Partner Article

Draper Espirit's portfolio value has swelled by 43% in the last year

AIM-listed venture capital firm Draper Espirit has saw its primary portfolio swell by 43% in the last 12 months driven by investments in the likes of PerkBox, Push Doctor and Realeyes.

The London-based VC has revealed in its maiden results to the stock market this morning that its gross primary portfolio value rose to £112.7m in the year to 31 March up from £78.7m at the time of its IPO in June last year.

At the same time its net assets increased by 17% to £150.7m while cash realisations of £42m contributed to the firm’s £33.2m profit after tax for the year.

The figures have been further boosted by £25m of investment in its portfolio companies since March with the VC’s Chief Executive Officer, Simon Cook, seizing upon the figures as vindication for the public venture capital model.

He said: “At the time of the IPO in June 2016, we set out to demonstrate our model in a public market setting of investing in high growth private technology start-ups.

“Through our fast-growing portfolio and a series of successful exits and further investments, we have demonstrated that the public venture capital model is working.”

Founded back in 2006, Draper Espirit focuses its investments in high growth technology companies in Europe through its funds and is one of the continent’s most active VC firms.

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