
Other operating expenses
(10.1)
(14.4)
Operator charge
6
(21.9)
(27.8)
Profit sharing charge
6
(0.1)
–
Unrealised divestment fee (expense) / credit
6
(50.5)
0.9
Total expenses
(84.3)
(42.8)
Operating profit / (loss) for the year
455.7
(455.9)
Finance expense
Finance cost
10
(37.1)
(45.6)
Movement in liability to Petershill Funds
15
–
15.4
Change in liability for tax receivables agreement
2(v),3
(21.5)
(19.0)
Total finance expense
(58.6)
(49.2)
Profit / (loss) for the year before tax
397.1
(505.1)
Tax (expense) / credit
8
(76.0)
52.2
Profit / (loss) for the year after tax
321.1
(452.9)
Profit / (loss) and total comprehensive income / (expense) for the year
321.1
(452.9)
Profit / (loss) and total comprehensive income / (expense) attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company
321.1
(452.9)
Earnings per share
Basic and diluted earnings / (loss) per Share (cents)
11
28.38
(39.36)
The accompanying notes on pages 84 to 116 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202380
Consolidated Financial Statements
Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income
For the year ended 31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
Note $m $m
Income
Income from investments in Partner-firms derived from: 2(x)
Management fee income 203.0 213.0
Performance fee income 54.7 139.4
Investment income 34.4 32.6
Total income from investments in Partner-firms 292.1 385.0
Interest income from investments in money market funds 2(x) 24.7 8.6
Interest income from other assets 2(x) 2.6
–
Total income 319.4 393.6
Movement in financial assets and liabilities held at fair value
Change in investments at fair value through profit or loss 2(vi),4 227.0 (806.7)
Change in contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss 4 (6.4)
–
Total movement in financial assets and liabilities held at fair value 220.6 (806.7)
Expenses 2(xi)
Board of Directors' fees and expenses (1.7) (1.5)
Other operating expenses (10.1) (14.4)
Operator charge 6 (21.9) (27.8)
Profit sharing charge 6 (0.1)
–
Unrealised divestment fee (expense) / credit 6 (50.5) 0.9
Total expenses (84.3) (42.8)
Operating profit / (loss) for the year 455.7 (455.9)
Finance expense
Finance cost 10 (37.1) (45.6)
Movement in liability to Petershill Funds 15 – 15.4
Change in liability for tax receivables agreement 2(v),3 (21.5) (19.0)
Total finance expense (58.6) (49.2)
Profit / (loss) for the year before tax 397.1 (505.1)
Tax (expense) / credit 8 (76.0) 52.2
Profit / (loss) for the year after tax 321.1 (452.9)
Profit / (loss) and total comprehensive income / (expense) for the year 321.1 (452.9)
Profit / (loss) and total comprehensive income / (expense) attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company 321.1 (452.9)
Earnings per share
Basic and diluted earnings / (loss) per Share (cents) 11 28.38 (39.36)
The accompanying notes on pages 84 to 116 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Consolidated Statement
of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2023
31 December 2023
31 December 2022
Note(s)
$m
$m
Non-current assets
Investments at fair value through profit or loss
4
5,254.7
4,958.9
Deferred tax asset
9
–
44.0
5,254.7
5,002.9
Current assets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss
4
62.3
483.4
Cash and cash equivalents
5
242.9
97.6
Trade and other receivables
12
127. 4
138.2
432.6
719.2
Total assets
5,687.3
5,722.1
Non-current liabilities
Unsecured Notes payable
14, 16
493.8
493.2
Deferred payment obligations
2(vi)
7.3
50.0
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
2(v)
150.5
150.6
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss
4
3.9
–
Deferred tax liability
9
8.2
–
Fee payable on divestment of investments
6
94.8
44.3
758.5
738.1
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
6.9
8.7
Deferred payment obligations
2(vi)
44.6
189.9
Interest payable
16
10.0
10.0
Profit sharing charge payable
6
0.1
–
Operator charge payable
6
6.6
21.0
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss
4
2.5
–
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
2(v)
24.2
35.1
94.9
264.7
Total liabilities
853.4
1,002.8
Net assets
4,833.9
4,719.3
Equity
Share capital
2(ix), 17
11.2
11.4
Share premium
2(ix), 17
–
3,346.7
Other reserve
2(ix), 17
1,689.6
1,689.6
Capital redemption reserve
2(ix), 17
0.5
0.3
Retained earnings / (accumulated losses)
18
3,132.6
(328.7)
Total shareholders' funds
4,833.9
4,719.3
Number of Ordinary Shares in issue at year end
17
1,122,202,824
1,135,399,597
Net assets per share (cents)
19
430.75
415.65
The financial statements on pages 80 to 83 of the Group were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 9 April 2024
and signed on its behalf by:
Naguib Kheraj Mark Merson
Chairman Director
The accompanying notes on pages 84 to 116 form an integral part of these financial statements.
81 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Consolidated Financial Statements c
c
o
o
n
n
t
t
i
i
n
n
u
u
e
e
d
d
Consolidated Statement of Changes
in Equity
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Retained
Capital earnings /
ShareShareOther redemption (accumulated
capitalpremiumreservereserve
losses)
Total
Note
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
Opening net assets attributable to Shareholders
at 1 January 2023
11.4
3,346.7
1,689.6
0.3
(328 .7)
4,719.3
Repurchase and cancellation of Ordinary Shares
17
(0.2)
–
–
0.2
(26.3)
(26.3)
Share premium cancellation
17
–
(3,346.7)
–
–
3,346.7
–
Dividends paid in the year
20
–
–
–
–
(180.2)
(180.2)
Profit and total comprehensive income for the year
–
–
–
–
321.1
321.1
Closing net assets attributable to Shareholders
at 31 December 2023
11.2
–
1,689.6
0.5
3,132.6
4,83 3.9
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Retained
Capital earnings /
Share Share Other redemption (accumulated
capitalpremiumreservereserve
losses)
Total
Note
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
Opening net assets attributable to Shareholders
at 1 January 2022
11.6
3,346.7
1,689.6
–
247.9
5,29 5.8
Repurchase and cancellation of Ordinary Shares
17
(0.2)
–
–
0.2
(53.3)
(53.3)
Redemption and cancellation of Redeemable Shares
17
–
–
–
0.1
(0.1)
–
Dividends paid in the year
20
–
–
–
–
(70.3)
(70.3)
Loss and total comprehensive expense for the year
–
–
–
–
(452.9)
(452.9)
Closing net assets attributable to Shareholders
at 31 December 2022
11.4
3,346.7
1,689.6
0.3
(328 .7)
4,719.3
The accompanying notes on pages 84 to 116 form an integral part of these financial statements.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202382
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 31 December 2023
For the year ended For the year ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
Note
$m
$m
C
a
s
h
f
l
o
w
s
f
r
o
m
o
p
e
r
a
t
i
n
g
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
Profit / (Loss) for the year before tax
397.1
(505.1)
Adjustments to reconcile operating profit / (loss) for the financial period to net cash
flows from operating activities:
Reinvestment of income from investments in Partner-firms
(57.0)
(42.6)
Movement in financial assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit and loss
4
(228.8)
806.7
Movement in trade and other receivables
14.6
(59.1)
Movement in trade and other payables
(2.8)
(8.0)
Movement in fee payable on divestment of investments
6
50.5
(0.9)
Movement in profit sharing charge payable
6
0.1
–
Movement in operator charge payable
6
(14.4)
11 .8
Movement in contingent consideration held at fair value through profit or loss
4
6.4
–
Finance expense
58.6
49.2
Purchase of investments in money market funds
4
(781.4)
(1,043.4)
Sale of investments in money market funds
4
1,227.1
1,021.1
Reinvested interest income from investments in money market funds
4
(24.6)
(8.0)
Taxes paid
(28.2)
(4.4)
N
e
t
c
a
s
h
f
l
o
w
s
f
r
o
m
o
p
e
r
a
t
i
n
g
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
617.2
217.3
C
a
s
h
f
l
o
w
s
f
r
o
m
i
n
v
e
s
t
i
n
g
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
Purchase of investments at fair value through profit or loss
(204.2)
(149 .7)
Capital proceeds received
–
6.7
N
e
t
c
a
s
h
f
l
o
w
s
f
r
o
m
i
n
v
e
s
t
i
n
g
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
(204.2)
(143 .0)
C
a
s
h
f
l
o
w
s
f
r
o
m
f
i
n
a
n
c
i
n
g
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
Dividends paid
20
(180.2)
(70.3)
Interest expense payments
(28.3)
(27.8)
Payment of share issue costs
–
(5.7)
Repayment and cancellation of share capital
17
(25.4)
(50.0)
Proceeds from Unsecured Notes
16
–
500.0
Repayment of Notes payable
16
–
(350.0)
Payment of transaction costs related to debt issuance and repayment
–
(8.1)
Extinguishment of liability to Petershill funds
15
–
(89.6)
Payment under Tax Receivables Agreement
3
(33.8)
–
N
e
t
c
a
s
h
f
l
o
w
s
f
r
o
m
f
i
n
a
n
c
i
n
g
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
(267.7)
(101 .5)
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the year
145.3
(27. 2)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year
97.6
124.8
C
a
s
h
a
n
d
c
a
s
h
e
q
u
i
v
a
l
e
n
t
s
a
t
t
h
e
e
n
d
o
f
t
h
e
y
e
a
r
242.9
97.6
N
o
n
-
c
a
s
h
i
n
v
e
s
t
i
n
g
a
n
d
f
i
n
a
n
c
i
n
g
a
c
t
i
v
i
t
i
e
s
In kind distribution of investments in Partner-firms and Trade and other receivables held
at Issuer SPVs to Petershill Funds
–
492.2
In kind distribution of investments at fair value through profit or loss0.2
–
s
s
s
s
s
s
r
s
The accompanying notes on pages 84 to 116 form an integral part of these financial statements.
83 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
1. General information
Petershill Partners plc (the “Company”) is a company limited by shares, incorporated and registered in England and Wales whose shares are
publicly traded on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. The consolidated financial statements of Petershill Partners plc for the
year ended 31 December 2023 comprise the Company, its subsidiaries and its indirect subsidiaries together referred to as the “Group”.
The Company was incorporated and registered in England and Wales under the UK Companies Act 2006 (as amended) as a private company
limited by shares under the name Delta Epsilon Limited on 24 March 2021 with the registered number 13289144. On 12 August 2021, the
Company was re-registered as a public limited company as Delta Epsilon plc, and on 2 September 2021, the Company was renamed
Petershill Partners plc.
2. Basis of preparation, material accounting policies and other explanatory information
i. Basis of preparation
The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with UK-
adopted International Accounting Standards (“IFRS”) and with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies
reporting under those standards. The financial statements are presented to the nearest million United States Dollar ($’m), the functional and
presentational currency of the Company.
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, as modified by the
revaluation of financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss. The preparation of the financial statements requires
estimates and assumptions to be made that may affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual
amounts could differ from the estimates included in the financial statements herein. The preparation of the consolidated financial
statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires judgement to be exercised in the
process of applying the accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and
estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed in note 3.
Refer to note 2(xiv) for discussion on new and amended standards and interpretations that are applicable to the Company and the Group.
The principal accounting policies are set out below.
Certain figures for the year ended 31 December 2022 in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and Consolidated Statement of
Cash Flows have been re-categorised to conform to current year presentation. The Operator charge payable has been disaggregated from
Trade and other payables. This re-categorisation does not have any impact on the consolidated financial result for the years ended 31
December 2023 and 31 December 2022.
ii. Segmental reporting
The Operator serves as the Group’s alternative investment fund manager for purposes of the UK AIFMR and EU AIFMD, which pursuant to the
Operator Agreement has delegated its portfolio management functions to the Investment Manager, which has further delegated the
provision of portfolio management services to the Investment Advisor. The Investment Advisor, acting as the chief operating decision-maker,
is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments. The key measure of performance used by the
Investment Advisor to assess the Group’s performance and to allocate resources is the Group’s income from investments in Partner-firms.
The Group is engaged in holding interests in and investing into Partner–firms for the purpose of generating revenues derived from the share
of management fees, performance fees and investment income. The management of the Group, including assessment of performance,
budgets and liquidity is managed for the portfolio as a whole and not by discrete segments. Hence, the Board, as recommended by the
Investment Advisor, has concluded that the Group is organised into one main operating segment.
The Group derives 85% (2022: 89%) of its income from North America and the remaining 15% (2022: 11%) from Europe. 91% (31 December
2022: 92%) of the Group’s fair value of investments are located in North America and the remaining 9% (31 December 2022: 8%) are located
in Europe.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202384
iii. Functional currency and foreign currency transactions
The Board of Directors has determined that the functional currency of the Company and its subsidiaries is United States Dollar (US$), as this
is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Company and its subsidiaries operates and is the currency of the majority
of the Group’s Investments in Partner-firms. If indicators of the primary economic environment are mixed, then management uses its
judgement to determine the functional currency that most closely represents the economic effect of the underlying transactions, events and
conditions. Although the Company is listed in the UK, the Group’s investments are mostly held in the USA and transactions are mostly
denominated in US$. Expenses (including the Operator charge, Divestment fee and Profit sharing charge) are denominated and paid mostly
in US$.
Transactions in currencies other than US$ during the period, including income and expenses, are translated into US$ at the rate of exchange
prevailing on the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than US$ are retranslated at the
functional currency rate of exchange ruling at the reporting date. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a
currency other than US$ are translated using the exchange rates as at the dates of the initial transaction. Non-monetary items measured at
fair value in a currency other than US$ are translated using the exchange rates at the date when the fair value was determined.
Foreign currency translation gains and losses on financial instruments classified at fair value through profit or loss are included in the
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as part of the change in fair value of investments at fair value through profit or loss.
Exchange differences on other financial instruments are included in the Statement of Comprehensive Income as Foreign exchange gain /
(loss). Gains and losses on foreign exchange during the year were immaterial and have been included under Other operating expenses in the
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.
iv. Financial instruments
i. Classification
Financial assets are classified based on the business model for managing those financial assets and the contractual cash flow characteristics
of the financial assets.
All investments have been classified as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss as they are managed, and performance is
evaluated on a fair value basis. The primary focus is on fair value information and the use of that information to assess the assets’
performance and to make decisions.
Financial assets classified as receivables are carried at amortised cost less expected credit losses (“ECL”).
ii. Impairment
The Group has adopted the general approach to measuring the loss allowance as required by IFRS 9 – Financials Instruments. A 12-month
ECL is recognised for all financial assets within stage 1 of the Group’s impairment model and lifetime ECL for all other financial assets and is
deducted from the gross carrying value of the receivables. ECL is determined as a product of Loss Given Default (“LGD”), Probability of
Default (“PD”), and Exposure at Default (“EAD”), discounted at an effective interest rate.
The methodology is structured around three core steps: i) Risk differentiation, ii) Risk quantification, and iii) whether there has been a
significant increase in credit risk since origination and or exposures are considered to be credit impaired. In implementing this methodology,
Partner-firms are distinguished for riskiness by leveraging key risk indicators through a comprehensive credit risk review framework.
Risk differentiation
1. The Partner-firms’ liquidity position, indebtedness and ability to generate future cash flows are considered the key risk indicators, with
weights assigned to each indicator that is informed by experience. A higher weight is attributed to the Liquidity Indicator on the basis that
it is considered to be a strong reflection of a firm’s ability to meet immediate cash obligations. The latter driver of ‘Cashflow adequacy
Indicator’ relies on the Partner-firm’s ability to generate cash and incorporates forward looking information.
2. The overall score for each Partner-firm is estimated by combining the risk indicator weights with the values for each selected
risk indicator.
85 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Risk quantification
1. The median risk score serves as the benchmark for quantifying risk across all Partner-firms.
2. This benchmark is a ‘BBB’ rating, which is classified as an investment grade by S&P and indicates an adequate capacity to meet financial
commitments but is also susceptible to adverse economic conditions.
3. The median risk score obtained is compared to the scores of all other Partner-firms, resulting in Partner-firms with lower comparative risk
being rated as ‘A’, and those with higher comparative risk as ‘BB’.
Once the ratings are assigned using the above two steps, the scores are calibrated to a corresponding PD rate. The PDs are informed by using
average cumulative default rates for US corporates from S&P publicly available data. To recognise the increased risk on absolute return
Partner-firms which are considered to be volatile, a nominal increase is applied to the PD rates.
A LGD value is applied for exposures in all stages, albeit where considered appropriate the LGD for stage 3 exposures will be adjusted to
reflect the specific circumstances of the exposure. The LGD rate is consistent with the Basel II framework for corporates, sovereigns, and
banks on senior subordinate claims.
Significant increase in credit risk
The Group assesses whether a significant increase in credit risk has occurred for an exposure through a comprehensive credit risk assessment
framework. This framework employs both qualitative and quantitative indicators which includes days past due, review and reconciliation of
aged receivables and periodic review of financials and cashflow data with Partner-firms. In addition, the Group considers that there has been
a significant increase in credit risk when contractual payments are more than 30 days past due.
Credit impaired exposure
The Group considers a financial asset in default when contractual payments are 90 days past due unless there is sufficient evidence from
comprehensive credit risk assessment which suggests otherwise.
The Group also considers a financial asset to be in default when the comprehensive credit risk assessment indicates that the Group is unlikely
to receive the outstanding contractual amounts in full (‘Stage 3’).
iii. Write-off policy
The Group writes off financial assets, in whole or in part, when it has concluded that there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. When a
financial asset is deemed to be uncollectable, the Group concludes this to be an indicator that there is no reasonable expectation of recovery.
The Group may seek to recover amounts it is legally owed in full, but which have been wholly or partially written off due to no reasonable
expectation of full recovery.
The calculated ECL is detailed in note 21.
iv. Recognition and derecognition
Financial assets and financial liabilities are initially recorded at their transaction price, (which is representative of fair value), plus
transaction costs that are directly attributable to their acquisition or issue other than those classified as at fair value through profit or loss in
which case transaction costs are recognised directly in profit or loss, and then measured at fair value subsequent to initial recognition. Gains
and losses arising from changes in the fair value of financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are presented
in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income in the period in which they arise. Assets and liabilities, other than those at fair value
through profit or loss, are measured at amortised cost.
Realised gains and losses are recognised upon sale or disposal of investments. Unrealised gains and losses from financial assets and
liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are included in the change in fair value of investments through profit or loss in the Consolidated
Statement of Comprehensive Income.
Financial assets are derecognised when the rights to receive cash flows have expired or substantially all risks and rewards of ownership have
transferred. Financial liabilities are derecognised when the obligation specific in the contract is cancelled or expires.
The carrying amounts of assets comprised of cash and cash equivalents and Trade and other receivables are held at amortised cost.
The carrying amounts of liabilities comprised of Unsecured Notes payable, Deferred payment obligations, Fee payable on divestment of
investments, Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement, Interest payable, Profit sharing charge payable, Operator charge payable and Trade
and other payables are held at amortised cost. The carrying value of assets and liabilities except Unsecured Notes payable held at amortised
cost listed here approximates fair value as these do not contain any significant financing components. The fair value of the Unsecured Notes
payable is estimated at $467.0 million based on interest rates at 31 December 2023 (31 December 2022: $463.0 million).
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202386
v. Material accounting policies and other explanatory information
i. Notes payable and interest expense
Unsecured Notes payable are initially recognised at fair value. After initial recognition, these are subsequently measured at amortised cost
using the effective interest method; any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognised
in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income over the period of the loans or borrowings using the effective interest method.
Fees paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it is probable that some or
all of the facility will be drawn down. In this case, the fee is deferred until the draw down occurs. To the extent that there is no evidence that
it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawdown, the fee is capitalised as a prepayment for liquidity services and amortised over
the period of the facility to which it relates.
Borrowing costs including interest expense are recognised in the period in which they are incurred using the effective interest method.
ii. Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
The Group’s acquisition of the Partner–firms from the Petershill Funds increased the tax basis, for US tax purposes, of the acquired assets, as
compared with their pre-acquisition tax basis. This increase in tax basis is expected to increase the amortisation of such assets in the hands
of Petershill Partners, Inc. (formerly Delta Epsilon Delaware, Inc.) (the “Delaware Subsidiary”), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, and
therefore reduce the amount of US tax that the Group would otherwise be required to pay in the future. This increase in tax basis may also
decrease a taxable gain (or increase taxable loss) on future dispositions of certain assets to the extent this tax basis is allocated to
those assets.
As part consideration for the Initial Transaction, the Delaware Subsidiary entered into a Tax Receivables Agreement (the “Tax Receivables
Agreement” or “TRA”) with certain Petershill Funds and their subsidiaries, which will require the Delaware Subsidiary to pay 75% of the
amount of cash tax savings, if any, in US federal, state and local income tax that the Delaware Subsidiary realises. The computation of the tax
savings is based on the actual US federal tax savings realised on the tax returns of the Delaware Subsidiary over the amount that would have
been paid if the increase in tax basis had not occurred. State and local income tax savings are based on the assumption that the state and
local tax rate is 6% of the reduction in federal taxable income due to the increased tax basis. In addition, any such savings that the Delaware
Subsidiary realises as a result of the tax benefits associated with the increases in tax basis that arise due to payments under the Tax
Receivables Agreement, are assumed to result in additional increases in tax basis that will result in future tax benefits. The Group expects
that, as a result of the size of the increases in the tax basis of the investments described above, the payments that it will be required to make
under the Tax Receivables Agreement may be substantial. The majority of these incremental payments are expected to arise over the next
15 years.
The Group has estimated the future tax savings payable under the TRA based on information that has been provided by the underlying
Partner-firms as to the amount of the step up in tax basis and future expected amortisation. To the extent that a step up did not result in a
future amortisation deduction it has been assumed that no tax benefit will be payable under the TRA agreement. In addition, the Group has
assumed that any amortisation will result in an immediate tax benefit in the year of the amortisation. The Group has recorded a liability of
$174.7 million (31 December 2022: $185.7 million), representing the Operator’s best estimate of the amounts currently expected to be
owed to certain of the Petershill Funds and certain of their subsidiaries under the Tax Receivables Agreement. The liability that is recorded is
associated with the expected future tax benefits related to the aggregate step-up in tax basis.
The Liability for the TRA was initially recognised at fair value of the expected liability. Any changes to the carrying value of the expected
liability are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income at each reporting date. Refer to note 3 for detailed
discussion of the TRA.
The payable is subsequently carried at amortised cost based on assumptions discussed below and may be adjusted. These assumptions are
based on the Operator’s judgement and information provided by the Partner-firms. The Operator has estimated the step-up tax basis of the
acquired assets based on tax information provided by the Partner-firms, and to the extent amortisable projected the amortisation of the
step-up tax basis to occur over 15 years, applied an effective interest rate of 18% (31 December 2022: 18%) and utilised the current
effective tax rate of Delaware Subsidiary in calculating the future tax benefits and resulting payments under the TRA.
In addition, the TRA provides for the payment on the TRA to become due on the original due date of the US federal income tax return and an
interest that is payable on the final payment from the due date of the return until actual payment is made. The interest is recognised as a
Finance cost in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income at each reporting date.
87 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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vi. Investments held at fair value through profit or loss
Investments are designated upon initial recognition as held at fair value through profit or loss. Gains or losses resulting from the movement
in fair value are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income at each valuation point.
Financial assets are recognised / derecognised at the date of the purchase / disposal. Investments are initially recognised at cost, being the
fair value of consideration given. Transaction costs are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as incurred.
The Group measures its investments at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer
a liability (i.e. the exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In the absence of quoted
market prices, fair value is determined by the Operator. Due to the inherent uncertainties of valuation, these estimated fair values may differ
significantly from the values that would have been realised had a readily available market for these investments existed, and these
differences could be material.
The Operator is responsible for the implementation and maintenance of internal controls and procedures related to the valuation of the
Group's investments. Valuations are prepared in accordance with the Operator's valuation policy and subject to verification procedures. A
third-party valuation advisor is engaged to assist in the preparation of the valuation proposals including certain market data driven
assumptions. The valuation proposals are reviewed by the Operator’s functionally independent Valuation Oversight Group (“VOG”).
Periodically, VOG presents the valuation proposals and their independent price verification review results to the Operator’s valuation
committee (“Valuation Committee”) which convenes to approve and oversee the application of valuation policies and review fair value
estimates for the investments. Subsequently, the Operator reports the valuation results to the Board of Directors.
Per the valuation policy, the Operator initially values the Group's investments based on their purchase price and thereafter values them using
valuation methods that it determines, in its sole discretion. The Operator uses a number of different valuation techniques, including the
market approach, which applies a multiple to current operating income of Partner-firms and the income approach, which applies discounted
cash flow techniques based upon estimated future cash flows and discount rates. Since observable prices are generally not available for such
investments, the Operator considers all available market evidence in determining fair value. Certain investments are valued at the most
recent Net Asset Value per unit or capital account information available and the Operator considers such value to be an appropriate measure
of fair value. Further information about investments held at fair value through profit and loss is included in note 4.
Deferred payment obligations
Certain financial assets are purchased under various contracts containing deferred payment terms. These deferred payment obligations are
initially recorded on the contractual purchase date with a discount being imputed for an effective interest rate that will be the equivalent
rate of interest due on borrowings and subsequently carried at amortised cost. As at 31 December 2023, the amortised cost of Deferred
payment obligations of $51.9 million (31 December 2022: $239.9 million) reported on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position is
imputed at an effective interest rate of 2.4% (31 December 2022: 2.5%).
Any difference between the initially recorded deferred payment obligations and the final contractual liability payable is recognised in the
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as a finance cost over the period of the deferred payment obligation using the effective
interest method. For the year ended 31 December 2023, an amount of $6.0 million (2022: $5.5 million) relating to deferred payment
obligations is included in Finance cost on the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income and as such any sensitivity in respect of the
discount rate applied is immaterial.
Contingent consideration
Certain financial assets are purchased under various contracts containing contingent payment terms. These contingent payment obligations
are initially recorded at fair value on the contractual purchase date, subject to probability of payment, with a discount being imputed for an
effective interest rate that will be the equivalent date of interest due on borrowings and subsequently carried at fair value. Any change in fair
value is recorded as a change in fair value of financial liability in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.
The fair value of contingent consideration obligations represents the present value of the future expected payments based on an assessment
of the likelihood of those payments against their contractual thresholds. The Operator uses a number of different valuation techniques, at its
discretion, but primarily relies on the income approach which applies discounted cash flow techniques based on the estimated future
payments and discount rates. Further information about contingent consideration is included in note 4.
Offsetting financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are offset and the net amount is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position when there is a
legally enforceable right to offset the recognised amounts and there is an intention to settle on a net basis or realise the asset and settle the
liability simultaneously. The legally enforceable right must not be contingent on future events, and it must be enforceable in the normal
course of business and in the event of default, insolvency or bankruptcy of the Group or the counterparty.
vii. Dividends
Dividends payable are recognised as distributions in the financial statements when the dividend is approved by shareholders or when paid.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202388
viii. Related parties
Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability to control the other party or exercise significant influence over the other party
in making financial or operational decisions. Enterprises and individuals that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediary, control,
or are controlled by, or under common control with, the Group, including subsidiaries and fellow subsidiaries, are related parties of the
Group. This includes its key management personnel, including directors and officers of the Operator, other affiliated entities of the Operator
and the Private Funds. In considering related party relationships, attention is directed to the substance of the relationship and not merely
the legal form.
ix. Share capital
Financial instruments issued by the Company are treated as equity if the holder has only a residual interest in the assets of the Company
after the deduction of all liabilities. The Company’s Ordinary Shares are classified as equity instruments. The Company’s Redeemable
Deferred Shares, redeemable upon request, were classified as financial liabilities.
For the issue of each Ordinary Share for cash, $0.01 has been recognised in Share capital and the remaining cash amount received has been
recognised in Share premium and Other reserve. For the issue of each Ordinary Share issued to Petershill Funds in exchange for financial
assets and liabilities, $0.01 has been recognised in Share capital and the remaining amount recognised in Share premium, and Other reserve
such that the aggregate of the amount recognised in Share capital, Share premium and Other reserve is equal to the fair value of the
financial assets and liabilities transferred to the Group.
Under Section 612 of the Companies Act, where an issuing company has secured at least 90% equity holding of another company in return
for shares of the issuing company, then merger relief shall be applied requiring the premium, with respect to the shares issued, to be
recorded to Other reserve as merger relief. The acquisition of Petershill Partners Ltd (formerly Delta Epsilon Cayman Ltd) (the “Cayman
Subsidiary”) by the Company fell under the ambit of Section 612 of the Companies Act and hence merger relief was applied to the excess
over the nominal value of shares. Refer to note 17 for more information.
The Company’s shareholders approved the cancellation of the amount standing to the credit of the Company's share premium account in full
(the “Reduction of Capital") at its annual general meeting held on 24 May 2023. A formal approval of the same was obtained on 20 June
2023 by His Majesty's High Court in England (the "Court"). Accordingly, the Reduction of Capital has become effective and has created
additional distributable reserves of approximately $3,346.7 million. Accordingly, the amounts standing to the credit of the share premium
account have been transferred to Retained earnings. Refer to note 17 for more information.
Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares (“Share issue costs”) are shown as a deduction against proceeds from Share
premium. Incremental costs include those incurred in connection with the placing and admission which include fees payable under a placing
agreement, legal costs and any other applicable expenses.
The cost of repurchasing Ordinary Shares including the related stamp duty and transactions costs is charged to Retained earnings and dealt
with in the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity. Share repurchase transactions are accounted for on a trade date basis. The nominal
value of ordinary share capital and Redeemable Deferred Shares repurchased and cancelled is transferred out of Share capital and into the
Capital redemption reserve.
89 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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x. Income from Investments in Partner-firms and interest income
Cumulative income and returns from Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss is made up of the Income from Investments in
Partner-firms which comprises the current year income (including accruals where applicable) and the changes in fair value on financial
assets at fair value through profit or loss which comprises the fair value changes of the future returns of the Investments in Partner-firms.
Income from Investments in money market funds and other assets is accounted for on an accrual basis. Income from Investments in Partner-
firms is generally recognised when the rights to receive payment from the Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss have been
established, and comprises three underlying components, as follows:
I. Income from Investments in Partner-firms derived from Management fee income (“FRE”) is based on the net management fees earned
by the underlying Partner-firms and is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. This comprises the portion of
the income in respect of the Partner-firms’ management fees that is due to the Group for each relevant current period. This arises from
the investments held to earn a share of the underlying investee’s management fee revenue.
Typically, the investments entitle the Group to a set percentage share of the net management fee revenue earned by the underlying
Partner-firm. Depending on the nature of the operations of the underlying Partner-firm, income arising will be accounted for on an
accrual basis only when the right to receive payment has been established under the terms of the agreement with the Partner-firms.
II. Income from Investments in Partner-firms derived from Performance fee income (“PRE”) is based on the realised performance fees
earned by the underlying Partner-firms and is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. This comprises the
portion of the income in respect of the Partner-firms’ performance fees. Typically, these investments entitle the Group to a set
percentage share of the performance fee revenue earned by the underlying investee. Depending on the nature of the operations of the
underlying Partner-firm, income arising will be accounted for on an accrual basis only when the right to receive payment has been
established under the terms of the agreement with the Partner-firms.
III. Income from Investments in Partner-firms derived from Investment Income is based on the investment income earned by the underlying
Partner-firms and is reported in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. This comprises the portion of the income in
respect of the Partner-firms’ realised gains and losses or any distributed income from the investments held on Partner-firms balance
sheets. Investment income arising will be accounted for on an accrual basis only when the right to receive payment has been established
under the terms of the agreement with the Partner-firms.
Gains or losses resulting from the movement in fair value of the Group’s investments held at fair value through profit or loss are recognised
in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income at each valuation point.
xi. Expenses
Expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. Share issue costs of the Company directly attributable to the issue and listing of shares are
charged to the share premium account.
Operator charges, profit sharing charges, professional fees, divestment fees and other expenses incurred are recognised on an accrual basis
and expensed to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. Certain professional fees are transaction costs incurred to structure
a deal to acquire or dispose of investments designated as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss. These transaction costs, when
incurred, are immediately recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as an expense.
xii. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short-term investments in an active market with
original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202390
xiii. Taxation
Income tax comprises current tax and deferred tax and is recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income except to the
extent that it relates to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in Equity.
The current income tax payable on profits is recognised as an expense based on the applicable tax laws in each jurisdiction in the period in
which profits arise, calculated using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is recognised on
temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for accounting and tax purposes. A deferred income tax asset or
liability is recognised for each temporary difference, except for temporary differences subject to initial recognition exemption and earnings
related to subsidiaries where the temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future and the Group has the ability to control the
timing of their reversal. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the tax rates that are expected to be in effect in the
period that the asset is expected to be realised or the liability is settled, based on tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or
substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.
Current tax assets and liabilities are offset when they are levied by the same taxation authority on either the same taxable entity or within
the same tax reporting group (which intends to settle on a net basis), and when there is a legal right to offset. Deferred tax assets and
liabilities are offset when the same conditions are satisfied.
Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent it is probable that the benefits associated with these assets will be realised. The
determination as to if it is probable that a deferred income tax asset will be recognisable is dependent on a number of factors including the
expectations of future taxable income in the period the deferred income tax asset is realised. Further, in certain jurisdictions the character of
the loss or deduction as either ordinary or capital may impact the ability to offset future income. As such, significant judgements may be
required in determining the Group's ability to realise the future tax assets.
The Group is subject to income tax laws in various jurisdictions where it operates, and the complex tax laws are potentially subject to
different interpretations by the Company and the relevant taxation authorities. Judgements may be required in the interpretation of the
relevant tax laws and in assessing the probability of acceptance of tax positions. A tax reserve related to uncertainty over income taxes is
recognised when a payment to tax authorities is considered probable.
xiv. New and amended standards and interpretations
Accounting standards and interpretations have been published and will be mandatory for the Group’s and Company’s accounting periods
beginning on or after 1 January 2023 or later periods. The following are the new or amended accounting standards or interpretations
applicable to the Group.
• Amendments to IAS 1 and IFRS Practice Statement 2 – Disclosure of Accounting policies (effective for annual periods beginning
on or after 1 January 2023);
• Amendments to IAS 8 – Definition of Accounting Estimates (issued on 12 February 2021 and effective for annual periods beginning
on or after 1 January 2023);
• Amendments to IAS 12 – Deferred tax related to assets and liabilities arising from a single transaction (issued on 7 May 2021 and effective
for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2023); and
• Changes to IAS 1 – Classification of liabilities as current or non-current (effective for annual periods beginning on or after
1 January 2024).
These amendments have been adopted and the impact of these amendments to the Company and the Group is not material.
Certain amendments to accounting standards have been published that are not mandatory for 31 December 2023 reporting periods and
have not been early adopted by the Group. These amendments are not expected to have a material impact on the entity in the current or
future reporting periods and on foreseeable future transactions.
• IFRS S1 – General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information (effective for annual periods beginning on or
after 1 January 2024); and
• IFRS S2 – Climate-related Disclosures (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2024).
91 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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xv. Assessment of investment entity
The Board of Directors has determined that the Company and its subsidiaries are not an investment entity and therefore the Company’s
financial statements have been prepared on a consolidated basis, as required by IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated Financial Statements’.
The Board of Directors has assessed if the Company and its subsidiaries satisfy the three essential criteria to be regarded as an investment
entity as defined in IFRS 10, IFRS 12 ‘Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities’ and IAS 27 ‘Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements’.
The three essential criteria are such that the entity must:
1. Obtain funds from one or more investors for the purpose of providing these investors with professional investment management services;
2. Commit to its investors that its business purpose is to invest its funds solely for returns from capital appreciation, investment income or
both; and
3. Measure and evaluate the performance of substantially all of its investments on a fair value basis.
Also as set out in IFRS 10, further consideration should be given to the typical characteristics of an Investment Entity, which are that:
• it should have more than one investment, to diversify the risk portfolio and maximise returns;
• it should have multiple investors, who pool their funds to maximise investment opportunities;
• it should have investors that are not related parties of the entity; and
• it should have ownership interests in the form of equity or similar interests.
B85F of IFRS 10 that deals with exit strategies, stipulates that an entity’s investment plans also provide evidence of its business purpose.
One feature that differentiates an investment entity from other entities is that an investment entity does not plan to hold its investments
indefinitely; it holds them for a limited period. Given equity investments and non-financial asset investments have the potential to be held
indefinitely, an investment entity shall have an exit strategy documenting how the entity plans to realise capital appreciation from
substantially all of its equity investments and non-financial asset investments.
The Company and its subsidiaries hold their investments primarily for income generation purposes and do not have plans to realise capital
appreciation from substantially all of the investments in Partner-firms and non-financial assets in the normal course of operations. The
Company and its subsidiaries do not have an exit strategy as defined by IFRS 10 and therefore do not meet one of the essential criteria to be
treated as an investment entity.
Accordingly, the Company has not applied the provisions of Para 31 of IFRS 10 that requires an investment company to measure its
investment in subsidiaries at fair value through profit or loss. Instead, the Company consolidates the subsidiaries that it controls as discussed
in the next section.
xvi. Basis of consolidation of subsidiaries
IFRS 10 requires a parent to consolidate its subsidiaries that it controls. Consolidation of the subsidiaries shall begin from the date the
parent obtains control of the subsidiaries and ceases when the parent loses control of the subsidiaries. A parent controls the subsidiaries
when the parent is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the subsidiaries and has the ability to affect those
returns through its power over the subsidiaries.
The Company consolidates its subsidiaries to the extent it is exposed or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the
subsidiaries and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the subsidiaries. The consolidated financial statements of the
Group include the results of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries listed below.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202392
Interest as at Interest as at
31 December 31 December
Name of Subsidiary
Registered office
Purpose
2023 2022
Held directly
Petershill Partners Ltd
1
One Nexus Way Camana Bay, KY1-9005, Investment holding 100% 100%
Cayman Islands company
Petershill Partners II Ltd One Nexus Way Camana Bay, KY1-9005, Investment holding 100% 100%
Cayman Islands company
Petershill Partners, Inc.
251
Little Falls Drive
Investment holding 100% 100%
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States company
of America
Held indirectly
Petershill Partners GP Sub I
251
Little Falls Drive
Investment holding 100% 100%
Series LLC Wilmington, DE 19808, United States company
of America
Petershill Partners GP Sub II
251
Little Falls Drive
Investment holding 100% 100%
Series LLC Wilmington, DE 19808, United States company
of America
Petershill Partners GP Sub III
251
Little Falls Drive
Investment holding 100% 100%
Series LLC Wilmington, DE 19808, United States company
of America
Petershill Partners GP Sub IV
251
Little Falls Drive
Investment holding 100% 100%
Series LLC Wilmington, DE 19808, United States company
of America
PHP Aggregator GP Ltd One Nexus Way Camana Bay, KY1-9005, General Partner of 100% 100%
Cayman Islands Cayman domiciled
Petershill holding
companies
Cook Holdings Series LLC
4, 5
251
Little Falls Drive
Investment holding 100% 100%
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States company
of America
Knight Holdings Series LLC
251
Little Falls Drive
Investment holding 100% 100%
Wilmington, DE 19808, United States company
of America
Lyndhurst Holdings LP One Nexus Way, Camana Bay, KY1-9005 Investment holding 100% 100%
Cayman Islands company
Plum Holdings LP One Nexus Way, Camana Bay, KY1-9005 Investment holding 100% 100%
Cayman Islands company
Peasy Holdings LP One Nexus Way, Camana Bay, KY1-9005 Investment holding 100% 100%
Cayman Islands company
1,6
1
2,3
2,3
2,3
2,3
2
4, 5
4, 5
4, 5
4, 5
1. Referred to as Petershill Subsidiaries.
2. Held through Petershill Partners Ltd.
3. Referred to as Petershill Blockers.
4. Held through the Petershill Blockers and Petershill Partners, Inc.
5. Referred to as Petershill holding companies.
6. Incorporated and acquired by the Group on 28 April 2022.
The Petershill Subsidiaries, Petershill Blockers and Petershill holding companies are collectively referred to as the Subsidiaries.
I. Consolidation of Petershill Subsidiaries and Petershill Blockers
The Company wholly owns the issued interests of the Petershill Subsidiaries and is able to exercise control and power over the Petershill
Subsidiaries. Petershill Partners Ltd wholly owns the shares of the Petershill Blockers listed above. The financial statements of the Petershill
Subsidiaries and Petershill Blockers are consolidated in preparing the financial statements of the Group.
II. Consolidation of Petershill holding companies
The Company has consolidated its investment in series and classes of assets that it wholly owns and controls in the Petershill holding
companies. Such assets and liabilities are ring-fenced from the overall legal entity and treated as a silo in line with IFRS 10. Specified assets
of the series or class are the only source of payment for specified liabilities in that series or class. Holders of other series or class do not have
rights or obligations related to the specified assets or to residual cash flows from those assets. Silos that are not directly or indirectly
controlled by the Company are not considered to be Subsidiaries and are accordingly not consolidated.
93 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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III. Consolidation of Issuer SPVs and Intermediary Entities
As discussed in note 2(xvi) and note 13 of the 2022 Annual Report, the Company and the Petershill Funds had an exposure to the Issuer SPVs
(comprised of PH Offshore GP Issuer, PH Offshore IM Issuer, PH Onshore GP Issuer and PH Onshore IM Issuer) through the Intermediary
Entities (comprised of PH Offshore GP Aggregator, PH Offshore IM Aggregator, PH Onshore GP Aggregator, PH Onshore IM Aggregator).
The Issuer SPVs were formed to offer the 5% Series A Senior Guaranteed Notes due 2039 (“Notes”). The Notes were collateralised by the
rights to future cash flows (referred to as “Transferred Interest”) generated from FRE and PRE of certain existing investments in Partner-
firms that were owned by the Petershill Funds. In return for the Transferred Interest, the Petershill Funds received the proceeds from the
issue of the Notes and remainder in the form of Participation Interest in the Issuer SPVs.
On 28 September 2021, a majority of the Investments in Partner-firms (including the Participation Interest) referred to above, were sold by
the Petershill Funds to the Company and its Subsidiaries as part of the Offer in return for Ordinary Shares of the Company. This resulted in
the Company holding majority interest in the Issuer SPVs through the Intermediary Entities and Subsidiaries. The Petershill Funds continued
to have an interest in the Issuer SPVs and Intermediary Entities and hence a payable was recorded as a liability to the Petershill Funds.
The Petershill Funds did not have any economic exposure to the Issuer SPVs except in the event of default of the Notes, when the cash flows
relating to the Participation Interest owned by the Petershill Funds may be used to service the Notes and its obligations.
On 20 September 2022, the Notes were repaid out of proceeds raised from the issue of Unsecured Notes and the Transferred Interest held as
collateral was released back to the Petershill Funds and the Subsidiaries of the Company. Other assets comprised of income receivable from
Partner-firms held at the Issuer SPVs were also distributed to the Petershill Funds and the Subsidiaries of the Company. Cash left at the
Issuer SPVs was distributed in December post which the Issuer SPVs and the Intermediary Entities were dissolved on 19 December 2022. As a
result, the Petershill Funds ceased to have any exposure to the Issuer SPVs effective this date. Pursuant to above, the Company consolidated
the accounts of the Issuer SPVs and the Intermediary Entities in preparing the consolidated financial statements for the period from 1
January 2022 to 19 December 2022 under the definition of control, the date these Issuer SPVs and the Intermediary Entities were dissolved.
Refer to note 15 for more information.
The table below summarises the components of Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income attributable to the Petershill Funds that
have been consolidated in preparing these financial statements due the requirements detailed above for the year ended 31 December 2022.
There were no assets or liabilities attributable to the Petershill Funds that have been consolidated in preparing these financial statements
due to the requirements detailed above as at 31 December 2023 or 31 December 2022.
For the year ended For the year ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
$m
$m
Income
Income from investments in Partner-firms
–
14.8
Movement in financial assets and liabilities held at fair value
Change in fair value of investments at fair value through profit or loss
–
(30.2)
Finance income / (expense)
Movement in liability to Petershill Funds
–
15.4
IV. Accounting for investment in Partner-firms
The Group’s investments in Partner-firms are in the nature of non-controlling stakes that do not give rise to control or significant influence
over the investees. The Group has assessed and concluded that the provisions contained in IAS 28 and IFRS 9 relating to joint control or
accounting for associates are not applicable.
V. Elimination of intra-group balances and transactions
Intra-group balances and any unrealised gains arising from intra-group transactions are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial
statements. Unrealised losses are eliminated unless the costs cannot be recovered. The financial results of Subsidiaries that are included in
the consolidated financial statements are included from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.
VI. Going Concern
In accordance with the Companies Act 2006, the Board of Directors has a responsibility to evaluate whether the Group has adequate
resources to continue its operational existence for the foreseeable future and at least for the 12 months following the issuance of the
financial statements.
The Board of Directors has made an assessment of going concern, which takes into account the current performance and the Group’s outlook,
including future projections of profitability and cash flows as well as a downside scenario using information that is available as of the date of
these financial statements, and the Group’s access to the revolving credit facility and its debt arrangements, details of which are set out in
the Financial and Operating Review on page 30.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202394
The Group’s business model involves earning income from investments in Partner-firms. The Group’s investments in Partner-firms are long-
term and the Group has no exit strategy for its investments. As a result, the Group expects long-term recurring revenues from its investments
in Partner-firms. Income from investments in Partner-firms is derived from management fee income, performance fee income and
investment income. Management fee income is typically based on private capital commitment funds managed by the Partner-firms that
are locked up for a period of 8 or more years. The income from management fees is therefore stable and recurring. Income derived from
performance fee income and investment income from Partner-firms is dependent on underlying fund and underlying investment
performance of the Partner-firms. The Group has good visibility into the income from investments in Partner-firms. The Group has a low, and
relatively predictable, cost structure. When taken together with the visibility into the income from investments in Partner-firms, the Group
has reasonably stable earnings.
As at 31 December 2023, the Group has $242.9 million (31 December 2022: $97.6 million) of cash and cash equivalents along with
$62.3 million (31 December 2022: $483.4 million) of investments in money market instruments, reflecting a strong liquidity position
to meet operating costs.
The Board of Directors acknowledges its responsibilities related to the financial statements. Based on the analysis outlined above, the Board
of Directors is comfortable that the Group has sufficient cash to support its ongoing operations and meet its liquidity requirements in the
downside scenario.
The Board of Directors has assessed the viability of the Group for a chosen period of three years to 31 December 2026 and this includes the
next 12 months following the issuance of these financial statements. As discussed in the Viability Statement on page 44 of the Annual
report, the Board of Directors has assessed a downside model that places stress on the Group’s earnings. The model includes estimated
impacts, primarily based on the below scenarios:
• A 90% reduction in income from Partner-firms derived from performance fee income. This translates to a substantial reduction in overall
income from Partner-firms over the three years and includes the period under consideration. Such a reduction might be a result of
Partner-firm revenue and macroeconomic risks;
• A 20% decline in the fee-paying AuM held by absolute return funds, while private market funds AuM remains relatively stable. This would
have a slight impact on the management fee income;
• The Operator charge is based on the amount of income from Partner-firms and therefore changes commensurate with the change in
income from Partner-firms;
• The Group’s long-term debt has fixed interest rates; and
• Any reduction in the valuation of investments at fair value through profit and loss would not impact free cash flow, debt covenants or
leverage limitations.
The Group’s ability to pay its expenses, including the Operator charge, and meet its financial covenants of the associated credit facility and
debt arrangements, can continue under the severe but plausible downside scenario. The Board of Directors’ assessment has been made with
reference to the Group’s current position, the Group’s outlook, its strategy and the Group’s principal risks.
Given the above, the Board of Directors consider it appropriate to prepare the financial statements of the Company and Group on a going
concern basis for a period of at least 12 months from the date of issue of these financial statements as set out in note 2(i).
VII. Climate change
Climate change and other ESG-related issues may affect the Partner-firms in a variety of ways. The impacts can include items such as
fundraising demand, which may have either headwinds or tailwinds depending on the strategy of the fund. The diversity of investments in
Partner-firms, and related underlying funds, mitigates the risk to the Group if any, that climate change may have on any one underlying
investment made by a Partner-firm.
In preparing the financial statements, the Operator considers the impact of climate change in the valuation of investments, insofar as they
are reasonably able. For the year ended 31 December 2023, in determining the fair value of the investments in Partner-firms, based on
inputs provided by the third-party valuation advisor and discussions with Partner-firms, the Operator concluded that the impact of climate
change to valuations is not material at this time and hence did not use climate change as an input for valuations.
3. Critical accounting judgements, estimates and assumptions
The preparation of the financial statements requires the Board to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application
of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses.
Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on Board experience and other factors, including expectations of future
events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Judgements
Information about judgements made in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the
financial statements is included in the following note:
95 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Assessment as an investment entity
The Board of Directors has determined that the Company and its Subsidiaries are not an investment entity and therefore the Company’s
financial statements have been prepared on a consolidated basis, as required by IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated Financial Statements’.
The Board of Directors has determined that the Company and its Subsidiaries do not have an exit strategy as required by IFRS 10 and fail to
meet one of the essential criteria to be treated as an Investment Entity. The Company and its Subsidiaries hold their investments primarily
for income generation purposes and do not have plans to realise capital appreciation from substantially all of its investments in Partner-
firms and non-financial assets in the normal course of operations. Refer to note 2(xv) for detailed discussion.
Estimates and assumptions
The Group makes estimates and assumptions, which are reviewed by the Board of Directors, that affect the reported amounts of assets and
liabilities in the future. Estimates and assumptions are regularly evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors,
including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.
Fair value of investments not quoted in an active market
The Group was formed with the objective of investing in Partner-firms. The targeted Partner-firms are typically well-established multi-
billion-dollar alternative investment firms with a track record of strong performance and meaningful cash flow generation and are well-
positioned to develop their platform across future fund and product offerings.
The Group participates in the management fee income, performance fee income and investment income earned by the Partner-firms.
The investments in Partner-firms held by the Group are not quoted or traded in an active market and as such their fair values are determined
using valuation techniques, primarily earnings multiples, discounted cash flows and recent comparable transactions. The fair values of
certain Partner-firms are fair valued with the assistance of a third-party valuation advisor engaged by the Operator.
The models used to determine fair values, which are individually bespoke and have individual assumptions applied to them, are the
responsibility of the Operator and are validated and periodically reviewed by appropriately skilled and functionally independent teams
within the Operator. In valuing the investments, key assumptions include estimates around future fundraise timing and sizes, expected
management and performance fee rates and margins of the Partner-firms, expected current and future fund returns and timing of
realisations. These assumptions are driven by factors including data provided by the Partner-firms, guidance provided by management of
each Partner-firm, benchmarking analysis of related market data points, and other qualitative and quantitative factors assessed by the
Operator for each period.
The inputs in the earnings multiple models include observable data, such as earnings multiples of companies comparable to the relevant
Partner-firms, and unobservable data, such as forecast earnings for the Partner-firms and unobservable adjustments, such as those made to
multiples. In discounted cash flow models, unobservable inputs are the projected cash flows of the relevant Partner-firms and the risk
premium for liquidity and credit risk that are incorporated into the discount rate. The discount rates used for valuing investments are
determined based on historical returns for other entities operating in the same industry for which market returns are observable.
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
This estimate assumes that the Delaware Subsidiary would have current taxable income sufficient to fully utilise the deductions arising from the increase
in tax basis and any interest imputed with respect to its payment obligations under the Tax Receivables Agreement, and that there would be no future
changes to the 21% US statutory federal tax rate. To the extent that the stepped-up tax basis is amortisable the Group has projected the amortisation of
the step-up tax basis to occur over 15 years. To the extent that the step-up tax basis is not amortisable, the realisation of a benefit is outside of the
Group’s control and would only occur if the Partner-firm disposes of or otherwise realises a taxable gain or loss on the sale of the asset, and therefore the
Group has estimated there would be no tax benefit in computing the payment obligation under the Tax Receivables Agreement with respect to that
stepped-up tax basis. The Group applied a discount rate of 18%.
It should be noted that in certain circumstances if the Delaware Subsidiary disposes of an underlying investment, it is possible that the Delaware
Subsidiary will not be obligated to make payments under the Tax Receivables Agreement. The likelihood of such an event has been considered
in estimating the amount of the liability under the Tax Receivables Agreement.
The Group is not aware of any issue that would cause the taxing authorities to challenge a tax basis increase. However, the applicable
Petershill Funds and their Subsidiaries will not reimburse Petershill Partners, Inc. for any payments previously made under the Tax
Receivables Agreement if the related tax benefits that it claims arising from such increase, are successfully challenged by the applicable
taxing authorities. As a result, in certain circumstances, payments under the Tax Receivables Agreement could be in excess of the relevant
cash tax savings derived from the Tax Receivables Agreement.
In arriving at the Liability for Tax Receivable Agreement, the Operator has assumed the applicable US federal and state combined tax rate to
be 25.7% (31 December 2022: 25.7%) and considers the same as a significant estimate used in accruing the liability. For every increase in tax
rate by 5%, the liability under the Tax Receivable Agreement would increase by $36.8 million (31 December 2022: $36.6 million).
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202396
As indicated above, the Operator assumed that sufficient current taxable income would be available to fully utilise the deductions arising
from the increase in tax basis and any interest imputed with respect to the payment obligations under the Tax Receivable Agreement.
However, the final tax returns filed for the year 31 December 2022 did not result in sufficient current taxable income to fully utilise the
deductions resulting in a reduction in the amount actually paid under the Tax Receivables Agreement. The reductions in payment obligations
as a result of insufficient current taxable income will ultimately be paid in future years if taxable income exceeds the amount that is offset by
the amortisation of the stepped-up tax basis in that year. The Operator expects the Group to have sufficient taxable income available in
future years based on best estimate of income projections available at 31 December 2023 to fully utilise the deductions arising from the
increased in tax basis and any interest imputed with respect to the payments with respect to the payment obligations under the Tax
Receivable Agreement.
As of 31 December 2023, the carrying value of the Tax Receivable Agreement was reported at amortised cost at a value of $174.7 million (31
December 2022: $185.7 million). The fair value of the Tax Receivable Agreement is estimated at $166.6 million (31 December 2022: $185.7
million). The fair value of the Tax Receivable Agreement would be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy due to the use of
unobservable inputs. A 3% increase / decrease in the underlying discount rate would result in a decrease / increase in net assets of
approximately $21.0 million and $25.1 million respectively (31 December 2022: $22.4 million and $28.5 million respectively). The discount
rate was determined based on the cost of capital adjusted for risks related to the potential elimination of the payments due to possible
future disposal of the underlying investments.
4. Investments at fair value through profit or loss
Non-current investments
The Group’s non-current investments comprise of investments in Partner-firms, which hold a diversified portfolio of investments in private
equity, absolute return, private credit and private real assets.
For the year-ended For the year-ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
$m
$m
Opening balance
4,958.9
6,023.1
Additions
66.8
230.7
Proceeds from redemptions and return of capital
–
(18.9)
In kind distribution of Investments in Partner-firms
2, 3
0.2
(469.3)
Other movements
1.8
–
Change in fair value of investments at fair value through profit or loss
227.0
(806.7)
Closing balance 5,254.7 4,958.9
1
4
1. Of the above, an amount of $57.0 million (31 December 2022: $81.0 million) includes consideration payable on a deferred basis and dividend reinvestments.
2. In 2022, this represents the fair value of Transferred Interest held as collateral that were released back to the Petershill Funds. Refer to note 15 for a
detailed discussion.
3. In 2023, this represents in kind distribution of investments at fair value through profit or loss.
4. Of the above, an amount of $227.0 million (31 December 2022: loss of $788.8 million) relates to unrealised gain / (loss) on fair value of investments held at year end.
As discussed in note 2(xvi), the Company has consolidated the accounts of the Issuer SPVs and the Intermediary Entities till the date of their
dissolution on 19 December 2022.
Current Investments
The Group invests its overnight cash balance in money market funds representing a collective investment scheme promoted by an affiliate of
the Operator. The money market funds are AAA rated and the Group holds these investments for cash management purposes with the intent
to manage excess cash and ensure these can be readily liquidated to meet the Group’s investment commitments. These investments are
redeemable at short notice and have been classified as debt investments. As at 31 December 2023, the Group held investments in money
market funds of $62.3 million (31 December 2022: $483.4 million) and during the year ended 31 December 2023 earned interest of
$24.7 million (year ended 31 December 2022: $8.6 million).
Non-current and current liabilities
The Group entered into various contingent consideration agreements in connection with its investments in certain Partner-firms and may
have to pay additional consideration based on the underlying Management Companies’ ability to raise capital or meet certain revenue
thresholds as defined in the investment agreements. As at 31 December 2023, the Company believes that payment for a portion of the
total consideration is probable and has recorded a liability of $6.4 million (31 December 2022: $Nil) in the Consolidated Statement of
Financial Position.
97 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Fair value measurements
IFRS 13 requires disclosure of fair value measurement by level. The level of fair value hierarchy within the financial assets or financial
liabilities is determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Financial assets and financial
liabilities are classified in their entirety into only one of the following three levels:
• Level 1 – quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
• Level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly
(i.e. as prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); and
• Level 3 – inputs for assets or liabilities that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).
The determination of what constitutes ‘observable’ requires significant judgement by the Group. The Board of Directors considers observable
data to be market data that is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by
independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market.
The following tables analyse within the fair value hierarchy the assets and liabilities (by class) measured at fair value:
31 December 2023
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
$m
$m
$m
$m
A
ssets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss
–
62.3
–
62.3
Investments at fair value through profit or loss
0.2
–
5,254.5
5,254.7
Liabilities
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss (current and non-current)
–
–
(6.4)
(6.4)
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Total
31 December 2022
$m
$m
$m
$m
A
ssets
Investment in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss
–
483.4
–
483.4
Investments at fair value through profit or loss
–
–
4,958.9
4,958.9
Liabilities
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss (current and non-current)
–
–
–
–
Due to the nature of the investments in Partner-firms, they are always expected to be classified as Level 3. The fair value of investments in
money market funds is based on the daily published net asset value of each fund and is therefore considered Level 2. Investments in listed
stocks are classified as Level 1.
There have been no transfers between levels during the period. Any transfers between the levels would be accounted for on the last day of
each financial period.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 202398
Sensitivity analysis to significant changes in unobservable inputs within Level 3 hierarchy
Key assumptions including the future fund raises by Partner-firms, future performance of funds managed by the Partner-firms, the timing of
exits of investments managed by Partner-firms and margins of the Partner-firms are estimates made by the Operator and are not certain.
The choice of discount rate or market multiple is somewhat correlated to the assumptions made above. The discount rates and multiples are
therefore considered to be the significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement categorised within Level 3 of the fair
value hierarchy. These, together with a quantitative sensitivity analysis as at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022 are as shown below:
1
Range of
significant
Significant unobservable
Market value as of unobservable inputs inputs as of Weighted Reasonable
Level 3 investments 31 December 2023 by valuation technique 31 December 2023 average shift Valuation sensitivity
Investments in
Market Approach:
-/+
–
+
Management Companies:
$1,201.9
Profit Multiple - FRE
10.0x - 23.5x
14.5x
1.0x
$(87.3)
$87.4
Private Markets
405.6
Asset Based Multiple
1.0x
1.0x
10.0%
(40.6)
40.6
Income Approach:
1,670.3
Terminal Multiple - FRE
4.7x - 17.5x
13.2x
0.7x
(42.0)
43.4
Discount Rate - FRE
8.0% - 21.4%
13.0%
1.0%
(110.1)
122.3
1,460.9
Terminal Multiple - PRE
2.7x - 10.0x
5.5x
0.8x
(32.9)
34.1
Discount Rate - PRE
13.0% - 37.0%
25.2%
2.0%
(107.0)
123.6
Investments in
Market Approach:
-/+
–
+
Management Companies:
135.2
Profit Multiple - FRE
2
8.2x
8.2x
1.6x
$(10.1)
$10.1
Absolute Return
82.8
Profit Multiple - PRE
4.5x - 5.0x
4.7x
2.0x
(14.2)
14.2
17.5
Asset Based Multiple
1.0x
1.0x
10.0%
(1.7)
1.7
Income Approach:
178.1
Terminal Multiple - FRE
6.1x - 7.5x
7.4x
1.1x
(13.2)
17.4
Discount Rate - FRE
13.3% - 16.4%
13.6%
2.0%
(13.2)
17.4
102.0
Terminal Multiple - PRE
3.3x - 5.3x
4.5x
0.7x
(7.6)
10.1
Discount Rate - PRE
19.0% - 30.3%
22.9%
3.4%
(7.5)
10.1
4
2
2
3
3
2
3
99 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Range of
Significant significant unobservable
Market value as of unobservable inputs inputs as of Weighted Reasonable
Level 3 investments 31 December 2022 by valuation technique 31 December 2022 average shift Valuation sensitivity
Investments in Market Approach:
-/+
–
+
Management
$1,119.7
Profit Multiple
–
FRE
2
8.6x
–
22.0x
13.3x
0.9x
$(103.1)
$58.4
Companies: Private
353.7
Asset Based Multiple
1.0x
1.0x
10.0%
(35.4)
35.4
Markets Income Approach:
1,592.7
Terminal Multiple
–
FRE
2
4.7x
–
16.5x
12.8x
0.7x
(58.3)
25.5
Discount Rate
–
FRE
10.5%
–
21.3%
13.3%
1.0%
(139.6)
68.8
1,297.7
Terminal Multiple
–
PRE
3
2.8x
–
10.0x
5.5x
0.8x
(44.1)
20.3
Discount Rate
–
PRE
13.0%
–
42.0%
25.2%
2.0%
(146.1)
74.1
Investments in
Market Approach:
-/+
–
+
Management
188.1
Profit Multiple
–
FRE
2
7.4x
–
8.3x
7.8x
1.7x
$(16.9)
$16.9
Companies: Absolute
75.1
Profit Multiple
–
PRE
3
4.7x
–
5.7x
5.2x
1.1x
(7.2)
7.2
Return
30.1
Asset Based Multiple
1.0x
1.0x
10.0%
(3.0)
3.0
Income Approach:
226.8
Terminal Multiple
–
FRE
2
6.3x
–
7.5x
7.4x
1.1x
(16.1)
21.3
Discount Rate
–
FRE
13.4%
–
16.0%
13.5%
2.0%
(16.3)
21.6
75.0
Terminal Multiple
–
PRE
3
3.4x
–
5.8x
4.9x
0.7x
(5.6)
7.4
Discount Rate
–
PRE
17.4%
–
29.5%
21.1%
3.1%
(5.3)
7.0
4
1. The fair value of any one instrument may be determined using multiple valuation techniques. For example, market comparable and discounted cash flows may
be used together to determine fair value. Therefore, the Level 3 balance encompasses both of these techniques.
2. The range consists of multiples on management fee related earnings ("FRE") and may represent historical or forward looking multiples.
3. The range consists of multiples on performance related earnings ("PRE") and may represent historical or forward looking multiples.
4. The increase or decrease in the unobservable inputs may not be shifted negatively and positively by an equal amount. For the asset categories that have
different reasonable possible shifts, the above table discloses the weighted average of the respective negative and positive shift.
As the Group’s investments are generally not publicly quoted, valuations require meaningful judgement to establish a range of values and
the ultimate value at which an investment is realised may differ from its most recent valuation and the difference may be significant.
An increase / decrease in the underlying discount rate of 1% would result in a decrease / increase in the fair value of the contingent
consideration of -$0.04 million / +$0.02 million respectively.
The below is a reconciliation of Level 3 assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss:
Level 3 Instrument
For the year-ended For the year-ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
$m
$m
Assets
Opening balance
4,958.9
6,023.1
Additions
66.8
230.7
Proceeds from redemptions and return of capital
–
(18.9)
In kind distribution of Investments in Partner-firms
–
(469.3)
Other movements
1.8
-
Change in fair value of investments at fair value through profit or loss
227.0
(806.7)
5,254.5
4,958.9
1
2
3
1. Of the above, an amount of $57.0 million (31 December 2022: $81.0 million) relates to consideration payable on a deferred basis and dividend reinvestments.
2. Represents the fair value of Transferred Interest held as collateral that were released back to the Petershill Funds. Refer to note 15 for a detailed discussion.
3. Of the above, an amount of $227.0 million (31 December 2022: loss of $788.8 million) relates unrealised gain / (loss) on fair value of investments held
at year end.
In addition to above, the Group has $6.4 million of level 3 liabilities as at 31 December 2023 (31 December 2022 : $Nil). The liability
recognised during 2023 represents a portion of the total consideration which is probable under the contingent consideration agreements in
connection with its investments in certain Partner-firms wherein the Group may have to pay additional consideration based on the
underlying Management Companies’ ability to raise capital or meet certain revenue thresholds as defined in the investment agreements.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023100
5. Cash and cash equivalents
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
$m $m
Cash at bank
92.9
97.6
Fixed term deposit
150.0
–
242.9
97.6
On 14 December 2023, the Company entered into a fixed term deposit of $150.0 million, which matured on 15 March 2024. Interest is
earned on the fixed term deposit at a rate of 5.40% per annum. During the year, the Company earned $0.4 million of interest which is
recorded as Interest income from other assets in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. The amount remained due at year
end and is recorded within Trade and other receivables in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.
6. Operator charges
Recurring Operating Charges
Under the Operator Agreement, the Operator is entitled to recurring operating charges on a quarterly basis, such Recurring Operating
Charges consisting of, in aggregate, 7.5% of the Group’s relevant income from investments, as defined under IFRS, for the relevant quarter.
The Operator is entitled to Recurring Operating Charges only on income earned by the Group from assets owned by it. For the year ended
31 December 2022, the income reported in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income also included income earned from
interests in the Intermediary Entities and the Issuer SPVs that the Company did not wholly own. However, the Company was required to
consolidate them under the definition of control up to 19 December 2022, the day on which the Issuer SPVs and Intermediary Entities were
dissolved. See note 15 for further information. For the year ended 31 December 2023, the income attributable to assets owned by the Group
on which Recurring Operator Charges were earned amounted to $292.1 million (31 December 2022: $370.1 million).
Amounts recorded as Operating Charges during the year ended 31 December 2023 were $21.9 million (2022: $27.8 million), of which
$6.6 million (31 December 2022: $21.0 million) was outstanding as at 31 December 2023. These amounts will be paid in accordance with the
terms of the Operator Agreement.
Profit Sharing Charge
The Operator is entitled to a profit sharing charge (the “Profit Sharing Charge”) on a quarterly basis in arrears, which in aggregate shall be an
amount equal to 20% of the total dividend income from each new investment (“New Investment”) made by the Group after the Admission in
the relevant fiscal quarter (net of any Recurring Operating Charges in respect of such New Investment), beginning in the ninth fiscal quarter
from the date on which the New Investment closed and subject to such New Investment having achieved a return of 6% per annum
calculated using the total invested capital funded to the pertinent date. These amounts will be paid in accordance with the terms of the
Operator Agreement.
The aggregate of the Recurring Operating Charges and the Profit-Sharing Charge is capped at 15% of the Group’s income from investments
in Partner-firms for the relevant quarter excluding any Divestment Fee payable for such quarter.
Amounts recorded as Profit Sharing Charges during the year ended 31 December 2023 were $0.1 million (2022: $Nil), of which $0.1 million
(31 December 2022: $Nil) was outstanding as at 31 December 2023. These amounts will be paid in accordance with the terms of the
Operator Agreement.
Divestment Fee
The Operator is entitled to a divestment fee (“Divestment Fee”) calculated at 20% of the total Divestment Profit in the relevant quarter in
relation to the Group’s investments. Divestment Profit refers to the cash flows realised from the sale or divestments of assets calculated as
the sale price minus the contribution value of such asset, excluding any dividend income received over the holding period and on which the
Group has already paid Recurring Operating Charges and, in the case of New Investments, Profit Sharing Charge.
Although the Group does not have an exit strategy for its investments, it may be subject to exits or realisations at underlying Partner-firms,
as such an accrual is reflected in the 2023 accounts representing an amount that would be payable if the Group were to exit
all of its investments at the fair value reflected on these financial statements. As at 31 December 2023, an amount of $94.8 million
(31 December 2022: $44.3 million) has been accrued towards divestment fee payable to the Operator and none of the amounts have vested.
101 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements c
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7. Audit fees
Other operating expenses include fees payable to the Group’s Auditor and its affiliates, which can be analysed as follows:
For the year ended For the year ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
$m $m
Fees to the Company’s Auditor
for audit of the statutory financial statements of £0.9 million (2022: £1.3 million)
1.2
1.6
for audit-related assurance services of £0.1 million (2022: £0.1million)
0.1
0.1
1.3
1.7
1
1. The audit fee of £1.3 million for the year ended 31 December 2022 includes an amount of £161 thousand (excluding VAT) or £0.2 million (including VAT)
relating to additional billing for audit of the 2021 period end financial statements and £0.9 million (excluding VAT) or £1.1 million (including VAT) for the
2022 audit.
For the year ended 31 December 2023, the Company’s Auditor was paid £0.1 million (2022: £0.1 million) in relation to its review of the
Group’s condensed consolidated interim financial statements and the same is included under audit related assurance services.
8. Tax
The Group’s income tax expense can be analysed as follows:
Amounts recognised in profit and loss
For the year ended For the year ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
$m $m
C
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x
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x
p
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n
s
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:
Adjustments for current tax of prior periods 12.7 1.2
Tax charge at standard US corporation tax rate 1.3
–
Tax charge at standard UK corporation tax rate 9.5 3.0
Total current tax expense
23.5
4.2
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d
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a
x
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x
p
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n
s
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:
Origination and reversal of temporary differences
65.3
(50.2)
Adjustments for deferred tax of prior periods
5.9
(2.0)
Movements in unrecognised tax benefits
(16.7)
(3.5)
Effect of changes in tax rates
(2.0)
(0.7)
Total deferred tax expense / (credit)
52.5
(56.4)
Total income tax expense / (credit)
76.0
(52.2)
:
:
The differences in the effective tax rate for the period and the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK at 23.54% are as follows:
For the year ended
US UK Other 31 December 2023
Reconciliation of effective tax rate $m $m $m
$m
%
Profit / (loss) before tax
207.7
328.5
(139.1)
397.1
-
Tax charge at standard UK corporation tax rate
48.8
77.3
(32.7)
93.4
23.5%
Foreign rate differential
(5.2)
–
32.7
27.5
6.9%
Intra-group dividends income not taxable
–
(23.5)
–
(23.5)
(5.9%)
US tax expense related to PLC income
1.3
–
–
1.3
0.3%
State and Local taxes
9.3
–
–
9.3
2.3%
Items not deductible for tax purposes
10.5
–
–
10.5
2.6%
Adjustments for prior periods (US Tax)
6.3
–
–
6.3
1.6%
Adjustments for prior periods (UK Tax)
–
12.2
–
12.2
3.1%
Cook Holdings Series LLC Tax
–
4.1
–
4.1
1.0%
Movements in unrecognised deferred tax
(16.7)
(48.4)
–
(65.1)
(16.4%)
Total income tax expense
54.3
21.7
–
76.0
19.0%
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023102
Reconciliation of effective tax rate US jurisdiction
For the year ended
31 December 2023
$m
%
Profit before tax
207.7
Total tax at the standard local country corporation tax rate
43.6
21.0%
US tax expense related to PLC income
1.3
0.6%
State and Local taxes
9.3
4.5%
Items not deductible for tax purposes
10.5
5.1%
Adjustments for prior periods (US Tax)
6.3
3.0%
Movements in unrecognised deferred tax
(16.7)
(8.0%)
Total income tax expense / (credit)
54.3
26.2
Reconciliation of effective tax rate
For the year ended
US UK Other 31 December 2022
$m $m $m
$m
%
(Loss) / Profit before tax
(327.1)
(354.0)
176.0
(505.1)
–
Tax charge at standard UK corporation tax rate
(62.1)
(67.3)
33.4
(96.0)
19.0%
Foreign rate differential
(6.5)
–
(36.2)
(42.7)
8.5%
Liability to Petershill Funds
–
–
2.8
2.8
(0.6%)
Intra-group dividend income not taxable
–
(50.7)
–
(50.7)
10.0%
State and Local taxes
(7.0)
–
–
(7.0)
1.4%
Items not deductible for tax purposes
27.3
118.8
–
146.1
(28.9%)
Other
(0.9)
(0.4)
0.2
(1.1)
0.2%
Movements in unrecognised deferred tax
(3.6)
–
–
(3.6)
0.7%
Total income tax (credit) / expense
(52.8)
0.4
0.2
(52.2)
10.3%
Reconciliation of effective tax rate US jurisdiction
For the year ended
31 December 2022
$m
%
Loss before tax (327.1)
–
Total tax at the standard local country corporation tax rate
(68.6)
21.0%
State and Local taxes
(7.0)
2.1%
Items not deductible for tax purposes
27.3
(8.2%)
Other
(0.9)
0.3%
Movements in unrecognised deferred tax
(3.6)
1.1%
Total income tax credit
(52.8)
16.2%
The Investments in Partner-firms were a purchase of assets for income tax purposes. Due to differences in the computation of the purchase
price of the Partner-firms as well as the impact of the Tax Receivables Agreement, temporary differences arose on the acquisition. Due to
initial recognition exception under paragraphs 15 and 24 of IAS 12 – Income Taxes no deferred tax is recognised in respect of these original
temporary differences.
An increase in the UK corporation tax rate from 19% to 25% (effective from 1 April 2023) was announced in the March 2020 Budget and
substantively enacted on 24 May 2021. The deferred tax assets and liabilities in the UK as at 31 December 2022 had been calculated based
on the 25% rate, with a blended rate applied where it is was expected that the associated temporary difference would reverse prior to 1 April
2023. Deferred tax assets and liabilities in the UK as of 31 December 2023 have been calculated based on the 25% rate. Deferred tax assets
and liabilities in the US as of 31 December 2023 have been calculated based on the US federal statutory rate of 21% (31 December 2022:
21%) and estimated effective state tax rate of 5.48% (31 December 2022: 4.29%).
The items not deductible for tax purposes of $10.5 million (2022: $27.3 million) in US relate to intergroup dividend expense from payments
to the Company recorded against the Delaware Subsidiary income that is not deductible for US tax purposes. The UK income not taxable of
$23.5 million (2022: $50.7 million) relates to non-taxable dividend income from the Company’s subsidiaries. In addition, -$48.4 million of
movement in unrecognised deferred tax is related to unrealised gain from investments which is not taxable (2022: $118.8 million, shown as
items not deductible in the 2022 table above, is related to unrealised loss from investment).
103 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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9. Deferred tax asset / (liability)
Movement in deferred tax balances
Net balance Net balance
1 January Recognised in Recognised in Foreign 31 December Deferred tax Deferred tax
2023 profit or loss OCI/equity exchange 2023 assets liabilities
$m $m $m $m $m $m $m
Investment in Partner-firms
18.4
(88.8)
–
–
(70.4)
–
(70.4)
Tax Receivable Agreement
17.3
6.3
–
–
23.6
23.6
–
Deferred payment obligations
(0.6)
0.5
–
–
(0.1)
–
(0.1)
Other
7.9
15.6
–
–
23.5
23.5
–
Losses
1.0
14.2
–
–
15.2
15.2
–
44.0
(52.2)
–
–
(8.2)
62.3
(70.5)
Net balance Net balance
1 January Recognised in Recognised in Foreign 31 December Deferred tax Deferred tax
2022 profit or loss OCI/equity exchange 2022 assets liabilities
$m $m $m $m $m $m $m
Investment in Partner-firms
(36.4)
54.8
–
–
18.4
18.4
–
Tax Receivable Agreement
12.3
5.0
–
–
17.3
17.3
–
Deferred payment obligations
(0.6)
–
–
–
(0.6)
–
(0.6)
Other
6.2
1.7
–
–
7.9
7.9
–
Losses
5.9
(4.9)
–
–
1.0
1.0
–
(12.6)
56.6
–
–
44.0
44.6
(0.6)
After considering jurisdictional netting, the deferred tax balances shown above are presented on a net basis on the Consolidated Statement
of Financial Position.
As at 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022, no deferred tax asset is recognised in relation to the Company’s investments and interests
in Subsidiaries because it is not probable that the temporary difference will reverse in the foreseeable future, or that taxable profits will be
available against which the temporary difference could be utilised.
The gross deferred tax asset as at 31 December 2023 was $62.3 million (31 December 2022: $44.6 million). It is expected that $7.6 million of
the deferred tax asset will be recovered within the next 12 months and the remaining $54.7 million of the deferred tax asset will be
recovered after 12 months.
Losses carried forward as at 31 December 2023 will expire as follows:
US UK Total
$m $m $m
2024
–
–
–
2025 and onwards
–
–
–
Unlimited
58.0
–
58.0
58.0
–
58.0
Losses carried forward as at 31 December 2022 will expire as follows:
US UK Total
$m $m $m
2023
–
–
–
2024 and onwards
–
–
–
Unlimited
–
2.5
2.5
–
2.5
2.5
Unrecognised deductible temporary differences and unused tax losses
Deferred tax assets have not been recognised in respect of the following items:
31 December 31 December
2023 2022
$m $m
Deductible temporary differences (UK) - no expiration
66.4
117.8
Deductible temporary differences (US) subject to initial recognition exception
35.4
50.6
Tax losses
–
0.4
101.8 168.8
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023104
Unrecognised taxable temporary differences associated with investments and interests in Subsidiaries
As at 31 December 2023, no deferred tax liability is recognised in relation to the Company’s investments and interests in Subsidiaries
because the Company controls the reversal of the liability and it is expected that it will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
Unrecognised taxable temporary differences associated with investments and interests in Partner-firms
The Investments in Partner-firms were a purchase of assets for income tax purposes. Due to differences in the computation of the purchase
price of the Investments in Partner-firms as well as the impact of the Tax Receivables Agreement, temporary differences arose on the
acquisition. Under the Initial Recognition Exemption under paragraphs 15 and 23 of IAS 12, these temporary differences were not recognised
at the time of the original purchase. As such the recognition of tax benefits or expenses related to the unrecognised amounts were also not
recognised in the financial statements.
Further, to the extent that the Group has recognised unrealised losses with respect to the investments and interests in Partner-firms, such
losses may result in a deferred tax asset to the extent that the unrealised losses are not currently deductible for income tax purposes. To the
extent the recovery of these deferred tax assets will only result in future losses that may offset a future capital gain, the Group has not
recognised the associated deferred tax assets as it is not probable that there will be sufficient income of the appropriate character in the
future to utilise the associated tax benefits.
Uncertainty over income tax treatments
The Group has not identified any reserves related to uncertainty over income tax treatments as of 31 December 2023 or 31 December 2022.
10. Finance cost
31 December 31 December
2023 2022
$m $m
Interest on Deferred payment obligations
6.0
5.5
Interest on Unsecured Notes
28.3
29.6
Finance costs on Notes
–
10.3
Commitment fees
0.4
–
Borrowing cost amortisation
0.6
0.2
Other finance charges
1.8
–
37.1 45.6
11. Earnings per share
Earnings per share
For the year ended For the year ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
Profit / (Loss) attributable to equity holders of the Company - $m
321.1
(452.9)
Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue
1,131,506,310
1,150,241,568
Basic and diluted earnings / (loss) per share from continuing operations in the year (cents)
28.38
(39.36)
The weighted average number of shares for the year ended 31 December 2023 and year ended 31 December 2022 is calculated on a time
weighted basis based on the timing of issue and redemption of Ordinary Shares. There are no dilutive shares in issue.
12. Trade and other receivables
31 December 31 December
2023 2022
$m $m
Amounts receivable from Investments
105.9
135.9
Tax recoverable
10.4
0.2
Prepayments
1.9
1.8
Other receivables
9.2
0.3
127.4 138.2
105 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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13. Notes payable
As discussed on page 105 of the 2022 Annual Report, the Issuer SPVs had issued the Notes with an aggregate principal amount of
$350.0 million. On 20 September 2022, the Notes were repaid by the Company out of proceeds raised from the issue of the Unsecured Notes.
The Issuer SPVs were also subject to a Make-Whole Amount (as defined in the Indenture) of $7.0 million upon redemption of the Notes in
accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
For the year ended 31 December 2022, an amount of $28.7 million has been recorded as Finance cost relating to the Notes payable on the
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.
14. Unsecured Notes payable
On 24 August 2022, the Delaware Subsidiary issued US private placement senior unsecured notes (the "Unsecured Notes") to a group of
institutional investors. The Unsecured Notes issued by the Delaware Subsidiary are guaranteed by the Company.
The Unsecured Notes are comprised of five tranches:
Unsecured Notes
Notional (US$)
Tenor (years)
Maturity
Fixed Coupon
Series A
125,000,000
7
2029
5.51%
Series B
175,000,000
10
2032
5.54%
Series C
80,000,000
12
2034
5.69%
Series D
80,000,000
15
2037
5.84%
Series E
40,000,000
20
2042
6.14%
The Delaware Subsidiary may be subject to pay a Make-Whole Amount (as contained in the Note Purchase Agreement) contingent upon
certain principal repayment, prepayment or redemption of the Unsecured Notes in accordance with the provisions of the Note Purchase
Agreement. Absent an intent by the Group to prepay the Unsecured Notes, no accrual for such Make-Whole Amount has been made as at
31 December 2023.
In accordance with the Note Purchase Agreement, the Delaware Subsidiary is subject to various financial and non-financial covenants.
The two financial covenants that the Delaware Subsidiary must adhere to are 1) the leverage ratio shall not exceed 4:1 and 2) the AUM shall
not be less than the required minimum AUM amount (as defined in the Note Purchase Agreement). The Operator monitors the covenant
requirements on at least a six-monthly basis. There have been no breaches of these covenants during the year.
As of 31 December 2023, the outstanding amount of the Unsecured Notes was $500 million (31 December 2022: $500 million). The carrying
value of the Unsecured Notes was reported at amortised cost and was net of unamortised debt issuance costs of $6.2 million (31 December
2022: $6.8 million) in an amount of $493.8 million (31 December 2022: $493.2 million). For the year ended 31 December 2023, the effective
interest rate on the Unsecured Notes was 6.2% per annum (2022: 6.2% per annum).
For the year ended 31 December 2023, an amount of $37.1 million (2022: $45.6 million) has been recorded as Finance cost on the
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income which includes $28.3 million in relation to interest on the Unsecured Notes
(2022: $29.6 million), $Nil in relation to expenses incurred on repayment and issue of Notes and Unsecured Notes (2022: $1.2 million) and
$6.0 million in relation to interest on the deferred payment obligations (2022: $5.5 million).
As of 31 December 2023, the fair value of the Unsecured Notes payable is estimated at $467.0 million (31 December 2022: $463.0 million)
calculated based on discounted cash flows using the discount rate of 6.6% at 31 December 2023 and 6.6% at 31 December 2022
respectively. The Unsecured Notes payable would be classified as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy due to the use of unobservable inputs,
including the Group’s own credit risk. A 3% increase / decrease in the underlying discount rate would result in a movement in net assets of
approximately -$87.0 million / +$113.6 million respectively (31 December 2022: -$88.2 million / +$117.6) or -18.6% / +24.3%
(31 December 2022: -19.0% / +25.4%).
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023106
15. Liability to Petershill Funds
As discussed in note 2(xvi) and note 13 of the consolidated financial statements in the 2022 Annual Report, the Petershill Funds had
beneficial ownership in the Issuer SPVs and Intermediary entities. On 20 September 2022, the Transferred Interest valued at $469.3 million
held as collateral was released back to the Petershill Funds. Other assets amounting to $22.9 million and cash of $89.6 million held at the
Issuer SPVs were also distributed to the Petershill Funds. As of 31 December 2023, the Group does not have any liability to Petershill Funds.
Further, the Issuer SPVs and Intermediary Entities were dissolved on 19 December 2022. As a result, the Petershill Funds ceased to have any
exposure to the Issuer SPVs effective this date and the Liability to Petershill Funds was extinguished.
The interest held by the Petershill Funds was classified as a financial liability and the corresponding income / expense was included in
Movement in liability to Petershill Funds under Finance expense in the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive
Income. For the year ended 31 December 2022, an amount of $15.4 million was included in finance income representing a reduction of
Petershill Funds interest in the Issuer SPVs.
16. Net Debt Reconciliation
31 December 31 December
2023 2022
$m $m
Unsecured Notes payable
493.8
493.2
Interest payable
10.0
10.0
503.8 503.2
Liabilities from financing activities for the year ended 31 December 2023
Unsecured Notes Interest Liability to Notes
Payable Payable Petershill Funds Payable
$m $m $m $m
Net debt at 1 January 2023
493.2
10.0
–
–
(Repayment) / Issue of debt / interest
–
(28.3)
–
–
Interest expense
–
28.3
–
–
Borrowing costs amortised
0.6
–
–
–
Net debt as at 31 December 2023
493.8
10.0
–
–
Liabilities from financing activities for the year ended 31 December 2022
Unsecured Notes Interest Liability to Notes
Payable Payable Petershill Funds Payable
$m $m $m $m
Net debt at 1 January 2022
–
8.1
597.2
340.9
Issue / (repayment) of debt / interest
500.0
(39.7)
(89.6)
(350.0)
Interest expense
–
41.6
(15.4)
–
In kind distribution of investments in Partner-firms and Trade and
other receivables held at Issuer SPVs to Petershill Funds
–
–
(492.2)
–
Borrowing costs (capitalised) / amortised
(6.8)
–
–
9.1
Net debt as at 31 December 2022
493.2
10.0
–
–
17. Share capital and other reserve
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Capital
Share Share Other redemption
Number of capital premium reserve reserve Total
Date
Issued and fully paid
Shares Issued $m $m $m $m $m
Shares at
1 January 2023
1,135,399,597
11.4
3,346.7
1,689.6
0.3
5,048.0
Share premium cancellation
–
–
(3,346.7)
–
–
(3,346.7)
Repurchase and cancellation
of Ordinary Shares – $0.01
(13,196,773)
(0.2)
–
–
0.2
–
Closing balance as at 31 December 2023
1,122,202,824
11.2
–
1,689.6
0.5
1,701.3
107 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements c
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For the year ended 31 December 2022
Capital
Share Share Other redemption
Number of capital premium reserve reserve Total
Date
Issued and fully paid
Shares Issued $m $m $m $m $m
Shares at
1 January 2022
Redemption and cancellation
1,156,696,029
11.6
3,346.7
1,689.6
–
5,047.9
of Redeemable Shares
–
–
–
–
0.1
0.1
Repurchase and cancellation
of Ordinary Shares – $0.01
(21,296,432)
(0.2)
–
–
0.2
–
Closing balance as at 31 December 2022
1,135,399,597
11.4
3,346.70
1,689.60
0.3
5,048.0
On 17 May 2023, the Company commenced a share buyback programme of up to $50 million. During the year, the Group repurchased and
cancelled 13,196,773 Ordinary Shares (2022: 21,296,432) as part of its buy-back program for a total consideration of $26.3 million (2022:
$53.3 million) including transaction costs. On 30 June 2022, the Group purchased and cancelled 50,000 Redeemable Deferred Shares issued
by it for a consideration of $68k.
As at 31 December 2023, the Company’s issued share capital comprised 1,122,202,824 of Ordinary Shares (31 December 2022:
1,135,399,597) of $0.01 each. Ordinary Shareholders are entitled to all dividends paid by the Company. The Company does not have a limited
amount of authorised capital.
The Company’s shareholders approved the cancellation of the amount standing to the credit of the Company's share premium account in full
(the "Reduction of Capital") at its annual general meeting held on 24 May 2023. A formal approval of the same was obtained on 20 June
2023 by His Majesty's High Court in England (the "Court"), Accordingly, the Reduction of Capital has become effective which has created
additional distributable reserves of approximately $3,346.7 million. Accordingly, the amounts standing to the credit of the share premium
account has been transferred to Retained earnings.
18. Retained earnings
For the year-ended For the year-ended
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
$m
$m
Opening balance
(328.7)
247.9
Profit / (loss) and total comprehensive income / (expense) in the year
321.1
(452.9)
Dividends paid
(180.2)
(70.3)
Repurchase and cancellation of ordinary shares
(26.3)
(53.3)
Share premium cancellation
3,346.7
–
Transfer of cancelled Redeemable Shares to Capital redemption reserve
–
(0.1)
3,132.6
(328.7)
19. Net assets per share
31 December 2023
31 December 2022
Net Assets ($m)
4,833.9
4,719.3
Number of Ordinary Shares issued
1,122,202,824
1,135,399,597
Net assets per share (cents)
430.75
415.65
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023108
20. Dividends declared and paid
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Dividend
per share Total dividend
Dividends declared and paid
Paid on
cents $m
Final dividend with respect to the year ended 31 December 2022
13 June 2023
11.0
124.9
Interim dividend with respect to the year ended 31 December 2023
27 October 2023
4.9
55.3
Total
15.9
180.2
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Dividend
per share Total dividend
Dividends declared and paid
Paid on
cents $m
Final dividend with respect to the period ended 31 December 2021
14 June 2022
2.6
30.1
Interim dividend with respect to the year ended 31 December 2022
24 October 2022
3.5
40.2
Total
6.1
70.3
21. Financial risk management
Financial risk management objectives
The Group’s investing activities expose it to various types of risks that are associated with the Partner-firms. The Group makes the
investments in order to generate returns in accordance with its Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy.
The most important types of financial risks to which the Group is exposed are market risk (including price, interest rate and foreign currency
risk), liquidity risk and credit risk. The Board of Directors has delegated portfolio management and risk management responsibilities to the
Operator. Accordingly, the Operator has overall responsibility for the determination of the Group’s risk management and sets policy to
manage that risk at an acceptable level to achieve those objectives. The policy and process for measuring and mitigating each of the main
risks are described below.
31 December 31 December
2023 2022
$m
$m
Financial assets
Non-current assets:
Investments at fair value through profit or loss
5,254.7
4,958.9
Other financial assets:
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss
62.3
483.4
Cash and cash equivalents
242.9
97.6
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments
125.5
136.1
Financial liabilities
Non-current liabilities:
Unsecured Notes payable
(493.8)
(493.2)
Deferred Payment Obligations
(7.3)
(50.0)
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
(150.5)
(150.6)
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss
(3.9)
–
Fee payable on divestment of Investments
(94.8)
(44.3)
Current liabilities:
Trade and other payables
(6.9)
(8.7)
Deferred Payment Obligations
(44.6)
(189.9)
Interest payable
(10.0)
(10.0)
Profit sharing charge payable
(0.1)
–
Operator charge payable
(6.6)
(21.0)
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss
(2.5)
–
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
(24.2)
(35.1)
109 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements c
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Categories of financial instruments
Capital risk management
The Group manages its capital to ensure that it will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising the returns to Shareholders.
The Board of Directors approves the level of dividend distributions to Shareholders. The Group may purchase its own shares within the limits
defined by the Board of Directors subject to restrictions imposed by applicable laws.
The capital structure of the Group consists of issued share capital, retained earnings and other reserves as stated in the Consolidated
Statement of Financial Position.
Market risk
Market risk includes price risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk.
a) Price risk
The majority of the Group’s investments are held in Partner-firms which presents a potential risk of loss of capital to the Group. Price risk
arises from changes in fair value of the investments in Partner-firms held by the Group. As discussed in note 3, the fair value of these
investments is determined using valuation techniques including earnings multiples, discounted cash flows and recent comparable
transactions. In valuing the investments, key assumptions include estimates around future fundraise timing and sizes, expected
management and performance fee rates and margins of the Partner-firms, expected current and future fund returns and timing of
realisations. Periodically, the Valuation Oversight Group of the Operator presents the valuation proposals and their independent price
verification review results to the Operator’s Valuation Committee which convenes to approve and oversee the application of valuation
policies, and review fair value estimates for the investments. Subsequently, the Operator reports the valuation results to the Board of
Directors. As new information surfaces on these key assumptions, the valuation techniques may be adjusted causing the fair value of these
investments to change.
As at 31 December 2023, the fair value of investments was $5,254.7 million (31 December 2022: $4,958.9 million). As presented in the
Sensitivity analysis to significant changes in unobservable inputs table, the valuation of these investments could vary from -$487.4 million
to +$532.4 million (31 December 2022: -$597.0 million to +$366.9 million) depending on the valuation techniques used while keeping the
key assumptions constant.
The Group is exposed to a variety of risks which may have an impact on the carrying value of the Group’s investments. The Group’s risk factors
are set out below:
i. Not actively traded
The majority of the Group’s investments are held in Partner-firms. These investments are not generally traded in an active market but
are indirectly exposed to market price risk arising from uncertainties about future values of the investments held. The Group investments
vary as to industry sub-sector, geographic distribution of operations and size, all of which may impact the susceptibility of their valuation
to uncertainty.
Although the investments are in the same industry, this risk is managed through careful selection of investments within the specified limits
of the investment policy. The investments are monitored on a regular basis by the Operator.
ii. Concentration
The Group invests in the alternative asset sector, with a focus on investments in asset managers with asset classes such as private equity,
private credit, private real assets and absolute return strategies. Concentration risk may relate to a subsector, relative size of an investment
and geography. The Group is exposed to concentration risk from its investments in the asset management sector as detailed in note 2(ii) of
these financial statements and page 4 of the Annual Report.
The Board of Directors and the Operator monitor the concentration of the investments on a quarterly basis to ensure compliance with the
investment policy.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023110
b) Foreign currency risk
The Group transacts in currencies other than US$. Consequently, the Group is exposed to risks that the exchange rate of its currency relative
to other foreign currencies may change in a manner that has an adverse effect on the value of that portion of the Group’s assets or liabilities
denominated in currencies other than the US$. Any exposure to foreign currency risk at the underlying investment level is captured within
price risk.
The following table sets out, in US$, the Group’s total exposure to foreign currency risk and the net exposure to foreign currencies of the
monetary assets and liabilities:
US$
CAD$
GBP£
Total
As at 31 December 2023
$m
$m
$m
$m
Non-current assets
Investments at fair value through profit or loss
5,149.2
102.9
2.6
5,254.7
Total non-current assets
5,149.2
102.9
2.6
5,254.7
Current assets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss
62.3
–
–
62.3
Cash and cash equivalents
241.1
–
1.8
242.9
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments
123.1
–
2.4
125.5
Total current assets
426.5
–
4.2
430.7
Non-current liabilities
Deferred payment obligations
(7.3)
–
–
(7.3)
Unsecured notes payable
(493.8)
–
–
(493.8)
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss
(3.9)
–
–
(3.9)
Fee payable on divestment of investments
(94.8)
–
–
(94.8)
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
(150.5)
–
–
(150.5)
Total non-current liabilities
(750.3)
–
–
(750.3)
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
(4.7)
–
(2.2)
(6.9)
Profit sharing charge payable
(0.1)
–
–
(0.1)
Operator charge payable
(6.6)
–
–
(6.6)
Deferred Payment Obligations
(44.6)
–
–
(44.6)
Interest payable
(10.0)
–
–
(10.0)
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss
(2.5)
–
–
(2.5)
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
(24.2)
–
–
(24.2)
Total current liabilities
(92.7)
–
(2.2)
(94.9)
111 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements c
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US$
CAD$
GBP£
Total
As at 31 December 2022
$m
$m
$m
$m
Non-current assets
Investments at fair value through profit or loss
4,849.2
109.7
–
4,958.9
Total non-current assets
4,849.2
109.7
–
4,958.9
Current assets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss
483.4
–
–
483.4
Cash and cash equivalents
95.2
–
2.4
97.6
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments
136.1
–
–
136.1
Total current assets
714.7
–
2.4
717.1
Non-current liabilities
Unsecured Notes payable
(493.2)
–
–
(493.2)
Deferred payment obligations
(50.0)
–
–
(50.0)
Fee payable on divestment of investments
(44.3)
–
–
(44.3)
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
(150.6)
–
–
(150.6)
Total non-current liabilities
(738.1)
–
–
(738.1)
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
(6.7)
–
(2.0)
(8.7)
Deferred payment obligations
(189.9)
–
–
(189.9)
Interest payable
(10.0)
–
–
(10.0)
Operator charge payable
(21.0)
–
–
(21.0)
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
(35.1)
–
–
(35.1)
Total current liabilities
(262.7)
–
(2.0)
(264.7)
The Board of Directors does not consider that the foreign currency exchange risk at the balance sheet date is material and therefore
sensitivity analysis for the foreign currency risk has not been provided.
c) Interest rate risk
The Group’s exposure to interest rate risk relates to the Group’s cash and cash equivalents and money market investments. The Group is
subject to risk due to fluctuations in the prevailing levels of market interest rates. Any excess cash and cash equivalents are invested at
short-term market interest rates. As at the date of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the majority of the Group’s cash and
cash equivalents were held at interest bearing fixed deposit accounts.
The Group’s investment in money market funds is variable and is subject to fluctuations. Any exposure to interest rate risk at the underlying
investment level is captured within price risk. An increase of 100 basis points, based on the closing balance sheet position over a 12-month
period, would lead to an approximate increase in total profit before tax of $0.6 million (31 December 2022: $4.8 million) for the Group.
In addition, the Group has indirect exposure to interest rates through changes to the financial performance and the valuation of investments
in Partner-firms caused by rate fluctuations.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023112
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting its obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are
settled by delivering cash or another financial asset.
The Group’s policy and the Operator’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient
liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stress conditions, including estimated redemption of shares, without
incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Company’s reputation.
The Group’s financial assets include investments in Partner-firms which are generally illiquid. As a result, the Group may not be able to
liquidate its investments in time to meet its liquidity requirements.
The Operator has a liquidity management policy which is designed to enable it to monitor the liquidity risk of the Group. The systems and
procedures employed by the Operator in this regard allow it to apply various tools and arrangements necessary to respond appropriately to
liquidity concerns. As part of the policy, the Operator prepares estimates of projected cash flows of the Group from its investment in Partner-
firms, evaluates it against the projected expenses, investment opportunities and potential distributions to the Company’s shareholders. The
Operator updates the Board of Directors on its findings on a regular basis and highlights any risks from a liquidity management perspective.
The following tables detail the Group’s expected maturity for its financial assets (excluding equity) and liabilities together with the
contractual undiscounted cash flow amounts:
Less than 1 year
1-5 years
5+ years
Total
As at 31 December 2023
$m
$m
$m
$m
Assets
Investments at fair value through profit and loss
–
–
5,254.7
5,254.7
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit and loss
62.3
–
–
62.3
Cash and cash equivalents
242.9
–
–
242.9
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments
125.5
–
–
125.5
Liabilities
Trade and other payables
(6.9)
–
–
(6.9)
Unsecured notes payable
(28.3)
(113.1)
(640.2)
(781.6)
Profit-sharing charge payable
(0.1)
–
–
(0.1)
Operator charge payable
(6.6)
–
–
(6.6)
Contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss
(2.5)
(3.9)
–
(6.4)
Deferred payment obligations
(44.6)
(7.3)
–
(51.9)
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
(24.2)
(137.0)
(393.3)
(554.5)
Fee payable on divestment of investments
–
–
(94.8)
(94.8)
Less than 1 year
1-5 years
5+ years
Total
As at 31 December 2022
$m
$m
$m
$m
Assets
Investments at fair value through profit and loss
–
–
4,958.9
4,958.9
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit and loss
483.4
–
–
483.4
Cash and cash equivalents
97.6
–
–
97.6
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments
136.1
–
–
136.1
Liabilities
Trade and other payables
(8.7)
–
–
(8.7)
Operator charge payable
(21.0)
–
–
(21.0)
Deferred payment obligations
(193.1)
(55.5)
–
(248.6)
Unsecured Notes payable
(28.3)
(113.1)
(677.9)
(819.3)
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement
(39.7)
(129.3)
(412.0)
(581.0)
Fee payable on divestment of investments
–
–
(44.3)
(44.3)
113 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements c
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Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty to a financial instrument will fail to discharge an obligation or commitment that it has entered into
with the Group, resulting in financial loss to the Group. It arises principally from investments in money market funds, and also from derivative
financial assets, cash and cash equivalents and other receivables balances.
The Group’s policy over credit risk is to minimise its exposure to counterparties with perceived higher risk of default by dealing only with
counterparties that meet the credit standards set out in the Company’s prospectus.
The Group’s policy with respect to Financial instruments, which is inclusive of income receivables, is detailed in note 2(iv). As at 31 December
2023, the Group has income receivables of $101.9 million, which is included within Amounts receivable from Investments in note 12.
Of the total outstanding income receivables, 2.2% is classified as stage 2 and all remaining income receivables are classified as stage 1.
The Partner-firm ratings where available ranged from A to BBB. The calculated ECL as at 31 December 2023 is $123 thousand.
Credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis by the Operator in accordance with the procedures and policies in place. The table below details
the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk:
31 December 2023
31 December 2022
$m
$m
Interest bearing
Investments in money market funds
62.3
483.4
Cash and cash equivalents
242.9
97.6
Non-interest bearing
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments
125.5
136.1
The table below shows the cash and money market deposit balances and the credit rating for each counterparty:
31 December 31 December
Location
Rating
2023 2022
$m
$m
C
o
u
n
t
e
r
p
a
r
t
y
State Street Bank and Trust Company
USA
A-1+
92.9
97.6
US$ Treasury Liquid Reserves Fund - Institutional Shares
USA
AAA
0.2
21.6
Financial SquareSM Government Fund
–
Institutional Shares
USA
AAA
10.5
103.3
Financial SquareSM Treasury Instruments Fund – Institutional Shares
USA
AAA
51.6
358.5
Goldman Sachs Bank USA
USA
A-1
150.0
-
y
The Group’s maximum exposure to loss of capital at the period end is shown below:
31 December 31 December
2023 2022
$m
$m
Investments at fair value through profit or loss
5,254.7
4,958.9
Other financial assets excluding prepayments
430.7
717.1
22. Related party transactions
Board of Directors
The Company has five Non-Executive Directors. Directors’ fees for the year ended 31 December 2023 amounted to $1.7 million (2022: $1.5
million), of which $Nil (31 December 2022: $Nil) was outstanding at year end. Amounts paid to the Board of Directors as reimbursement of
travel and other incidental expenses during the year amounted to $32 thousand (2022: $38 thousand), of which, $Nil (31 December 2022:
$Nil) was outstanding at year end.
The Board of Directors held beneficial interests in 1,094,999 (31 December 2022: 749,999) Ordinary Shares in the Company. Refer to the
Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 53 to 56.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023114
Money Market Funds
On 31 December 2023, the Group held an investment of $62.3 million (31 December 2022: $483.4 million) in money market funds that are
managed by affiliates of the Operator. The Group earned interest income of $24.7 million (2022: $8.6 million) from investments held in such
money market funds managed by affiliates of the Operator.
Transactions with Petershill Funds
As at 31 December 2023, the Petershill Funds, managed by wholly owned subsidiaries of the Goldman Sachs Group acting as the investment
manager, owned approximately 76.6% (31 December 2022: 76.1%) of the Company. As at 31 December 2023, the Group had amounts
payable to the Petershill Funds of $0.2 million (31 December 2022: $Nil) and amounts receivable from the Petershill Funds of $6.1 million
(31 December 2022: $Nil). These amounts will be settled in the ordinary course of business.
Liability to Petershill Funds
As discussed in note 2(xvi) and note 15, on 20 September 2022, the Transferred Interest valued at $469.3 million held as collateral was
released back to the Petershill Funds. Other assets amounting to $22.9 million and cash of $89.6 million held at the Issuer SPVs were also
distributed to the Petershill Funds. During the year, the Group recorded an interest income of $Nil in relation to its Liability to Petershill
Funds (2022: $15.4 million). As of 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022, the Group does not have any liability in relation to the issuer
SPVs.
Tax Receivables Agreement
As discussed in note 2(v), the Group has entered into a Tax Receivables Agreement with Petershill Funds, an affiliate of the Operator and the
Goldman Sachs Group, which will require the Group to pay 75% of the amount of cash tax savings, if any, in US federal, state and local income
tax that the Group realises as a result of the tax benefits associated with this increase in tax basis. As of 31 December 2023, the carrying
value of liability for the Tax Receivables Agreement was $174.7 million (31 December 2022: $185.7 million). During the year, payments
totalling $32.5 million were made in relation to the Tax Receivables Agreement liability.
Operator
The Operator is an affiliate and wholly-owned subsidiary of the Goldman Sachs Group and provides advice to the Group on the origination
and completion of new investments, the management of the portfolio and on realisations, as well as on funding requirements, subject to
approval by the Board of Directors. For the provision of services under the Operator Agreement, the Operator earns a Profit-Sharing Charge,
Recurring Operating Charges and Divestment Fee, as detailed in note 6.
The Operator may, in its discretion, pay certain of the Group’s fees or expenses and the Group will reimburse the Operator for the payment
of any such fee or expense. As at 31 December 2023, the Group owed $0.1 million to the Operator under this arrangement (31 December
2022: $Nil).
Transactions with Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC (“GSCO”) is an affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of the Goldman Sachs Group. GSCO acted as the joint
placement agent in the issue of the Unsecured Notes in 2022. For the year ended 31 December 2023, GSCO was paid a compensation
of $Nil (2022: $2.5 million) for its services.
Transactions with Goldman Sachs Bank USA
Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GSBUSA”) is an affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of the Goldman Sachs Group. On 14 December 2023,
the Company placed a fixed term deposit with GSBUSA for $150.0 million. The fixed term deposit matured on 15 March 2024 and accrued
interest at a rate of 5.40% per annum. During the year ended 31 December 2023, interest of $0.4 million was earned and was due at
maturity.
23. Ultimate controlling party
The Board of Directors has reviewed the Shareholders of the Company and has concluded that there is no ultimate controlling party.
The Company has a very diversified investor base that does not cede control to any single investor or a group of investors. Although the
Petershill Funds own 76.6% (31 December 2022: 76.1%) of the Company, Goldman Sachs Asset Management and its affiliates are the
beneficial owner of less than 1% of the Ordinary Shares of the Company as of 31 December 2023.
The Petershill Funds are managed by Goldman Sachs Asset Management and its affiliates acting as the investment manager of the Petershill
Funds under the supervision of the independent Board of Directors. Goldman Sachs Asset Management and its affiliates act in in their
capacity as an agent for the Equity Shareholders of the Company and such a relationship does not give rise to controlling ownership.
115 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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24. Subsequent events
The Group has evaluated activity through 9 April 2024, the date that the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued.
On 1 January 2024, new subsidiaries were introduced into the Group structure to enable employees of the Operator to be direct beneficiaries
of a portion of the Profit-sharing charge (if any) payable by the Group to the Operator. This was done to further improve the alignment of
interest in the incentives of the Group, the Operator and the employees of the Operator. There is no change to the amount or timing of any
Profit-sharing charge payable by the Group under the original Operator Agreement. Furthermore, this arrangement is not expected to give
rise to any material tax consequences for the Group and all initial and ongoing costs of implementing this arrangement are borne by
the Operator.
The Group concluded that no other events took place that would require material adjustments to the amounts recognised in these
consolidated financial statements.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023116
Company Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2023
31 December 2023 31 December 2022
Note $m $m
Non-current assets
Investments in Subsidiary undertakings at fair value through profit or loss 6 4,496.5 4,125.9
Intercompany note receivable 6 112.2 84.1
4,608.7 4,210.0
Current assets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss 6 61.3 414.2
Trade and other receivables 7 12.2 21.7
Cash and cash equivalents 156.3 83.9
229.8 519.8
Total assets 4,838.5 4,729.8
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 4.6 10.5
4.6 10.5
Total liabilities 4.6 10.5
Net assets 4,833.9 4,719.3
Equity
Share capital 8 11.2 11.4
Share premium 8 – 3,346.7
Other reserve 8 1,689.6 1,689.6
Capital redemption reserve 8 0.5 0.3
Retained earnings / (accumulated losses) 3,132.6 (328.7)
Total shareholders' funds 4,833.9 4,719.3
Number of Ordinary Shares in issue at year end 8 1,122,202,824 1,135,399,597
Net assets per share (cents) 430.75 415.65
The Board of Directors has taken advantage of the exemption available under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not presented
a Statement of Comprehensive Income for the Company. The Company’s profit for the year ended 31 December 2023 was $321.1 million
(31 December 2022: loss of $452.9 million).
The financial statements of the Company were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 9 April 2024 and signed on its
behalf by:
Naguib Kheraj Mark Merson
Chairman Director
The accompanying notes on pages 120 to 126 form an integral part of these financial statements.
117 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Company Statement of Changes in Equity
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Share
capital
Share
premium
Other
reserve
Capital
redemption
reserve
Retained
earnings /
(accumulated
losses) Total
Note $m $m $m $m $m $m
Opening net assets attributable to Shareholders
at 1 January 2023 11.4 3,346.7 1,689.6 0.3 (328.7) 4,719.3
Repurchase and cancellation of Ordinary Shares 8 (0.2)
–
–
0.2 (26.3) (26.3)
Share premium cancellation 8
–
(3,346.7)
–
– 3,346.7
–
Dividends paid in the year 9
–
–
–
– (180.2) (180.2)
Profit and total comprehensive income for the year
–
–
–
– 321.1 321.1
Closing net assets attributable to Shareholders
at 31 December 2023
11.2
–
1,689.6 0.5 3,132.6 4,833.9
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Share
capital
Share
premium
Other
reserve
Capital
redemption
reserve
Retained
earnings /
(accumulated
losses) Total
Note $m $m $m $m $m $m
Opening net assets attributable to Shareholders
at 1 January 2022 11.6 3,346.7 1,689.6 – 247.9 5,295.8
Repurchase and cancellation of Ordinary Shares 8 (0.2)
–
–
0.2 (53.3) (53.3)
Redemption and cancellation of Redeemable Shares 8
–
–
–
0.1 (0.1)
–
Dividends paid in year 9
–
–
–
– (70.3) (70.3)
Loss and total comprehensive expense for the year
–
–
–
– (452.9) (452.9)
Closing net assets attributable to Shareholders
at 31 December 2022 11.4 3,346.7 1,689.6 0.3 (328.7) 4,719.3
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023118
Company Statement of Cash Flows
For the year ended 31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
Note $m $m
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit / (Loss) for the year before tax 328.5 (452.9)
Adjustments to reconcile operating profit / (loss) for the financial period
to net cash flows from operating activities:
Movement of financial assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit or loss (205.5) 724.1
Movement in trade and other receivables 7 9.9 (13.5)
Movement in trade and other payables (6.8) (0.5)
Finance (income) / expense (3.1) 0.6
Purchase of investments in money market funds 6 (396.4) (285.6)
Sale of investments in money market funds 770.1 331.4
Reinvested interest income from investments in money market funds (20.8) (6.9)
Taxes paid (7.9)
–
Net cash flows from operating activities 468.0 296.7
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of investments at fair value through profit or loss (165.0) (20.0)
Issuance of Intercompany note receivable 6 (25.0) (83.8)
Net cash flows from investing activities (190.0) (103.8)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid 9 (180.2) (70.3)
Payment of share issue costs – (5.7)
Repayment and cancellation of share capital 8 (25.4) (50.0)
Finance costs – (0.9)
Net cash flows from financing activities (205.6) (126.9)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents during the year 72.4 66.0
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 83.9 17.9
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 156.3 83.9
The accompanying notes on pages 120 to 126 form an integral part of these financial statements.
119 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Notes to the Company
Financial Statements
For the year ended 31 December 2023
1. Basis of preparation and material accounting policies
The annual financial statements of the Company have been prepared and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with UK-adopted
International Accounting Standards (“IFRS”) and with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies reporting
under those standards. The financial statements are presented to the nearest million United States Dollar ($m), being the functional and
reporting currency of the Company.
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation
of financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss. The preparation of the financial statements requires estimates and
assumptions to be made that may affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual amounts could
differ from the estimates included in the financial statements herein. It also requires judgement to be exercised in the process of applying
the accounting policies.
The material accounting policies and basis of preparation of the annual financial statements of the Company follow those as disclosed for
the Group in note 2 of the consolidated financial statements unless otherwise described below.
2. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The Board of Directors has made judgements and estimates with respect to those items that have the most significant effect on the carrying
amounts of the assets and liabilities in the financial statements. The Board of Directors has concluded that in arriving at the net asset value
of the Subsidiaries, significant judgement is required in estimating the fair value of investments held by the Subsidiaries in Partner firms as
discussed in note 3.
3. Investments in subsidiary undertakings at fair value through profit or loss
The Company measures its investments in subsidiaries at fair value. Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset
or paid to transfer a liability (i.e. the exit price) in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In the
absence of quoted market prices, fair value is determined by the Operator. Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of financial
assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are recognised in the period in which they arise.
For the years ended 31 December 2023 and 31 December 2022, the Investments in subsidiary undertakings were valued at the most recent
NAV per unit which represents the fair value of these investments. The Board of Directors believe that it is appropriate to measure the
Investments in Subsidiaries at their net asset value which has taken into account risks to fair value, inclusive of liquidity discounts, through
appropriate discount rates.
Investments in Partner firms held by the subsidiary undertakings are held at fair value through profit and loss, further details can be found in
note 4 of the consolidated financial statements.
4. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks and other short-term investments in an active market with
original maturities of three months or less.
5. Audit fees
The Auditor’s remuneration for audit services and other audit-related services is disclosed in note 7 to the consolidated financial statements.
6. Investments held at fair value through profit or loss
Non-current investments
Investments in Subsidiary undertakings at fair value through profit or loss
The Company’s non-current investments comprise investments in Subsidiaries.
31 December
2023
31 December
2022
$m $m
Opening balance 4,125.9 4,830.0
Additions 165.1 20.0
Unrealised movement in investments in Subsidiaries 205.5 (724.1)
4,496.5 4,125.9
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023120
The Company's investments in Subsidiaries is comprised of the below entities.
Name of Subsidiary Registered office Purpose
Interest as at
31 December
2023
Interest as at
31 December
2022
Petershill Partners, Inc. 251 Little Falls Drive Wilmington, DE 19808 Investment holding company 100% 100%
Petershill Partners Ltd One Nexus Way Camana Bay, KY1-9005 Cayman Islands Investment holding company 100% 100%
Petershill Partners II Ltd One Nexus Way Camana Bay, KY1-9005, Cayman Islands Investment holding company 100% 100%
Refer to note 2(xvi) of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a full list of the Company's related subsidiary undertakings.
Intercompany note receivable
The Company and the Cayman Subsidiary have entered into a loan agreement (“Intercompany Note”) with a maturity date of 9 November
2031 under which the Company shall provide loans to the Cayman Subsidiary. The Intercompany Note shall carry an annual interest rate of
3% to be paid at the end of every month. Any unpaid interest shall be capitalised and added to the amount of principal outstanding.
As of 31 December 2023, an amount of $112.2 million (31 December 2022: $84.1 million) is due from the Cayman Subsidiary to the Company
including capitalised interest of $3.1 million (31 December 2022: $0.3 million).
Current investments
The Company invests its overnight cash balance in money market funds representing a collective investment scheme promoted by an
affiliate of the Operator. The Company holds these investments for cash management purposes with the intent to manage excess cash and
ensure these can be readily liquidated to meet the Company’s investment commitments. These investments are redeemable at short notice
and have been classified as debt investments. As at 31 December 2023, the Company held investments in money market funds of $61.3
million (31 December 2022: $414.2 million) and earned interest of $20.8 million (2022: $6.8 million).
Fair value measurements
IFRS 13 requires disclosure of fair value measurement by level. The level of fair value hierarchy within the financial assets or financial
liabilities is determined on the basis of the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Financial assets and financial
liabilities are classified in their entirety into only one of the following 3 levels:
• Level 1 – quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
• Level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the assets or liabilities, either directly (i.e. as
prices) or indirectly (i.e. derived from prices); and
• Level 3 – inputs for assets or liabilities that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).
The determination of what constitutes ‘observable’ requires significant judgement by the Group. The Board of Directors consider observable
data to be market data that is readily available, regularly distributed or updated, reliable and verifiable, not proprietary, and provided by
independent sources that are actively involved in the relevant market.
The following tables analyse within the fair value hierarchy the assets and liabilities (by class) measured at fair value:
31 December 2023
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
$m $m $m $m
A
ssets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss
–
61.3 – 61.3
Investments in Subsidiary undertakings at fair value through profit or loss
–
– 4,496.5 4,496.5
31 December 2022
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Total
$m $m $m $m
A
ssets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss
–
414.2 – 414.2
Investments in Subsidiary undertakings at fair value through profit or loss
–
– 4,125.9 4,125.9
Due to the nature of the Company’s investments in its Subsidiaries, they are always expected to be classified as level 3. There have been no
transfers between levels during the year. Any transfers between the levels would be accounted for on the last day of each financial year.
121 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Quantitative information of significant unobservable inputs – Level 3 – Investments
The Board of Directors believe that it is appropriate to measure the Investments in Subsidiaries at their net asset value which has taken into
account risks to fair value, inclusive of liquidity discounts, through appropriate discount rates.
Sensitivity analysis to significant changes in unobservable inputs within Level 3 hierarchy
Significant unobservable inputs are used in the fair value measurement categorised within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. If the fair value
of the investments in Subsidiaries was to increase or decrease by 10% then the fair value of investments would increase or decrease by
$449.7 million respectively (31 December 2022: $412.6 million).
As the Company’s investments are not publicly quoted, valuations require meaningful judgement to establish a range of values, and the
ultimate value at which an investment is realised may differ from its most recent valuation and the difference may be significant.
7. Trade and other receivables
31 December 2023
$m
31 December 2022
$m
Amounts receivable from Subsidiary investments 6.7 19.8
Prepayments 1.8 1.7
Tax recoverable 3.1 0.2
Other receivables 0.6
–
12.2 21.7
8. Share capital and other reserves
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Issued and fully paid
Number of
Shares Issued
Share
capital
$m
Share
premium
$m
Other
reserve
$m
Capital
redemption
reserve
$m
Total
$m
Shares at 1 January 2023 1,135,399,597 11.4 3,346.7 1,689.6 0.3 5,048.0
Share premium cancellation
–
(3,346.7) – – (3,346.7)
Repurchase and cancellation of Ordinary Shares – $0.01 (13,196,773) (0.2)
–
– 0.2
–
1,122,202,824 11.2
–
1,689.6 0.5 1,701.3
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Issued and fully paid
Number of
Shares Issued
Share
capital
$m
Share
premium
$m
Other
reserve
$m
Capital
redemption
reserve
$m
Total
$m
Shares at 1 January 2022 1,156,696,029 11.6 3,346.7 1,689.6 – 5,047.9
Redemption and cancellation of Redeemable Shares
–
–
–
– 0.1 0.1
Repurchase and cancellation of Ordinary Shares – $0.01 (21,296,432) (0.2)
–
– 0.2
–
1,135,399,597 11.4 3,346.7 1,689.6 0.3 5,048.0
On 17 May 2023, the Company commenced a share buyback programme of up to $50 million. During the year, the Company repurchased and
cancelled 13,196,773 Ordinary Shares (2022: 21,296,432 Ordinary Shares) as part of its buy-back programme for a total consideration of
$26.3 million (31 December 2022: $53.3 million). On 30 June 2022, the Group purchased and cancelled 50,000 Redeemable Deferred Shares
issued by it for a consideration of $0.1 million.
As at 31 December 2023, the Company’s issued share capital comprised 1,122,202,824 of Ordinary Shares (31 December 2022:
1,135,399,597) of $0.01 each. Ordinary Shareholders are entitled to all dividends paid by the Company. The Company does not have a limited
amount of authorised capital. Refer to note 2(ix) to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
The Company’s shareholders approved the cancellation of the amount standing to the credit of the Company's share premium account in full
(the "Reduction of Capital") at its annual general meeting held on 24 May 2023. A formal approval of the same was obtained on 20 June
2023 by His Majesty's High Court in England (the "Court"), Accordingly, the Reduction of Capital has become effective which has created
additional distributable reserves of approximately $3,346.7 million. Accordingly, the amounts standing to the credit of the share premium
account has been transferred to Retained earnings.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023122
9. Dividends declared and paid
For the year ended 31 December 2023
Dividends declared and paid Paid on
Dividend
per share
cents
Total dividend
$m
Final dividend with respect to the year ended 31 December 2022 13 June 2023 11.0 124.9
Interim dividend with respect to the year ended 31 December 2023 27 October 2023 4.9 55.3
Total 15.9 180.2
For the year ended 31 December 2022
Dividends declared and paid Paid on
Dividend
per share
cents
Total dividend
$m
Final dividend with respect to the year ended 31 December 2021 14 June 2022 2.6 30.1
Interim dividend with respect to the year ended 31 December 2022 24 October 2022 3.5 40.2
Total 6.1 70.3
10. Financial instruments risk
In the normal course of business, the Company uses certain financial instruments including cash, trade and other receivables and
investments. The Company is exposed to a number of risks through the performance of its normal operations. Refer to note 21 to the
Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
31 December
2023
31 December
2022
$m $m
Financial assets
Non-current assets:
Investments in Subsidiary undertakings at fair value through profit or loss 4,496.5 4,125.9
Intercompany note receivable 112.2 84.1
Current assets:
Investments in money market at fair value through profit or loss 61.3 414.2
Cash and cash equivalents 156.3 83.9
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments 10.4 20.0
Financial liabilities
Current liabilities:
Trade and other payables 4.6 10.5
Capital risk management
The Company manages its capital to ensure that it will be able to continue as a going concern while maximising the returns to the Company’s
shareholders. The Board of Directors recommends to the Company’s shareholders the level of dividend distributions to the Company’s
shareholders. The Company may purchase its own shares within the limits defined by the Board of Directors subject to restrictions imposed
by applicable laws.
The capital structure of the Company consists of issued share capital, retained earnings and other reserves, as stated in the Statement of
Financial Position.
123 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Market risk
Market risk includes price risk, foreign currency risk and interest rate risk.
(a) Price risk
The investments, held by the Company's Subsidiaries, in Partner-firms present a potential risk of loss of capital to the Company. Price risk
arises from changes in fair value of the investments in Partner-firms held by the Group. As discussed in note 4 of the Consolidated financial
statements, the fair value of these investments are determined using valuation techniques including earnings multiples, discounted cash
flows and recent comparable transactions. In valuing the investments, key assumptions include estimates around future fundraise timing
and sizes, expected management and performance fee rates and margins of the Partner-firms, expected current and future fund returns and
timing of realisations etc. Such valuations are reviewed and approved semi-annually by committees and working groups functionally
independent of the Operator prior to being incorporated into the Group's NAV. As new information surfaces on these key assumptions, the
valuation techniques may be adjusted causing the fair value of these investments to change.
As at 31 December 2023, the fair value of investments in Partner-firms held by the Subsidiaries was $5,254.7 million (31 December 2022:
$4,958.9 million). As presented in the Sensitivity analysis to significant changes in unobservable inputs table in the consolidated financial
statements, the valuation of these investments could vary from -$487.4 million to +$532.4 million (31 December 2022: -$597.0 million to
+$366.9 million) depending on the valuation techniques used while keeping the key assumptions constant.
The Company is exposed to a variety of risks which may have an impact on the carrying value of the Company’s investments. The Company’s
risk factors are set out below.
(i) Not actively traded
The Company’s investments are not generally traded in an active market but are indirectly exposed to market price risk arising from
uncertainties about future values of the investments held. The investments held by the Company’s subsidiaries vary as to industry sub-
sector, geographic distribution of operations and size, all of which may impact the susceptibility of their valuation to uncertainty. Although
the investments are in the same industry, this risk is managed through careful selection of investments within the specified limits of the
investment policy. The investments are monitored on a regular basis by the Operator.
(ii) Concentration
The Group invests in the alternative asset sector, with a particular focus on asset classes such as private equity, private credit, private real
assets and absolute return strategies. This means that the Group is exposed to the concentration risk of only making investments in the
alternative asset sector, which concentration risk may further relate to sub-sector, geography and the relative size of an investment or
other factors.
The Board of Directors and the Operator monitor the concentration of the investments on a quarterly basis to ensure compliance with the
investment policy.
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The Group’s liquidity risk arises from its investment commitments to Partner-firms and the flexibility for the Partner-firms to call capital as
required. The Group will maintain flexibility in funding by keeping sufficient liquidity in cash and cash equivalents, which may be invested
on a temporary basis in line with the cash management policy as agreed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
As at 31 December 2023, $217.6 million or 4.4% (31 December 2022: $498.1 million or 10.6%) of the Company’s financial assets,
were investments in money market funds and cash balances held on deposit with several AAA or higher rated banks.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023124
(b) Foreign currency risk
The Company transacts in currencies other than US$. Consequently, the Company is exposed to risks that the exchange rate of its currency
relative to other foreign currencies may change in a manner that has an adverse effect on the value of that portion of the Company’s assets
or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the US$. Any exposure to foreign currency risk at the underlying investment level is
captured within price risk.
The following table sets out, in US$, the Company’s total exposure to foreign currency risk and the net exposure to foreign currencies of the
monetary assets and liabilities:
As at 31 December 2023
US$ GBP£ Total
$m $m $m
Non-current assets
Investments in Subsidiary undertakings at fair value through profit or loss 4,496.5 – 4,496.5
Intercompany note receivable 112.2 – 112.2
Total non-current assets 4,608.7 – 4,608.7
Current assets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss 61.3 – 61.3
Cash and cash equivalents 154.5 1.8 156.3
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments 7.3 3.1 10.4
Total current assets 223.1 4.9 228.0
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables (2.4) (2.2) (4.6)
Total current liabilities (2.4) (2.2) (4.6)
As at 31 December 2022
US$ GBP£ Total
$m $m $m
Non-current assets
Investments in Subsidiary undertakings at fair value through profit or loss 4,125.9 – 4,125.9
Intercompany note receivable 84.1 – 84.1
Total non-current assets 4,210.0 – 4,210.0
Current assets
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss 414.2 – 414.2
Cash and cash equivalents 81.5 2.4 83.9
Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments 20.0 – 20.0
Total current assets 515.7 2.4 518.1
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables (8.4) (2.1) (10.5)
Total current liabilities (8.4) (2.1) (10.5)
(c) Interest rate risk
The Company’s exposure to interest rate risk relates to the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and money market investments. The
Company is subject to risk due to fluctuations in the prevailing levels of market interest rates. Any excess cash and cash equivalents are
invested at short-term market interest rates. As at the date of the Statement of Financial Position, the majority of the Company's cash and
cash equivalents were held on interest bearing fixed deposit accounts.
The Company's investment in money market funds is variable and is subject to fluctuations. Any exposure to interest rate risk at the
underlying investment level is captured within price risk. An increase of 100 basis points, based on the closing balance sheet position
over a 12-month period, would lead to an approximate increase in total profit before tax of $0.6 million (31 December 2022: $4.1 million)
for the Company.
The Intercompany note agreement entered into with the Cayman Subsidiary carries a fixed rate of interest and is not subject to interest
rate risk.
In addition, the Company has indirect exposure to interest rates through changes to the financial performance and the valuation of
investments in Partner-firms caused by rate fluctuations held through the Subsidiaries.
125 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Financial Statements c
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11. Related party transactions
Transactions with Goldman Sachs Bank USA
Goldman Sachs Bank USA (“GSBUSA”) is an affiliate and wholly owned subsidiary of the Goldman Sachs Group. On 14 December 2023,
the Company placed a fixed term deposit with GSBUSA for $150.0 million. The fixed term deposit matured on 15 March 2024 and accrued
interest at a rate of 5.40% per annum. During the year ended 31 December 2023, interest of $0.4 million was earned and was due
at maturity.
Subsidiaries
The Company entered into a consultancy agreement (the “Consultancy Agreement”) with the Subsidiaries whereby the Company will
provide services including but not limited to acquisition advice and review, and advice on strategy setting. An amount of $6.7 million
(2022: $11.3 million) was earned by the Company under this arrangement of which $5.4 million (2022: $9.1 million) was charged to
Petershill Partner Inc. and $1.3 million (2022: $2.2 million) was charged to Petershill Partners Ltd for the year ended 31 December 2023.
$6.7 million (31 December 2022: $19.5 million) was outstanding at year end.
On 24 August 2022, the Delaware Subsidiary issued US private placement senior unsecured notes (the "Unsecured Notes") to a group of
institutional investors in the amount of $500m and the Unsecured Notes are guaranteed by the Company. These contracts are accounted for
under IFRS 9 and no liability has been recognised in respect of these guarantees on the basis of materiality. The likelihood of these
guarantees being called upon is considered remote. Refer to note 14 of the consolidated financial statements for further information.
The Company and the Cayman Subsidiary have entered into an Intercompany Note agreement with a maturity date of 9 November 2031
under which the Company shall provide loans to the Cayman Subsidiary. Refer to note 6 for additional details.
Board of Directors
The details of each individual Director’s remuneration, as set out in the tables contained in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 53
to 56, form part of these financial statements.
Please refer to note 22 to the consolidated financial statements for further details on related party transactions.
12. Subsequent events
The Company has evaluated activity through 9 April 2024, the date that the financial statements were available to be issued.
On 20 December 2023 Petershill Partners II, Inc. was incorporated, and acquired by the Company on 1 January 2024. This entity sits at the
same level as Petershill Partners, Inc., Petershill Partners Ltd and Petershill Partners II Ltd (Petershill Subsidiaries).
On 1 January 2024, new subsidiaries were introduced into the Group structure to enable employees of the Operator to be direct beneficiaries
of a portion of the Profit-sharing charge (if any) payable by the Company to the Operator. This was done to further improve the alignment of
interest in the incentives of the Company, the Operator and the employees of the Operator. There is no change to the amount or timing of
any Profit sharing charge payable by the Company under the original Operator Agreement. Furthermore, this arrangement is not expected to
give rise to any material tax consequences for the Company and all initial and ongoing costs of implementing this arrangement are borne by
the Operator.
The Group concluded that no other events took place that would require material adjustments to the amounts recognised in these
consolidated financial statements.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023126
Alternative Performance Measures
(“APMs”)
As part of the initial acquisition of the portfolio of Partner-firms on 28 September 2021, the Company acquired interests in several trusts
(“Issuers”), which previously issued $350m of long-term debt (“Notes”) with a 5% coupon and a maturity date of 2039. The Notes were
secured by the rights to the cash flows of certain Partner-firm investments held by the Company and other investments held by the
Petershill Funds.
For the period ended 31 December 2021 and during 2022, under IFRS, the Company was required to consolidate them, although the
Company did not have rights to the cash flows of the collateral that were held by the Petershill Funds, This consolidation resulted in
reflecting all of the assets and liabilities of these entities in the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and all of
the income, investment gain and finance cost in the Condensed Interim Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income. However,
shareholder returns were only affected by the interests that the Company owns.
As at 31 December 2022, the Notes were repaid, and the collateral was released to the Petershill Funds and the Subsidiaries of the Company.
Other assets comprised of income receivable and cash in the Issuer SPVs were distributed as well. The Issuer SPVs and the Intermediary
Entities were dissolved on 19 December 2022. As a result, the Petershill Funds ceased to have any exposure to the Issuer SPVs effective this
date.
Pursuant to the above, the Company has consolidated the accounts of the Issuer SPVs and the Intermediary Entities in preparing the
comparative Condensed Interim Consolidated Financial Statements for the period of 1 January 2022 through 19 December 2022, the date
these Issuer SPVs and the Intermediary Entities were dissolved. As at 31 December 2022 and 2023, the Company no longer had any exposure
to Petershill Funds on account of the Issuer SPVs and Intermediary Entities.
The APM basis, which presents the financial information on a non IFRS basis, excluding the impact of the assets, liabilities, income,
investment gain and finance cost which do not affect shareholder returns, aids shareholders in assessing their investment in the Company.
The IFRS and APM basis numbers discussed and presented below include significant ‘unrealised’ and non-cash items that include unrealised
change in fair value of investments, and it should be noted that while permitted, it is not the Company’s core strategy to exit or realise these
investments. Therefore, management results are also presented excluding the unrealised change in fair value of investments at fair value
through profit and loss and related unrealised divestment fee.
APMs are used by the Directors and the Operator to analyse the business and financial performance, track the Company’s progress, and help
develop long-term strategic plans and they also reflect more closely the cash flow of the Company. The Directors believe that these APMs are
used by investors, analysts and other interested parties as supplemental measures of performance and liquidity.
127 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Year ended 31 December 2023 Year ended 31 December 2022
Alternative
performance
measurement
basis (APM) Adjustments IFRS basis
Alternative
performance
measurement
basis (APM) Adjustments IFRS basis
$m $m $m $m $m $m
Income
Income from investments in Partner-firms derived from:
Management fee income 203.0
–
203.0 213.2 (0.2) 213.0
Performance fee income 54.7
–
54.7 131.6 7.8 139.4
Investment income 34.4
–
34.4 25.4 7.2 32.6
Total income from investments in Partner-firms 292.1
–
292.1 370.2 14.8 385.0
Interest income from investments in money market funds 24.7
–
24.7 8.6 – 8.6
Interest income from other assets 2.6
–
2.6 – –
–
Total income 319.4
–
319.4 378.8 14.8 393.6
Movement in financial assets / liabilities held at fair value
Change in investments at fair value through profit or loss 227.0
–
227.0 (776.5) (30.2) (806.7)
Change in contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss (6.4)
–
(6.4) – –
–
Total movement in financial assets / liabilities held at fair value 220.6
–
220.6 (776.5) (30.2) (806.7)
Expenses
Board of Directors’ fees and expenses (1.7)
–
(1.7) (1.5) – (1.5)
Operator charge (21.9)
–
(21.9) (27.8) – (27.8)
Other operating expenses (10.1)
–
(10.1) (14.4) – (14.4)
Profit sharing charge (0.1)
–
(0.1) – –
–
Unrealised Divestment Fee (expense) / credit (50.5)
–
(50.5) 0.9 – 0.9
Total expenses (84.3)
–
(84.3) (42.8) – (42.8)
Operating profit / (loss) for the year 455.7
–
455.7 (440.5) (15.4) (455.9)
Finance income / (expense)
Finance cost (37.1)
–
(37.1) (45.6) – (45.6)
Movement in liability to Petershill Funds
–
–
–
– 15.4 15.4
Change in liability for Tax Receivables Agreement (21.5)
–
(21.5) (19.0) – (19.0)
Total finance expense (58.6)
–
(58.6) (64.6) 15.4 (49.2)
Profit / (loss) for the year before tax 397.1
–
397.1 (505.1) – (505.1)
Tax (expense) / credit (76.0)
–
(76.0) 52.2 – 52.2
Profit / (loss) for the year after tax 321.1
–
321.1 (452.9) – (452.9)
Profit / (loss) and total comprehensive income / (expense) for
the year 321.1
–
321.1 (452.9) – (452.9)
Profit / (loss) and total comprehensive income / (expense)
attributable to:
Equity holders of the Company 321.1
–
321.1 (452.9) – (452.9)
Earnings per share
Basic and diluted earnings per share (cents) 28.38
–
28.38 (39.36) – (39.36)
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023128
Year ended 31 December 2023 Year ended 31 December 2022
Alternative
performance
measurement
basis (APM) Adjustments IFRS basis
Alternative
performance
measurement
basis (APM) Adjustments IFRS basis
$m $m $m $m $m $m
Non-current assets
Investments at fair value through profit or loss 5,254.7
–
5,254.7 4,958.9 – 4,958.9
Deferred tax asset
–
–
–
44.0 – 44.0
5,254.7
–
5,254.7 5,002.9 – 5,002.9
Current assets
Investments in money market funds at fair value
through profit or loss 62.3
–
62.3 483.4 – 483.4
Cash and cash equivalents 242.9
–
242.9 97.6 – 97.6
Trade and other receivables 127.4
–
127.4 138.2 – 138.2
432.6
–
432.6 719.2 – 719.2
Total Assets 5,687.3
–
5,687.3 5,722.1 – 5,722.1
Non-current liabilities
Unsecured notes payable 493.8
–
493.8 493.2 – 493.2
Deferred payment obligations 7.3
–
7.3 50.0 – 50.0
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement 150.5
–
150.5 150.6 – 150.6
Contingent consideration at fair value through
profit or loss 3.9
–
3.9 – –
–
Deferred tax liability 8.2
–
8.2 – –
–
Fee payable on divestment of investments 94.8
–
94.8 44.3 – 44.3
758.5
–
758.5 738.1 – 738.1
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 6.9
–
6.9 8.7 – 8.7
Deferred payment obligations 44.6
–
44.6 189.9 – 189.9
Interest payable 10.0
–
10.0 10.0 – 10.0
Profit sharing charge payable 0.1
–
0.1 – –
–
Operator charge payable 6.6
–
6.6 21.0 – 21.0
Contingent consideration at fair value through
profit or loss 2.5
–
2.5 – –
–
Liability for Tax Receivables Agreement 24.2
–
24.2 35.1 – 35.1
94.9
–
94.9 264.7 – 264.7
Total liabilities 853.4
–
853.4 1,002.8 – 1,002.8
Net assets 4,833.9
–
4,833.9 4,719.3 – 4,719.3
Equity
Share capital 11.2
–
11.2 11.4 – 11.4
Share premium
–
–
–
3,346.7 – 3,346.7
Other reserve 1,689.6
–
1,689.6 1,689.6 – 1,689.6
Capital redemption reserve 0.5
–
0.5 0.3 – 0.3
Retained earnings/ (accumulated losses) 3,132.6
–
3,132.6 (328.7) – (328.7)
Total Shareholders’ funds 4,833.9
–
4,833.9 4,719.3 – 4,719.3
Number of Ordinary Shares in issue at year end 1,122,202,824
–
1,122,202,824 1,135,399,597 – 1,135,399,597
Net assets per share (cents) 430.75
–
430.75 415.65 – 415.65
129 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Alternative
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basis (APM) Adjustments IFRS basis
Alternative
performance
measurement
basis (APM) Adjustments IFRS basis
$m $m $m $m $m $m
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit / (Loss) for the year before tax 397.1
–
397.1 (505.1) – (505.1)
Adjustments to reconcile operating profit / (loss) for the year to net
cash flows from operating activities:
Reinvestment of income from investments in Partner-firms (57.0)
–
(57.0) (42.4) (0.2) (42.6)
Movement in financial assets and liabilities held at fair value
through profit and loss (228.8)
–
(228.8) 776.5 30.2 806.7
Movement in trade and other receivables 14.6
–
14.6 (82.0) 22.9 (59.1)
Movement in trade and other payables (2.8)
–
(2.8) 3.8 – 3.8
Movement in fee payable on divestment of investments 50.5
–
50.5 (0.9) – (0.9)
Movement in profit sharing charge payable 0.1
–
0.1
Movement in operator charge payable (14.4)
–
(14.4) – –
–
Movement in contingent consideration held at fair value through
profit or loss 6.4
–
6.4 – –
–
Finance expense 58.6
–
58.6 64.6 (15.4) 49.2
Purchase of investments in money market funds (781.4)
–
(781.4) (1,051.4) – (1,051.4)
Sale of investments in money market funds 1,227.1
–
1,227.1 1,021.1 – 1,021.1
Reinvested interest income from investments in money market funds (24.6)
–
(24.6) – –
–
Taxes paid (28.2)
–
(28.2) (4.4) – (4.4)
Net cash flows from operating activities 617.2
–
617.2 179.8 37.5 217.3
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of investments at fair value through profit or loss (204.2)
–
(204.2) (149.7) – (149.7)
Capital proceeds received
–
–
–
6.7 – 6.7
Net cash flows from investing activities (204.2)
–
(204.2) (143.0) – (143.0)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid (180.2)
–
(180.2) (70.3) – (70.3)
Interest expense payments (28.3)
–
(28.3) (23.8) (4.0) (27.8)
Payment of share issue costs
–
–
–
(5.7) – (5.7)
Repayment and cancellation of share capital (25.4)
–
(25.4) (50.0) – (50.0)
Proceeds from Unsecured Notes
–
–
–
500.0 – 500.0
Repayment of Notes payable
–
–
–
(350.0) – (350.0)
Payment of transaction costs related to debt issuance and repayment
–
–
–
(8.1) – (8.1)
Extinguishment of liability to Petershill funds
–
–
–
– (89.6) (89.6)
Payment under Tax Receivables Agreement (33.8)
–
(33.8) – –
–
Net cash flows from financing activities (267.7)
–
(267.7) (7.9) (93.6) (101.5)
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
during the year 145.3
–
145.3 28.9 (56.1) (27.2)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 97.6
–
97.6 68.7 56.1 124.8
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 242.9
–
242.9 97.6 – 97.6
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023130
Net cash position at end of year
Cash and cash equivalents APM basis plus investments in money market funds less deferred payment obligations, contingent consideration
and long term debt.
31 December
2023
31 December
2022
$m $m
Cash and cash equivalents
APM basis
242.9 97.6
Investments in money market funds at fair value through profit or loss 62.3 483.4
Unsecured notes payable (gross) (500.0) (500.0)
Deferred payment obligations (51.9) (239.9)
Contingent consideration (6.4)
–
Net cash position at end of year (253.1) (158.9)
Free cash flow
The Net cash flows from operating activities
APM basis
less Purchase of investments in money market funds, Sale of investments in money
market funds, Reinvestment of income from investments in Partner-firms
APM basis
and Taxes paid as a percent of the Adjusted EBIT. This
amount can differ year over year as the timing of settlement of certain income from investments in Partner-firms may vary.
31 December
2023
31 December
2022
$m $m
Net cash inflows from operating activities
APM basis
617.2 179.8
Purchase of investments in money market funds 781.4 1,043.4
Sale of investments in money market funds (1,227.1) (1,021.1)
Reinvestment of income from investments in Partner-firms
APM basis
57.0 42.4
Reinvestment of interest income from investments in money market funds 24.6 8.0
Taxes paid 28.2 4.4
Adjusted net cash inflows from operating activities 281.3 256.9
Adjusted EBIT 284.4 336.3
Free cash flow 99% 76%
Book value
Total shareholders’ funds.
31 December
2023
31 December
2022
$m $m
Total shareholders’ equity 4,833.9 4,719.3
Book value per share
Total shareholders’ funds divided by the number of Ordinary Shares in issue at year end.
31 December
2023
31 December
2022
$m $m
Total shareholders’ equity ($m) 4,833.9 4,719.3
Number of Ordinary Shares in issue at year end 1,122,202,824 1,135,399,597
Book value per share (cents) 430.75 415.65
131 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
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Adjusted Earnings Before Interest and Tax (“EBIT”)
Sum of total income APM basis and expenses excluding non-recurring charges before net finance result and before income taxes, change in
fair value of investments at fair value through profit or loss
APM basis
, change in contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss,
profit sharing charge and unrealised divestment fee.
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
$m $m
Total income
APM basis
319.4 378.8
Board of Directors’ fees and expenses (1.7) (1.5)
Operator charge (21.9) (27.8)
Profit sharing charge (0.1)
–
Other operating expenses (10.1) (14.4)
Non-recurring operating (credit) / expense (1.2) 1.2
Adjusted Earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) 284.4 336.3
Adjusted EBIT margin
Adjusted EBIT divided by APM basis total income.
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
$m $m
Total income
APM basis
319.4 378.8
Adjusted EBIT 284.4 336.3
Adjusted EBIT margin 89.0% 88.8%
Adjusted Earnings Before Tax (“EBT”)
Sum of total income
APM basis
and expenses excluding Profit sharing charge, unrealised divestment fee, income taxes, change in liability for tax
receivables agreement, movement in liability to Petershill Funds, change in fair value of investments at fair value through profit or loss
APM
basis
, change in contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss, and non-recurring charges.
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
$m $m
Total income
APM basis
319.4 378.8
Board of Directors’ fees and expenses (1.7) (1.5)
Operator charge (21.9) (27.8)
Profit sharing charge (0.1)
–
Other operating expenses (10.1) (14.4)
Finance cost (37.1) (45.6)
Non-recurring operating (credit) / expense (1.2) 1.2
Non-recurring charges related to financing – 17.3
Adjusted Earnings before tax (EBT) 247.3 308.0
Tax and tax related expenses
The current tax plus the actual/expected payment under the tax receivables agreement for the current year.
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
$m $m
Current tax (23.5) (4.2)
Expected payment under the tax receivables agreement (24.2) (31.2)
Tax and tax related expenses (47.7) (35.4)
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023132
Adjusted tax and tax related expense rate
The Tax and tax related expenses divided by the Adjusted EBT.
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
$m $m
Tax and related expenses 47.7 35.4
Adjusted Earnings before tax (EBT) 247.3 308.0
Adjusted tax and tax related expense rate 19.3% 11.5%
Adjusted Profit After Tax
Sum of total income
APM basis
and expense excluding Profit sharing charge, unrealised divestment fee, income taxes, change in liability for tax
receivables agreement, movement in liability to Petershill Funds, change in fair value of investments at fair value through profit or loss
APM
basis
, change in contingent consideration at fair value through profit or loss, and non-recurring charges and including tax and related
expenses under the tax receivables agreement.
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
$m $m
Total income
APM basis
319.4 378.8
Board of Directors’ fees and expenses (1.7) (1.5)
Operator charge (21.9) (27.8)
Other operating expenses (10.1) (14.4)
Profit sharing charge (0.1) -
Finance Cost (37.1) (45.6)
Non-recurring operating expenses (1.2) 1.2
Tax and tax related expenses (47.7) (35.4)
Non-recurring charges related to financing – 17.3
Adjusted profit after tax 199.6 272.6
Adjusted Earnings Per Share (“EPS”)
Adjusted profit after tax divided by weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue.
For the year ended
31 December 2023
For the year ended
31 December 2022
$m $m
Adjusted profit after tax 199.6 272.6
Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue 1,131,506,310 1,150,241,568
Adjusted Earnings per share (EPS) (cents) 17.64 23.70
133 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Acquisition Strategy and Investment Policy means the
Company’s acquisition strategy and investment policy as detailed
on pages 25 to 27 of the Strategic Report
Administrator means Ocorian Administration (UK) Limited
Admission means admission of all of the Ordinary Shares issued
and to be issued in connection with the Offer to the premium
listing segment of the Official List and to trading on the London
Stock Exchange’s main market for listed securities
AGM means Annual General Meeting
AIC means the Association of Investment Companies
AIC Code means the AIC’s Code of Corporate Governance, as
amended from time to time
AIFM means alternative investment fund manager, within the
meaning of the EU AIFMD and the UK AIFMR
Annual Report means the Company’s report and financial
statements for the period from 1 January 2023 to
31 December 2023
Articles of Association means the articles of association of the
Company from time to time
Auditor means PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP or PwC and
its affiliates
BEIS means the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy of the UK Government
Board means the Board of Directors of the Company
Companies Act means the Companies Act 2006 which forms the
primary source of UK company law
Capital Amount means the amount of gross proceeds of the IPO,
plus the net proceeds of any future issues of Ordinary Shares, less
any amounts expended by the Company on share repurchases and
redemptions or, following a Realisation Election, attributable to
Realisation Shares
Closed-ended Investment Fund means closed-ended investment
fund as per the Financial Conduct Authority’s definition
Company means Petershill Partners Plc
Company Secretary means Ocorian Administration (UK) Limited
Directors means the Directors of the Company
DTR means the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules
sourcebook issued by the Financial Conduct Authority
ESG means Environmental, Social and Governance
EU AIFMD means Directive 2011/61/EU of the European
Parliament and of the Council of 8 June 2011 on Alternative
Investment Fund Managers and amending Directives 2003/41/EC
and 2009/65/EC and Regulations (EC) No 1060/2009 and (EU) No.
1095/2010 as supplemented by the AIFMD Delegated Regulation
and, where applicable, as transposed (i) in Ireland by the European
Union (Alternative Investment Fund Managers) Regulations 2013
(as amended) and (ii) in any other European Economic Area
member state by the corresponding national implementing
measures
Existing Petershill Group means the current and historic
Petershill Funds being Petershill I, Petershill II, Petershill III,
Petershill PE Seeding, Petershill IV and Vintage VII, as well as
certain co-investment vehicles and GSAM
FCA means the UK Financial Conduct Authority (or its successor
bodies)
FRC means the UK Financial Reporting Council
Goldman Sachs or Goldman Sachs group means Goldman Sachs
Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and subsidiary undertakings
GP means general partner
GP Services means the assistance provided to Partner-firms by the
Operator through the GP Services Team including in the following
areas: (a) Human Capital, (b) Operational Consulting & Digital
Transformation, (c) Investment Portfolio Services, (d) Capital
Formation, (e) Strategy, Corporate Finance and M&A, (f) Product
Development & Peer Benchmarking, (g) Environment, Social &
Governance, (h) Legal, Tax & Regulatory, and (i) Portfolio
Monitoring, Reporting & Communication
Group or Petershill Partners Group means the Company together
with its subsidiaries and its indirect subsidiaries
IFRS means the International Financial Reporting Standards, being
the accounting standards issued by the International Accounting
Standards Board (IASB). The Company’s Consolidated Financial
Statements have been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted
International Accounting Standards
Initial Acquisition means the acquisition that occurred prior to
Admission, which saw the transfer of a portfolio of assets from the
Petershill Funds to the Group
Investment Advisor means Goldman Sachs Asset Management,
L.P.
Investment Manager means Goldman Sachs Asset Management
International
IPEV Valuation Guidelines means the International Private Equity
and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines
Glossary of Capitalised Defined Terms
Glossary of Capitalised
Defined Terms
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023134
Listing Rules means the listing rules made by the UK Listing
Authority under section 73A of the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000
London Stock Exchange means London Stock Exchange plc
Main Market means the main market of the London Stock
Exchange
Money Market Funds means open-ended mutual funds, that the
Operator may or may not manage, which invest in cash and
cash-equivalent securities
NAV or Net Asset Value means the value of the assets of the
Company less its liabilities as calculated in accordance with the
Company’s valuation policy and expressed in US dollars
Offer or IPO means the offer of the new Ordinary Shares by the
Company and existing Ordinary Shares by the Selling Shareholders
Official List means the official list maintained by the FCA
Operator means Goldman Sachs Asset Management Fund Services
Limited
Operator Agreement means the Operator Agreement entered into
between the Operator and the Company
Ordinary Shares means Ordinary Shares of $0.01 in the capital
of the Company issued and designated as “Ordinary Shares” and
having the rights, restrictions and entitlements set out in the
Company’s articles of incorporation
Partner-firms means the alternative asset managers in which the
Group holds, from time to time, investments representing minority
ownership positions and rights to certain revenue streams of the
alternative asset managers
Premium Listing Segment means the Premium Listing Segment
of the London Stock Exchange’s main market
Profit-Sharing Charge means the profit-sharing charge payable to
the Operator pursuant to the Operator Agreement, as described in
the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Profit-Sharing Required Investment Return means the
investment return required in respect of certain investments in
order for the Profit-Sharing Charge to become chargeable, as
described in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
Recurring Operating Charges means the recurring operating
charges payable to the Operator pursuant to the Operator
Agreement, as described in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements
Redeemable Deferred Shares means redeemable deferred shares
having a nominal value of £1.00 each in the capital of the Company
Redeemable Shareholders means the holders of the Redeemable
Deferred Shares
SFDR means Regulation (EU) 2019/2088 of the European
Parliament and of the Council on sustainability-related disclosures
in the financial services sector
Shareholders means the holders of the Ordinary Shares
Tax Receivables Agreement or TRA means the tax receivables
agreement entered into prior to Admission between Delta Epsilon
Delaware Inc. and various subsidiaries of the Petershill Funds
TCFD means the Task Force on Climate-related Financial
Disclosures issued by the Financial Stability Board to develop
consistent climate-related financial risk disclosures for use by
companies, banks and investors in providing information
to stakeholders
Transfer Vehicles means the transfer vehicles established by the
Petershill Funds to transfer a portfolio of assets to the Petershill
Partners Group pursuant to the Initial Acquisition
UK AIFMR means the Alternative Investment Fund Managers
Regulation 2013 (as amended) and supplemental measures
relating thereto, including rules contained in the FCA’s Handbook
UK Code means the UK Corporate Governance Code issued by
the Financial Reporting Council
United Kingdom or UK means the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Northern Ireland
United States or US means the United States of America, its
territories and possessions, any state of the United States and the
District of Columbia
135 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Accel-KKR
Accel-KKR is a technology-focused investment firm that focuses
on middle-market software and IT-enabled companies and provides
a broad range of capital solutions including buyout capital, minority-
growth investments and credit alternatives across its buyout, growth
capital and credit investment strategies. On 27 April 2017, the
Existing Petershill Group acquired an equity stake in Accel-KKR. The
investment was structured as a primary commitment and no capital
was distributed to Accel-KKR principals as part of the transaction.
The investment is being used by Accel-KKR to increase its capital
commitments to current strategies and to support potential new
initiatives in the future.
ArcLight Capital Partners
Founded in 2001, ArcLight Capital Partners is a Boston-based
energy-and-infrastructure-focused private equity manager that
currently manages a single fund family and primarily invests in the
midstream, infrastructure and power sectors. ArcLight helped
pioneer an asset-based private equity approach to investing in the
dynamic energy sector, targeting midstream power and production.
On 23 December 2016, the Existing Petershill Group acquired an
equity stake in ArcLight. The investment was used by ArcLight to fund
current and future general partner commitments to ArcLight funds,
as well as to facilitate leadership succession at the firm.
Arlington Capital Partners
Arlington Capital Partners is a North American middle-market
private equity firm focused on investing in regulated industries and
their adjacent markets. Arlington was founded in 1999 and is
headquartered in Washington, DC.
Arsenal Capital Partners
Arsenal Capital Partners is a North American private equity firm
specialising in buyout and growth investments in middle-market
industrials and healthcare companies. Arsenal was founded in
2000 and is headquartered in New York, NY.
Caxton Associates
Founded in 1983, Caxton Associates is a New York-based trading and
investment management firm specialising in global macro hedge
fund strategies across a variety of global markets and instruments,
with offices in New York, London, Princeton and Singapore. On
30 September 2014, the Existing Petershill Group acquired an equity
stake in Caxton Associates. The investment provided secondary
proceeds and facilitated generational succession.
Clearlake
Clearlake is a Santa Monica, California-based buyout and distressed
debt investment firm founded in 2006. Clearlake’s core sectors of
focus are energy, industrials, and TMT. The firm targets investments
in private equity, special situations and credit in the middle-market
under three product platforms: Clearlake Capital Partners, Clearlake
Opportunities Partners and Clearlake Credit Partners. On 25 May
2018, the Existing Petershill Group acquired a passive minority equity
stake in Clearlake. The primary portion of the investment is being
used by Clearlake as strategic capital to further invest in the
business and fund future development initiatives.
Fort Investment Management
Founded in 1993, Fort Investment Management is a systematic
investment management firm. On 6 January 2016, the Existing
Petershill Group closed on the acquisition of an equity stake to
simplify Fort’s capital structure.
Francisco Partners
Francisco Partners is a San Francisco, California-based
middle-market technology buyout investment firm founded in
1999. Francisco Partners’ core sectors include healthcare, IT,
communications, security, software and fintech, with a focus on
providing transformational capital for North American, European
and Israeli technology companies under two product platforms:
Francisco Partners Private Equity and Agility. Francisco Partners
targets businesses ranging from US$20 million to more than
US$3 billion across a wide range of transaction types. On 9 July
2018, the Existing Petershill Group acquired a minority equity
stake in Francisco Partners, with proceeds being used by Francisco
Partners to further increase its capital commitments to current
and future funds as well as future development initiatives.
General Catalyst
General Catalyst is a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based growth and
venture capital firm founded in 2000. General Catalyst has additional
offices in New York, Palo Alto and San Francisco and is managed by the
two founding partners as well as Hemant Taneja and Ken Chenault.
General Catalyst targets early stage venture and growth investments
in technology or tech-enabled businesses. On 21 November 2018, the
Existing Petershill Group acquired a passive minority revenue share in
General Catalyst. The investment is being used by General Catalyst to
fund future GP commitments and facilitate the continued growth of
the General Catalyst platform.
The Petershill Partners Group’s Assets
The Petershill Partners
Group's Assets
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023136
Harvest Partners
Harvest Partners is a New York-based middle-market leveraged
buyout firm founded in 1981. Harvest is focused on the industrials,
business services, healthcare, manufacturing and distribution and
consumer sectors. Harvest targets control and non-controlling
investments in the middle-market under two product platforms:
Harvest Partners and the Harvest Partners Structured Capital Fund.
On 12 October 2018, the Existing Petershill Group acquired a
passive minority equity stake in Harvest. The investment is being
used by Harvest to fund future GP commitments and facilitate the
continued growth of the Harvest platform.
Industry Ventures
Industry Ventures is a venture capital investment firm that focuses
on investing in companies and venture capital partnerships directly
and via secondary transactions, from early stage to growth stage,
and seeks to address inefficiencies in venture capital with flexible
solutions for entrepreneurs, venture funds and limited partners.
Industry Ventures was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in
San Francisco, CA, with additional offices in Washington, DC and
London.
Kayne Anderson Real Estate
Kayne Anderson Real Estate (“KARE”) was founded in 2007
and is a US real estate asset management platform, focusing on
opportunistic, core equity and debt investments in alternative sectors,
including medical office, senior housing, multi-family housing, student
housing and self-storage. KARE targets investments ranging from
US$30 million to US$500 million, with an aim to enhance value
through asset consolidation and the creation of geographically diverse
portfolios. On 17 January 2020, the Existing Petershill Group acquired
a minority interest in KARE. The investment is being used by KARE to
fund GP commitments and facilitate employee retention through
equalisation and long-term commitments to the business.
Knighthead Capital Management
Founded in 2008, Knighthead Capital Management is a New
York-based hedge fund specialising in long/short event-driven,
distressed credit and other special situations across a broad array
of industries. On 6 January 2014, the Existing Petershill Group
acquired an equity stake in Knighthead, with the proceeds being
used by Knighthead to simplify Knighthead’s capital structure.
Lakewood
Founded in 2007, Lakewood is a value-oriented equity long/short
investment firm. It employs a broad investment strategy with the
flexibility to capitalise on opportunities in all parts of the capital
structure and across geographies, market capitalisations and
industries. Lakewood makes investments in long equity, short
equity and fixed income. Its long equity strategy comprises a
concentrated portfolio of companies with attractive long-term
appreciation potential with a minimised risk of capital loss.
The short equity strategy seeks to generate profits in all market
environments through a focus on a prudently diversified portfolio
of significantly overvalued securities. The Existing Petershill Group
acquired an equity stake in Lakewood on 27 June 2017, which
provided necessary capital to transition out an existing minority
partner while also increasing the Lakewood partner’s capital
commitment to the investment fund.
Littlejohn & Co.
Founded in 1996, Littlejohn & Co. is a Greenwich, Connecticut-
based mid-market private equity manager. Littlejohn & Co.’s
flagship private equity programme is focused on investing in
middle-market companies that are undergoing a fundamental
change in capital structure, strategy, operations or growth that
can benefit from its operational and strategic approach. In
addition, Littlejohn & Co. has built out a distressed credit product
and a performing credit platform. On 8 August 2016, the Existing
Petershill Group acquired an equity stake in Littlejohn & Co. The
investment was structured as a primary capital contribution to
build a balance sheet that enables Littlejohn & Co. to grow its
private equity and credit strategies, including funding GP
commitments and CLO equity retention tranches.
LLR Partners
LLR Partners is a lower middle-market private equity firm investing
in technology and healthcare businesses. LLR was founded in 1999
and is based in Philadelphia, USA.
LMR Partners
LMR Partners is a global multi-strategy asset manager founded in
2009 with offices in London, Hong Kong and New York. LMR
Partners predominantly focuses on relative value and event-driven
multi-manager strategies across four distinct products.
On 14 August 2018, the Existing Petershill Group acquired
a passive minority equity stake in LMR Partners. Proceeds of the
investment were used partly to reorganise LMR Partners’ capital
structure and partly to reinvest in its funds.
Pelham Capital
Founded in 2007, Pelham Capital is a London-based European equity
long/short hedge fund that invests across a range of sectors and
specialises in event-driven distressed credit and special situation
opportunity funds. On 2 January 2014, the Existing Petershill Group
acquired an equity stake in Pelham Capital. The investment was used
by Pelham Capital for investment in its business or its funds.
Piney Lake Partners
Piney Lake Partners, a Greenwich, Connecticut firm, is an
opportunistic private credit manager and focuses on lending capital
to middle-market business, primarily in North America, that are
either stressed or in a period of transition. On 21 June 2018, the
Existing Petershill Group acquired a revenue share in Piney Lake
Partners, with capital provided to help fund its initial credit portfolio.
Riverstone Holdings LLC
Riverstone Holdings LLC, founded in 2000, is one of the world’s
largest energy-focused private equity firms. Riverstone manages a
portfolio of more than 200 energy, natural resources and
renewables companies in 15 countries across a diversified product
platform including private equity funds, private credit funds and
permanent capital vehicles. On 4 May 2017, the Existing Petershill
Group acquired a passive minority revenue interest in Riverstone.
The investment provided Riverstone with strategic capital to
further invest in the business, fund business development and
address certain capital commitments.
137 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Slate Asset Management
Slate Asset Management, founded in 2005 with offices in Toronto,
Chicago, Frankfurt and London, is a real estate-focused alternative
investment platform. Slate is a value-oriented manager across
private and publicly traded investment vehicles, investing across
Canada, the United States and Europe, through multiple vehicles,
including co-investments with global institutional partners, private
equity funds and publicly traded Real Estate Investment Trusts. On
26 September 2019, the Existing Petershill Group acquired a
minority interest in Slate. The investment is being used by Slate as
balance sheet capital to simplify its capital structure and fund
current and future GP commitments to facilitate development of
the Slate platform.
SLR Capital Partners
SLR Capital Partners LLC is an independent boutique asset manager
focused on direct lending with expertise across a range of primarily
senior secured financing solutions for US middle-market companies.
SLR was founded in 2006 and is based in New York, USA.
Symphony Technology Group
Symphony Technology Group is a North American, technology-
focused private equity buyout firm, focusing on investments in
middle-market enterprise software companies. Symphony
Technology Group targets opportunities in the value-focused
enterprise software market. Symphony Technology Group was
founded in 2002 and is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA.
Westbrook Partners
Westbrook Partners is a value-added global real estate investment
platform. Westbrook’s strategy is focused on value-added
investments in global gateway cities, investing across property
types and the capital structure. On 5 October 2018, the Existing
Petershill Group acquired a passive minority stake in Westbrook.
The investment is being used by Westbrook to fund future GP
commitments and facilitate the further institutionalisation of the
Westbrook platform.
Wind Point Partners
Wind Point Partners is a North American private equity firm focusing
on buyout investments in middle-market consumer products,
industrial products and business services companies. Wind Point
was founded in 1984 and is headquartered in Chicago, IL.
The Petershill Partners Group’s Assets continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023138
This document contains certain key operating metrics that are not
defined or recognised under IFRS.
The Operator and the Directors use these key operating metrics to
help evaluate trends, assess the performance of the Partner-firms
and the Company, analyse and test dividends received from the
Partner-firms and inform operating, budgeting and re-investment
decisions. The Directors believe that these metrics, which present
certain operating and other information in respect of the Partner-
firms, provide an enhanced understanding of the underlying portfolios
and performance of the Partner-firms and are therefore essential to
assessing the investments and performance of the Company.
The key operating metrics described in this section are derived
from financial and other information reported to the Operator by
the Partner-firms. The Operator, with the assistance of an
independent accounting firm, performs due diligence procedures
on the information provided by the Partner-firms. It should be
noted, however, that these due diligence procedures do not
constitute an audit.
In addition, each Partner-firm may account for and define certain
financial and other information differently from one another. For
example, each Partner-firm may calculate its fee-paying AuM
differently, the result of which being that the inputs of the Company’s
Aggregate Fee-paying AuM are not consistently calculated.
Whilst the operating metrics described in this section are similar
to those used by other alternative asset managers, there are no
generally accepted principles governing their calculation, and the
criteria upon which these metrics are based can vary from firm to
firm. These metrics, by themselves, do not provide a sufficient basis
to compare the Partner-firms’ or the Company’s performance with
that of other companies.
None of Partner Distributable Earnings, Partner FRE, Partner
Realised Performance Revenues or Partner Realised Investment
Income are measures of or provide any indication of profits
available for the purpose of a distribution by the Company within
the meaning of section 830 of the Companies Act 2006, or of any
Partner-firm in accordance with the equivalent applicable rules.
Aggregate Partner-firm AuM
Aggregate Partner-firm AuM is defined as the sum of (a) the net
asset value of the Partner-firms’ underlying funds and investment
vehicles, and in most cases includes co-investment vehicles, GP
commitments and other non fee-paying investment vehicles and
(b) uncalled commitments from these entities, as reported by the
Partner-firms to the Operator from time to time and aggregated by
the Operator without material adjustment. This is an aggregated
figure across all Partner-firms and includes Partner-firm AuM
outside of the Company’s ownership interest in the Partner-firms.
The Operator and the Directors consider Aggregate Partner-firm
AuM to be a meaningful measure of the size, scope and
composition of the Partner-firms, as well as of their capital-raising
activities. The Operator uses Aggregate Partner-firm AuM to
inform operating, budgeting and reinvestment decisions.
Aggregate Fee-paying AuM
Aggregate Fee-paying AuM is defined as the portion of Aggregate
Partner-firm AuM for which Partner-firms are entitled to receive
management fees, as reported by the Partner-firms to the
Operator. The principal difference between Aggregate Fee-paying
AuM and Aggregate Partner-firm AuM is that Aggregate Fee-
paying AuM typically excludes co-investment on which Partner-
firms generally do not charge fees and, to a lesser extent, fund
commitments in Partner-firm funds (i) on which fees are only
earned on investment, rather than from the point of commitment
and (ii) where capital has been raised but fees have not yet been
activated. This may also include legacy assets where fees are no
longer being charged.
The Operator and the Directors consider Aggregate Fee-paying AuM
to be a meaningful measure of the Partner-firms’ capital base upon
which they earn management fees and use the measure in assessing
the management fee-related performance of the Partner-firms and
to inform operating, budgeting and re-investment decisions.
Aggregate Performance Fee Eligible Partner-
firm AuM
The amount of Aggregate Partner-firm AuM that is eligible for
performance fees.
AuM and Associated Data
The data presented in this document for the following key operating
metrics reflects AuM data reported to the Operator on a three-month
lag. This three-month data lag is due to the timing of the financial
information received by the Operator from the Partner-firms, which
generally require at least 90 days following each period end to
present final financial information to the Operator. The key operating
metrics reflected on a three-month lag are:
• Aggregate Partner-firm AuM
• Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM
• Average Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-firm AuM
• Aggregate Performance Fee Eligible Partner-firm AuM
• Average Aggregate Performance Fee Eligible Partner-firm AuM
• Partner Blended Net Management Fee Rate
• Implied Blended Partner-firm FRE Ownership
• Investment Capital
Issuer SPVs
Issuer SPVs comprise the following entities – PH Offshore GP Issuer,
PH Offshore IM Issuer, PH Onshore GP Issuer, PH Onshore IM Issuer.
Intermediary Entities
Intermediary Entities comprise the following entities – PH Offshore
GP Aggregator, PH Offshore IM Aggregator, PH Onshore GP
Aggregator, PH Onshore IM Aggregator.
Glossary of Key Operating Metrics
Glossary of Key
Operating Metrics
139 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Investment Capital
Investment Capital is defined as the sum of the reported value of the
balance sheet investments from the Partner-firms. The Operator and
the Directors consider Investment Capital to be a meaningful measure
of the performance of the Partner-firms’ balance sheet investments
and potential future Partner Realised Investment Income. The
Operator therefore uses Investment Capital to assess future expected
Partner Realised Investment Income and inform operating, budgeting
and reinvestment decisions.
In respect of Investment Capital, the data may be adjusted for any
known valuation impacts following the reporting date of the
information received from the Partner-firms.
Ownership weighted AuM
Ownership weighted AuM represents the sum of the Company’s
ownership stakes in each Partner-firm’s AuM.
Ownership weighted Fee-paying AuM
Ownership weighted Fee-paying AuM represents the sum of the
Company’s ownership stakes in each Partner-firm’s Fee-paying
AuM. Please refer to Aggregate Fee-paying AuM on page 139.
Partner Blended Net Management Fee Rate
Partner Blended Net Management Fee Rate is defined as Partner
Net Management and Advisory Fees for the period, divided by the
average Aggregate Fee-paying AuM weighted for the Company’s
ownership interests in each Partner-firm. The average Aggregate
Fee-paying AuM is calculated as the mean of the Aggregate
Fee-paying AuM at the start and the end of the reporting period
and excludes new acquisitions where the Company has not yet
started to receive or have only received partial period amounts
of Partner Net Management and Advisory Fees.
The Operator and the Directors consider Partner Blended Net
Management Fee Rate to be a key metric in assessing the
Company’s overall management fee-related performance.
Implied Blended Partner-firm FRE Ownership
Implied Blended Partner-firm FRE Ownership is defined as the
weighted average of the Company’s ownership stake in the Partner-
firms’ management fee-related earnings and is calculated based on
the contribution of average Aggregate Fee-paying AuM from
Partner-firms in each period. It will therefore be expected to change
to some degree from period to period based on the contribution to
average Aggregate Fee-paying AuM of each Partner-firm, even if the
actual ownership of each underlying Partner-firm does not change.
Excludes new acquisitions where Petershill has not yet started to
receive or have only received partial period amounts of Partner Net
Management and Advisory Fees.
The Operator and the Directors consider Implied Blended Partner-
firm FRE Ownership to be a meaningful measure of the
composition of the Company’s investments.
Partner Net Management and Advisory Fees
Partner Net Management and Advisory Fees is defined as the
Company’s aggregate proportionate share of the Partner-firms’ net
management fees (as reported by the Partner-firms to the
Operator), including monitoring and advisory fees and less any
management fee offsets, payable by the Partner-firms’ funds to
their respective Partner-firms for the provision of investment
management and advisory services.
Certain Partner-firms provide transaction and advisory services,
as well as services to monitor ongoing operations of portfolio
companies. Management fees paid to the Partner-firms may be
subject to fee offsets, which are reductions to management fees
and are based on a percentage of monitoring fees and transaction
and advisory fees paid by portfolio companies to the Partner-firms.
The Operator and the Directors consider Partner Net Management
and Advisory Fees to be a meaningful measure of the management
fee-related performance of the Partner-firms, and the Operator
uses this metric to analyse and test income received from the
Partner-firms and to inform operating, budgeting and re-
investment decisions.
Partner Fee Related Earnings (FRE) and
Partner FRE Margin
Partner FRE is defined as Partner Net Management and Advisory
Fees, less the Partner-firms’ operating expenses, fixed and bonus
compensation, net interest income/(expense) and taxes (but not
performance fee-related expenses) allocable to the Company’s
share of Partner Net Management and Advisory Fees, as reported
by the Partner-firms to the Operator, and subject to applicable
contractual margin protections in respect of certain Partner-firms.
Partner FRE Margin is defined as Partner FRE divided by Partner
Net Management and Advisory Fees.
The Operator and the Directors consider Partner FRE and Partner
FRE Margin to be meaningful measures of the management
fee-related earnings of the Partner-firms and key performance
indicators of the Company’s income from investments in
management companies derived from management fee income.
The Operator uses this metric to analyse and test dividends
received from the Partner-firms, as well as to inform operating,
budgeting and reinvestment decisions.
Partner Realised Performance Revenues
Partner Realised Performance Revenues is defined as the
Company’s aggregate proportionate share of the Partner-firms’
realised carried interest allocations and incentive fees payable by
the Partner-firms’ funds to their respective Partner-firms, less any
realised performance fee-related expenses of the Partner-firms
allocable to the Company’s share of performance fee-related
revenues, as reported by the Partner-firms to the Operator.
The Company’s share of the Partner-firms’ performance fee-
related earnings will be lower than its share of the Partner-firms’
management fee-related earnings because the Company’s
ownership stake in the Partner-firms’ performance fee-related
earnings is lower than its ownership stake in the Partner-firms’
management fee-related earnings.
The Operator and the Directors consider Partner Realised
Performance Revenues to be a meaningful measure of the
performance fee-related earnings of the Partner-firms and key
performance indicator of the Company’s income from investments
in management companies derived from performance fee income.
The Operator uses this metric to analyse and test dividends
received from the Partner-firms, as well as to inform operating,
budgeting and reinvestment decisions.
Glossary of Key Operating Metrics continued
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023140
Partner Realised Investment Income
Partner Realised Investment Income is defined as the Company’s
aggregate proportionate share of Partner-firm earnings resulting
from the realised gains and losses, or any distributed income, from
the investments held on Partner-firms’ balance sheets, as reported
by the Partner-firms to the Operator. Partner Realised Investment
Income is also realised by the Company through a limited number
of direct stakes in certain Partner-firms’ funds. Realised
Investment Income includes income that has been realised but
not yet paid, as well as amounts that are realised and either fully
or partially reinvested.
The Company’s share of the Partner-firms’ investment and balance
sheet income will be lower than its share of the Partner-firms’
management fee-related earnings because the Company’s
ownership stake in the Partner-firms’ investment and balance
sheet income is lower than its ownership stake in the Partner-
firms’ management fee-related earnings.
The Operator and the Directors consider Partner Realised
Investment Income to be a meaningful measure of the investment
performance of certain assets held by the Partner-firms and key
performance indicator of the Company’s income from investments
in management companies derived from investment income. The
Operator uses this metric to analyse and test dividends received
from the Partner-firms, as well as to inform operating, budgeting
and reinvestment decisions.
Partner Distributable Earnings and Partner
Distributable Earnings Margin
Partner Distributable Earnings is defined as the sum of Partner
FRE, Partner Realised Performance Revenues and Partner Realised
Investment Income. Partner Distributable Earnings Margin is
defined as Partner Distributable Earnings divided by the sum of
Partner Net Management and Advisory Fees, Partner Realised
Performance Revenues and Partner Realised Investment Income.
The Operator and the Directors consider Partner Distributable
Earnings and Partner Distributable Earnings Margin to be
meaningful measures of the overall performance of the Partner-
firms and key performance indicators of the Company’s total
income from investments in management companies. The Operator
uses this metric to analyse and test dividends received from the
Partner-firms, as well as to inform operating, budgeting and
re-investment decisions. These measures reflect any contractual
margin protections or revenue share interests that the Company
may have with the Partner-firms, which means that the Partner
Distributable Earnings Margin may differ from the margins
achieved by other shareholders or partners of the Partner-firms.
Partner Revenues
Partner Revenues is defined as the sum of Partner Net Management
and Advisory Fees, Partner Realised Performance Revenues and
Partner Realised Investment Income.
The Operator and the Directors consider Partner Revenues to be a
meaningful measure of the overall performance of the Partner-firms.
The Operator uses this metric to inform operating, budgeting and
re-investment decisions.
Partner Private Markets Accrued Carried
Interest
Partner Private Markets Accrued Carried Interest is defined as the
Company’s proportionate share of the Partner-firms’ balance sheet
accrued carry (as reported by the Partner-firms to the Operator) and
represents the Company’s proportionate share of the accumulated
balance of unrealised profits from the Partner-firms’ funds.
The Operator and the Company consider Partner Accrued Carried
Interest to be a meaningful measure of the performance of the
private markets Partner-firms and potential future private markets
Partner Realised Performance Revenues. Absolute return
performance fees are not accrued and are instead realised annually.
The Operator uses Partner Accrued Carried Interest to assess future
expected carried interest payments and inform operating, budgeting
and re-investment decisions. This key operating metric reflects data
reported to the Operator on a three-month lag.
Petershill Funds
The Petershill Funds refers to the following entities: Petershill II
L.P. and Petershill II Offshore L.P., Petershill Private Equity L.P.,
Petershill Private Equity Offshore L.P., Vintage VII L.P. and related
entities and certain co-investment vehicles.
Weighted Average Capital Duration
Weighted Average Capital Duration is a key measure of the long
term, locked-up capital of Aggregate Fee-paying Partner-firm
AuM. It is defined as the average life of the underlying Partner-firm
funds weighted based on Fee-paying AuM.
141 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Board of Directors (all Non-Executive)
Naguib Kheraj CBE (Chairman)
Everard Barclay Simmons
Annemarie Durbin
Erica Handling
Mark Merson
All independent and of the registered office below.
Registered Office
5
th
Floor
20 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BY
United Kingdom
Operator
Goldman Sachs Asset Management Fund Services Limited
1
47–49 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin
D02 W634
Republic of Ireland
Investment Manager
Goldman Sachs Asset Management International
1
Plumtree Court
25 Shoe Lane
London
EC4A 4AU
United Kingdom
Investment Advisor
Goldman Sachs Asset Management, L.P.
1
200 West Street
New York
NY 10282
United States
Independent Auditor
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
7 More London Riverside
London
SE1 2RT
United Kingdom
Company Secretary and Administrator
Ocorian Administration (UK) Limited
5
th
Floor
20 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BY
United Kingdom
Registrar
Computershare Investor Services PLC
The Pavilions
Bridgwater Road
Bristol
BS13 8AE
United Kingdom
Depositary
Ocorian Depositary (UK) Limited
5
th
Floor
20 Fenchurch Street
London
EC3M 3BY
United Kingdom
Company Information
Company Information
Website: www.petershillpartners.com
ISIN GB00BL9ZF303
Ticker PHLL
Sedol BL9ZF30
Registered Company Number 13289144
1. Wholly owned affiliates of the Goldman Sachs Group.
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023142
The Chairman’s Statement and Operator’s Report have been
prepared solely to provide additional information for Shareholders
to assess the Company’s strategies and the potential for those
strategies to succeed. These should not be relied on by any other
party or for any other purpose.
The Chairman’s Statement and Operator’s Report may include
statements that are, or may be deemed to be, “forward-looking
statements”. These forward-looking statements can be identified
by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms
“believes”, “estimates”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”,
“will” or “should” or, in each case, their negative or other variations
or comparable terminology.
These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not
historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this
document and include statements regarding the intentions, beliefs
or current expectations of the Board of Directors and the Operator,
concerning, among other things, the investment objectives and
investment policy, financing strategies, investment performance,
results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, and
distribution policy of the Company and the markets in which it
invests.
By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and
uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on
circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Forward-
looking statements are not guarantees of future performance.
The Group’s actual investment performance, results of operations,
financial condition, liquidity, distribution policy and the
development of its financing strategies may differ materially from
the impression created by the forward-looking statements
contained in this document.
Subject to their legal and regulatory obligations, the Board of
Directors and the Operator expressly disclaim any obligations to
update or revise any forward-looking statement contained herein
to reflect any change in expectations with regard thereto or any
change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any
statement is based.
Cautionary Statement
Cautionary Statement
143 Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023
Petershill Partners plc | Annual Report 2023144
This report is printed on paper certified in
accordance with the FSC® (Forest Stewardship
Council®) and is recyclable and acid-free.
Pureprint Ltd is FSC certified and ISO 14001
certified showing that it is committed to all round
excellence and improving environmental
performance is an important part of this strategy.
Pureprint Ltd aims to reduce at source the effect
its operations have on the environment and is
committed to continual improvement, prevention of
pollution and compliance with any legislation or
industry standards.
Pureprint Ltd is a Carbon / Neutral® Printing Company.
Designed and produced by Black Sun Global.
PETERSHILL PARTNERS PLC
www.petershillpartners.com
Registered Office
5
th
Floor, 20 Fenchurch Street
London EC3M 3BY
United Kingdom