Trading Statement

Standard Life Euro Pri Eqty Tst PLC 28 September 2005 Standard Life European Private Equity Trust PLC Investment update for the period from 31 March 2005 to 30 June 2005 For the quarter ended 30 June 2005 the Company continued to make good progress, again enjoying record levels of distributions and realised and unrealised gains from its private equity fund interests. This has resulted in the Company's unaudited net asset value per share ('NAV') increasing by 13.5% to 137.4p at 30 June 2005, compared to 121.1p at 31 March 2005. The Company's NAV for the nine months ended 30 June 2005 has thus increased by 29.7%, up from 105.9p at 30 September 2004. Net assets at 30 June 2005 were £218.7 million (31 March 2005 - £192.8 million). During the quarter ended 30 June 2005 a total of £18.5 million was received by way of distributions (quarter ended 31 March 2005 - £17.8 million) from the Company's 37 private equity fund interests. This comprised total realised gains and income of £8.5 million (quarter ended 31 March 2005 - £7.9 million). Distributions received in the quarter under review were higher than in any quarter since the Company's listing in 2001, reflecting the positive market for the sale and re-capitalisation of private equity companies. The closing value of the Company's portfolio of fund interests was £191.7 million at 30 June 2005 (31 March 2005 - £167.2 million). Total unrealised gains for the quarter ended 30 June 2005 were £17.8 million (quarter ended 31 March 2005 - £2.5 million loss). This increase can be attributed principally to the strong trading experienced by many underlying investee companies and the continued improvement in financial markets. As for new investment activity, during the quarter the Company's portfolio of private equity fund interests drew down a total of £16.7 million (quarter ended 31 March 2005 - £7.6 million). The level of new investment activity was high and reflected the buoyant market in Europe for buy-outs in the second calendar quarter of 2005. Since 31 March 2005 the Company has continued to make new private equity fund commitments, in line with its over-commitment strategy. During the quarter the Company made new commitments of £15.2 million to BC European Capital VIII and £15.2 million to Montagu III, both European buy-out funds. At 30 June 2005 the Company's aggregate outstanding commitments to its existing private equity fund interests were £156.4 million (31 March 2005 - £142.7 million). These commitments can be expected to be drawn down over the next 3-4 years. The aggregate closing cash and money market holdings of the Company were £27.6 million at 30 June 2005 (31 March 2005 - £26.9 million). The increase over the period principally reflected the small net cash inflow received by the Company from distributions less draw downs. It is anticipated that the Company will release its preliminary announcement for the year ending 30 September 2005 on or around 5 December 2005. For further information please contact:- Peter McKellar/Jonny Maxwell of Standard Life Investments (Private Equity) Limited (0131 245 0055) Note:- Standard Life European Private Equity Trust PLC is an investment company managed by Standard Life Investments (Private Equity) Limited, the ordinary shares of which are admitted to listing by the UK Listing Authority and to trading on the Stock Exchange and which seeks to conducts its affairs so as to qualify as an investment trust under section 842 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988. The Board of Standard Life European Private Equity Trust PLC is independent of The Standard Life Assurance Company. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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