RNS Number : 1591O
Burford Capital Limited
13 May 2024
 

 

May 13, 2024

 

 

Burford Capital Reports First Quarter 2024 Results

 

Burford Capital Limited ("Burford"), the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law, today announces its first quarter 2024 results.

 

In addition, Burford has made available an accompanying first quarter 2024 results presentation on its website at http://investors.burfordcapital.com and at

http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1591O_1-2024-5-13.pdf.

 


Christopher Bogart, Chief Executive Officer of Burford Capital, commented:

"Our first quarter showed our highest ever reported level of first quarter cash receipts, above-average realized gains, continued case conclusions with loss levels below historical experience and moderate new business activity broadly consistent with a typical first quarter. Total revenues reflected the variable timing of recognition we expect in our business; the underlying portfolio continued to show forward momentum with no material negative developments, while lower operating expenses reflected the absence of elevated variable costs."

 

Consolidated financial results

 










Summary statements of operations

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

Consolidated (US GAAP)

($ in thousands, except per share data)

 

2024

2023

% change

 

Capital provision income


40,761

475,933

-91%

 

Asset management income


1,863

1,997

-7%

 

Total revenues


44,295

380,905

-88%

 

Total operating expenses


30,138

54,299

-44%

 

Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders


(29,937)

259,425

NM

 

 

Per diluted ordinary share


(0.14)

1.17

NM

 

Note: "NM" denotes not meaningful. Changes from negative to positive amounts and positive to negative amounts, increases or decreases from zero and changes greater than 700% are not considered meaningful.

 

 






 

 

 

Summary statements of financial position

 

Consolidated (US GAAP)

($ in thousands, except per share data)

March 31, 2024

December 31, 2023

% change

 

Capital provision assets

5,096,807

5,045,388

1%

 

Total Burford Capital Limited equity

2,261,789

2,290,858

-1%

 

 

Book value per ordinary share

10.34

10.46

-1%

 

Non-controlling interests

864,465

916,922

-6%

 

Total shareholders' equity

3,126,254

3,207,780

-3%

 

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

6,012,208

5,837,394

3%

 

 




 













 






In this announcement, references to "1Q24"and "1Q23" are to Burford's financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. All figures in this announcement are presented on an unaudited consolidated basis in accordance with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States ("US GAAP"), unless otherwise stated. Figures at and for the three months ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2024.

Definitions, reconciliations and information additional to those set forth in this announcement are available on Burford's website at http://investors.burfordcapital.com.

 

Burford-only operational and financial review (non-GAAP)

 






Selected metrics1

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

Burford-only (non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

 

2024

2023

% change

Realized gains


28,754

35,613

-19%

Realizations


61,074

61,746

-1%

Cash receipts2


137,694

97,157

42%

Deployments


59,080

66,993

-12%

New commitments


82,459

100,764

-18%

1 Represents Burford-only capital provision-direct, unless noted otherwise.

2 Represents Burford-only proceeds from capital provision-direct, capital provision-indirect and asset management and other services.

 

Group-wide (non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

March 31, 2024

December 31, 2023

% change

Total portfolio

7,126,980

7,170,308

-1%

 




 



§

Realized gains in 1Q24 down 19% to $29 million (1Q23: $36 million)

Realized gains comprised $45 million of gross realized gains offset by $16 million of gross realized losses primarily related to unfavorable conclusions in sub-cases within a portfolio asset that previously generated realized gains in excess of the loss

§

Realizations in 1Q24 of $61 million (1Q23: $62 million)

Continued brisk post-Covid-19 pandemic pace of realizations in 1Q24 reflects continuing elevated resolution frequency amid normalized court activity and reducing case backlogs

§

Cash receipts in 1Q24 up 42% to $138 million (1Q23: $97 million)

Cash receipts in 1Q24 were 2.2x total operating expenses and finance costs, and were broadly diversified with five assets generating total proceeds of $103 million and each asset's proceeds greater than $10 million

§

Deployments in 1Q24 down 12% to $59 million (1Q23: $67 million)

Burford-only capital provision-direct deployments generally in line with prior first quarters

$1.4 billion of Burford-only capital provision-direct undrawn commitments to legal finance assets at March 31, 2024 serves as a strong base for potential future deployments

§

Capital provision-direct new commitments on Burford-only basis in 1Q24 down 18% to $82 million (1Q23: $101 million)

First quarter typically quiet for new commitments-while 1Q23 was slightly more active with $101 million of new commitments, 1Q22 new commitments were lower at $44 million

§

Group-wide total portfolio steady at $7.1 billion (December 31, 2023: $7.2 billion)




 

 

 

 








 

Selected financial metrics

 

 

 

Three months ended March 31,

 

 

 

Burford-only (non-GAAP)

($ in thousands, except per share data)

2024

2023

$ change

% change

 

Total revenues

31,378

338,677

-307,299

-91%

 

Total operating expenses

29,664

54,009

-24,345

-45%

 

Operating income/(loss)

1,714

284,668

-282,954

-99%

 

Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders

(29,937)

259,425

-289,362

NM

 


 

Burford-only (non-GAAP)

($ in thousands, except per share data)

March 31, 2024

December 31, 2023

$ change

% change

 

Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited

2,127,833

2,156,893

-29,060

-1%

 

 

Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share

9.73

9.85

-0.12

-1%

 

 






 












 




§

Total revenues in 1Q24 of $31 million (1Q23: $339 million), with portfolio case development progressing well and timing of revenue recognition variable, as expected in our business, and with no individual asset having a material impact on 1Q24 quarterly performance

Realized gains on total capital provision assets of $30 million in 1Q24 driven by capital provision-direct assets, representing our highest returning core legal finance strategy

Unrealized losses on total capital provision assets were $9 million in 1Q24 (1Q23: unrealized gains of $277 million)-fair value adjustments affected by a number of factors, including changes in discount rate, duration and litigation risk premium, the reversal of previously recognized unrealized gains upon conclusion of a matter and its transfer to realized gains and actual performance of matters as they pass through milestones

§

Operating income in 1Q24 of $2 million (1Q23: $285 million), attributable principally to the decrease in total revenues

Total operating expenses normalized in 1Q24, down 45% to $30 million (1Q23: $54 million), in the absence of elevated variable costs

General, administrative and other expenses in 1Q24 down 6% to $7 million (1Q23: $8 million), while case-related expenditures were approximately $6 million lower

§

Net loss attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders in 1Q24 of $30 million (1Q23: net income of $259 million)

Net loss per diluted share in 1Q24 of $0.14 (1Q23: net income of $1.17 per diluted share)

§

Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited of $2.1 billion at March 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: $2.2 billion)

Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share decreased 1% to $9.73 at March 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: $9.85)





 

 

 

 





Selected portfolio metrics

Burford-only (non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

March 31, 2024

December 31, 2023

$ change

% change

Deployed cost

1,595,505

1,573,531

21,974

1%

Plus: Fair value adjustments

1,806,542

1,814,070

-7,528

0%

Fair value

3,402,047

3,387,601

14,446

0%

Undrawn commitments

1,406,220

1,396,061

10,159

1%

Total capital provision-direct portfolio

4,808,267

4,783,662

24,605

1%

Total capital provision portfolio1

4,851,592

4,840,117

-11,475

0%

1 Represents capital provision-direct and capital provision-indirect.

 

 



§

Fair value of Burford-only capital provision-direct assets increased by $14 million to $3.4 billion at March 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: $3.4 billion)

§

Cumulative ROIC since inception from Burford-only capital provision-direct assets of 82% (December 31, 2023: 82%) and IRR of 27% (December 31, 2023: 27%)

 







Liquidity and capital

Burford-only (non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

March 31, 2024

December 31, 2023

$ change

% change

Liquidity





 

Cash and cash equivalents

464,698

195,915

268,783

137%

 

Marketable securities

102,873

107,561

(4,688)

-4%

 

Total liquidity

567,571

303,476

264,095

87%

Due from settlement of capital provision assets

131,688

185,267

(53,579)

-29%

 





 



§

Burford-only cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities of $568 million at March 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: $303 million)

Robust liquidity position at March 31, 2024 augmented by $138 million of Burford-only cash receipts and $275 million add-on offering to 2031 senior notes in January 2024

§

Burford-only due from settlement of capital provision assets of $132 million at March 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: $185 million), with 30% of December 31, 2023 balance collected in 1Q24

§

Total debt outstanding of $1.8 billion at March 31, 2024 (December 31, 2023: $1.6 billion)

Leverage remains well below covenant ceiling levels




 


Investor and analyst conference call

Burford will hold a conference call for investors and analysts at 8.00am EDT / 1.00pm BST on Monday, May 13, 2024. The dial-in numbers for the conference call are +1 646 307-1963 (USA) or +1 800 715-9871 (USA & Canada toll free) / +44 (0)20 3481 4247 (UK) or +44 800 260 6466 (UK toll free) and the access code is 7684047. To minimize the risk of delayed access, participants are urged to dial into the conference call by 7.40am EDT / 12.40pm BST.

 

A live webcast of the call will also be available at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/323980508, and pre-registration at that link is encouraged.

 

An accompanying 1Q24 results presentation for investors and analysts will also be made available on Burford's website prior to the conference call at http://investors.burfordcapital.com.

 

Following the conference call, a replay facility for this event will be accessible through the webcast at https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/323980508.

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 



Burford Capital Limited


For investor and analyst inquiries:


Americas: Josh Wood, Head of Investor Relations - email

+1 212 516 5824

EMEA & Asia: Rob Bailhache, Head of EMEA & Asia Investor Relations - email

+44 (0)20 3530 2023

For press inquiries:


David Helfenbein, Vice President, Public Relations - email

+1 (212) 516 5824



Deutsche Numis - NOMAD and Joint Broker

+44 (0)20 7260 1000

Giles Rolls


Charlie Farquhar




Jefferies International Limited - Joint Broker

+44 (0)20 7029 8000

Graham Davidson


James Umbers




Berenberg - Joint Broker

+44 (0)20 3207 7800

Toby Flaux


James Thompson


Yasmina Benchekroun


 

 

About Burford Capital

Burford Capital is the leading global finance and asset management firm focused on law. Its businesses include litigation finance and risk management, asset recovery and a wide range of legal finance and advisory activities. Burford is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BUR) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: BUR), and it works with companies and law firms around the world from its offices in New York, London, Chicago, Washington, DC, Singapore, Dubai, Sydney and Hong Kong.

 

For more information, please visit www.burfordcapital.com.

 

 

Summary financial statements and reconciliations

 

The tables below set forth summaries of the condensed consolidated and Burford-only statements of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, the condensed consolidated and Burford-only statements of financial position at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 and corresponding reconciliations from consolidated to Burford-only financial results. Furthermore, the tables below set forth certain additional reconciliations for financial information contained in this announcement.

 

Summary condensed consolidated statements of operations







 


 

Three months ended March 31,

($ in thousands)


 

2024

 

2023

Revenues






Capital provision income/(loss)



40,761


475,933

(Less)/Plus: Third-party interests in capital provision assets



(5,224)


(100,345)

Asset management income



1,863


1,997

Marketable securities and other income/(loss)



6,895


3,320

   Total revenues


 

44,295

 

380,905






Total operating expenses

 

 

30,138

 

54,299

 





Operating income/(loss)


 

14,157

 

326,606

 





Finance costs



32,567


20,553

Foreign currency transactions (gains)/losses



492


(2,440)

Income/(loss) before income taxes


 

(18,902)

 

308,493

 






(Provision for)/benefit from income taxes



1,404


(7,112)

Net income/(loss)


 

(17,498)

 

301,381







Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders


 

(29,937)

 

259,425

 






Net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders per ordinary share






Basic



$(0.14)


$1.19

Diluted



 $(0.14)


$1.17

 

 

Summary Burford-only statement of operations







 


Three months ended March 31,

($ in thousands)


 

2024

 

2023

Revenues






Capital provision income/(loss)



17,903


316,015

Asset management income



6,673


19,357

Marketable securities and other income/(loss)



6,802


3,305

   Total revenues


 

31,378

 

338,677







Total operating expenses



29,664


54,009







Operating income


 

1,714

 

284,668

 






Net income


 

(29,937)

 

259,425







Net income per share:






Basic



 $(0.14)


 $1.19

Diluted



 $(0.14)


 $1.17

 

Reconciliation of summary condensed consolidated statement of operations to summary Burford-only statement of operations










Three months ended March 31, 2024

 

(GAAP)

(Non-GAAP)

 


Elimination of third-party interests

 

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

Strategic Value Fund

BOF-C

Colorado

Advantage Fund

Other

Burford-only

Capital provision income

40,761

-

(9,686)

(5,420)

(7,271)

(481)

17,903

(Less): Third-party interests in capital provision assets

(5,224)

-

-

5,369

-

(145)

-

Asset management income

1,863

-

4,810

-

-

-

6,673

Marketable securities and other income

6,895

-

(88)

-

-

(5)

6,802

   Total revenues

44,295

-

(4,964)

(51)

(7,271)

(631)

31,378









Total operating expenses

30,138

-

44

(51)

(169)

(298)

29,664









Operating income

14,157

-

(5,008)

-

(7,102)

(333)

1,714


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income/(loss)

(17,498)

-

(5,008)

-

(7,102)

(329)

(29,937)










 

 










Three months ended March 31, 2023

 

(GAAP)

(Non-GAAP)

 


Elimination of third-party interests

 

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

Strategic Value Fund

BOF-C

Colorado

Advantage Fund

Other

Burford-only

Capital provision income

475,933

(107)

(48,308)

(99,769)

(7,022)

(4,712)

316,015

(Less): Third-party interests in capital provision assets

(100,345)

-

-

99,764

-

581

-

Asset management income

1,997

46

17,314

-

-

-

19,357

Marketable securities and other income

3,320

-

(1)

-

-

(14)

3,305

   Total revenues

380,905

(61)

(30,995)

(5)

(7,022)

(4,145)

338,677









Total operating expenses

54,299

(155)

30

(5)

(123)

(37)

54,009









Operating income

326,606

94

(31,025)

-

(6,899)

(4,108)

284,668









Net income/(loss)

301,381

94

(31,025)

-

(6,899)

(4,126)

259,425










 

 

Reconciliations of operating expenses from the condensed consolidated statements of operations to Burford-only statements of operations

 








 

    

Three months ended March 31, 2024

 

 

(GAAP)

 

(non-GAAP)

 

 

 

 

Eliminations and

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

Consolidated

 

adjustments

 

 Burford-only 

Compensation and benefits

 






   Salaries and benefits

 

 11,664


-


 11,664

   Annual incentive compensation

 

4,836


-


4,836

   Share-based compensation

 

3,863


-


3,863

   Long-term incentive compensation including accruals

 

1,638


-


1,638

General, administrative and other

 

7,450


(333)


7,117

Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost


687


(141)  


546

Total operating expenses

 

 30,138

 

 (474)

 

 29,664

 








 

    

Three months ended March 31, 2023

 

 

(GAAP)

 

(non-GAAP)

 

 

 

 

Eliminations and

 

 

($ in thousands)

 

Consolidated

 

adjustments

 

 Burford-only 

Compensation and benefits

 






   Salaries and benefits

 

 12,492


-


 12,492

   Annual incentive compensation

 

4,686


-


4,686

   Share-based compensation

 

3,504


-


3,504

   Long-term incentive compensation including accruals

 

19,555


-


19,555

General, administrative and other

 

7,751


(199)


7,552

Case-related expenditures ineligible for inclusion in asset cost


6,311


(91)  


6,220

Total operating expenses

 

 54,299

 

 (290)

 

 54,009

 

 

Summary condensed consolidated statement of financial position











($ in thousands)

 

 March 31,

2024

 

 December 31, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets


6,012,208


5,837,394






Total liabilities


2,885,954


2,629,614






Total Burford Capital Limited equity


2,261,789

 

2,290,858






Non-controlling interests

 

864,465

 

916,922






Total shareholders' equity

 

3,126,254

 

3,207,780

 

 

 

 

 

Basic ordinary shares outstanding


218,673,490

 

218,962,441

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders' equity attributable to Burford Capital Limited per basic ordinary share

 

10.34

 

10.46

Total shareholders' equity per basic ordinary share

 

14.30

 

14.65

 

Reconciliation of summary consolidated statement of financial position to summary Burford-only statement of financial position










March 31, 2024

 

(GAAP)

(Non-GAAP)

 


Elimination of third-party interests

 

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

BOF-C

Colorado

Advantage Fund

Other

Burford-only

 







Total assets

6,012,208

(604,919)

(691,682)

(199,002)

(78,823)

4,437,782








Total liabilities

2,885,954

-

(691,682)

(154)

(18,125)

2,175,993








Total shareholders' equity

3,126,254

(604,919)

-

(198,848)

(60,698)

2,261,789














 










December 31, 2023

 

(GAAP)

(Non-GAAP)

 


Elimination of third-party interests

 

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

BOF-C

Colorado

Advantage Fund

Other

Burford-only

 







Total assets

5,837,394

(634,239)

(686,304)

(222,413)

(78,574)

4,215,864








Total liabilities

2,629,614

-

(686,304)

(100)

(18,204)

1,925,006








Total shareholders' equity

3,207,780

(634,239)

-

(222,313)

(60,370)

2,290,858














 

 

Reconciliation of components of realizations from a consolidated basis to a Group-wide basis


Three months ended March 31, 2024

 

(GAAP)

 

(Non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

 

Eliminations and adjustments

 Burford-only 

Other funds

 BOF-C 

Group-wide

Capital provision-direct

104,193


(43,119)

61,074

28,771

30,198

120,043

Capital provision-indirect

8,778


(7,315)

1,463

7,315

-

8,778

Post-settlement

-


-

-

27,834

-

27,834

Total realizations

112,971

 

(50,434)

62,537

63,920

30,198

156,655

 


Three months ended March 31, 2023

 

(GAAP)

 

(Non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

 

Eliminations and adjustments

 Burford-only 

Other funds

 BOF-C 

Group-wide

Capital provision-direct

115,732


(53,986)

61,746

50,390

35,423

147,559

Capital provision-indirect

12,580


(10,484)

2,096

10,484

-

12,580

Post-settlement

-


-

-

18,680

-

18,680

Total realizations

128,312

 

(64,470)

63,842

79,554

35,423

178,819

 

 

Reconciliation of components of deployments from a consolidated basis to a Group-wide basis


Three months ended March 31, 2024

 

(GAAP)

 

(Non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

 

Eliminations and adjustments

 Burford-only 

Other funds

 BOF-C 

Group-wide

Capital provision-direct

74,790


(15,710)

59,080

2,540

16,609

78,229

Capital provision-indirect

50,613


(42,178)

8,435

42,178

-

50,613

Post-settlement

-


-

-

20,707

-

20,707

Total deployments

125,403

 

(57,888)

67,515

65,425

16,609

149,549

 


Three months ended March 31, 2023

 

(GAAP)

 

(Non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

 

Eliminations and adjustments

 Burford-only 

Other funds

 BOF-C 

Group-wide

Capital provision-direct

84,685


(17,692)

66,993

6,913

17,452

91,358

Capital provision-indirect

34,000


(28,333)

5,667

28,333

-

34,000

Post-settlement

-


-

-

3,867

-

3,867

Total deployments

118,685

 

(46,025)

72,660

39,113

17,452

129,225

 

Reconciliation of consolidated proceeds from capital provision assets to Burford-only cash receipts





($ in thousands)

 

Three months ended March 31, 2024

Three months ended March 31, 2023

Consolidated proceeds from capital provision assets


 247,561

 144,485

Less: Elimination of third-party interests


 (120,036)

 (60,563)

Burford-only total proceeds from capital provision assets

 

 127,525

 83,922

Burford-only proceeds from capital provision-direct assets


 112,922

 77,742

Burford-only proceeds from capital provision-indirect assets


14,603

 6,180

Burford-only total proceeds from capital provision assets

 

 127,525

 83,922

Consolidated asset management income


1,863

 1,997

Plus: Eliminated income from funds


4,810

 17,360

Burford-only asset management income

 

 6,673

 19,357

Less: Non-cash adjustments(1)


 (2,197)

 (7,086)

Burford-only proceeds from asset management income

 

4,476

 12,271

Burford-only proceeds from marketable security interest and dividends


 5,476

 881

Burford-only proceeds from other income


217

 83

Burford-only proceeds from other items

 

 5,693

 964

Cash receipts

 

 137,694

 97,517

 

(1) Adjustments for the change in asset management receivables accrued during the applicable period but not yet received at the end of such period.

 

Reconciliation of consolidated portfolio to Group-wide portfolio

 

 

March 31, 2024

 

 

(GAAP)

(non-GAAP)

 

 

 

 

Elimination of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 third-party

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

    

Consolidated

 

interests

 

Burford-only

    

Other funds

    

BOF-C

    

Group-wide

Capital provision assets - direct:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deployed cost


 2,127,082


 (531,577)


 1,595,505


 368,994


 437,697


 2,402,196

   Plus: Fair value adjustments


 2,733,691


 (927,149)


 1,806,542


 172,600


 208,360


 2,187,502

Fair value


 4,860,773


 (1,458,726)


 3,402,047


 541,594


 646,057


 4,589,698














Capital provision assets - indirect:












Deployed cost


 210,974


 (177,182)


 33,792


 177,182


 -


 210,974

   Plus: Fair value adjustments


 25,060


 (19,022)


 6,038


 19,022


 -


 25,060

Fair value


 236,034


 (196,204)


 39,830

 

 196,204


 -


 236,034














Total capital provision assets


 5,096,807

 

 (1,654,930)

 

 3,441,877

 

 737,798

 

 646,057

 

 4,825,732

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post-settlement assets:













Deployed cost


 -


 -


 -


 248,823


 -


 248,823

   Plus: Fair value adjustments


 -


 -


 -


 49,193


 -


 49,193

Fair value


 -


 -


 -


 298,016


 -


 298,016














Undrawn commitments:













Capital provision-direct


 1,820,080


 (413,860)


 1,406,220


 122,135


 404,956


 1,933,311

Capital provision-indirect


 20,972


 (17,477)


 3,495


 17,477


 -


 20,972

Post-settlement


 -


 -


 -


 48,949


 -


 48,949

Total undrawn commitments

 

 1,841,052

 

 (431,337)

 

 1,409,715

 

 188,561

 

 404,956

 

 2,003,232

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total portfolio


 6,937,859


 (2,086,267)


 4,851,592

 

 1,224,375

 

 1,051,013

 

 7,126,980

 

 

December 31, 2023

 

 

 

(GAAP)

 

(non-GAAP)

 

 

 

 

 

Elimination of

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 third-party

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

($ in thousands)

    

Consolidated

 

interests

 

Burford-only

    

Other funds

    

BOF-C

    

Group-wide

 

Capital provision assets - direct:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Deployed cost


 2,116,304


 (542,773)


 1,573,531


 416,318


 428,110


 2,417,959

 

   Plus: Fair value adjustments


 2,743,575


 (929,505)


 1,814,070


 180,169


 220,363


 2,214,602

 

Fair value


 4,859,879


 (1,472,278)


 3,387,601


 596,487


 648,473


 4,632,561

 














 

Capital provision assets - indirect:












 

Deployed cost


 164,259


 (125,508)


 38,751


 125,508


 -


 164,259

 

   Plus: Fair value adjustments


 21,250


 (15,490)


 5,760


 15,490


 -


 21,250

 

Fair value


 185,509


 (140,998)


 44,511

 

 140,998


 -


 185,509

 














 

Total capital provision assets


 5,045,388

 

 (1,613,276)

 

 3,432,112

 

 737,485

 

 648,473

 

 4,818,070

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post-settlement assets:













 

Deployed cost


 -


 -


 -


 253,062


 -


 253,062

 

   Plus: Fair value adjustments


 -


 -


 -


 45,792


 -


 45,792

 

Fair value


 -


 -


 -


 298,854


 -


 298,854

 














 

Undrawn commitments:













 

Capital provision-direct


 1,801,627


 (405,566)


 1,396,061


 126,560


 396,646


 1,919,267

 

Capital provision-indirect


 71,662


 (59,718)


 11,944


 59,718


 -


 71,662

 

Post-settlement


 -


 -


 -


 62,455


 -


 62,455

 

Total undrawn commitments

 

 1,873,289

 

 (465,284)

 

 1,408,005

 

 248,733

 

 396,646

 

 2,053,384

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total portfolio


 6,918,677


 (2,078,560)


 4,840,117

 

 1,285,072

 

 1,045,119

 

 7,170,308

 
























 

 

 

Reconciliation of consolidated to Burford-only cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities










March 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

 

(GAAP)

(Non-GAAP)

 

(GAAP)

(Non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

Elimination of third-party interests

Burford-only

 

Consolidated

Elimination of third-party interests

Burford-only

Cash and cash equivalents

482,673

(17,975)

464,698


220,549

(24,634)

195,915

Marketable securities

102,873

-

102,873


107,561

-

107,561

Total cash and cash equivalents and marketable securities

585,546

(17,975)

567,571

 

328,110

(24,634)

303,476

 

 

Reconciliation of consolidated to Burford-only due from settlement of capital provision assets










March 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

 

(GAAP)

(Non-GAAP)

 

(GAAP)

(Non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

Elimination of third-party interests

Burford-only

 

Consolidated

Elimination of third-party interests

Burford-only

Due from settlement of capital provision assets

131,688

-

131,688


265,540

(80,273)

185,267

 

Reconciliation of consolidated to Burford-only realized gains on capital provision-direct assets









 

 

 

 

 

(GAAP)

 

 

 

(Non-GAAP)

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

 

Eliminations and adjustments

Burford-only total

Burford-only Capital provision-direct

Burford-only Capital provision-indirect

Realized gains/(losses) for the three months ended March 31, 2024

57,862


(27,968)

29,894

28,754

1,140

Realized gains/(losses) for the three months ended March 31, 2023

69,442


(33,829)

35,613

35,613

-













 

 

Reconciliation of consolidated to Burford-only unrealized gains on capital provision-indirect assets








 


 

 

 

 

 

(GAAP)

 

 

 

(Non-GAAP)

 

($ in thousands)

Consolidated

 

Eliminations and adjustments

Burford-only total

Burford-only Capital provision-direct

Burford-only Capital provision-indirect

 

Unrealized gains/(losses) for the three months ended March 31, 2024

(13,701)


4,613

(9,088)

(9,366)

278

 

Unrealized gains/(losses) for the three months ended March 31, 2023

402,813


(126,157)

276,656

275,141

1,515

 














 

 

Reconciliation of tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share






($ in thousands, except share data)

    

March 31, 2024

 

December 31, 2023

Total Burford Capital Limited equity

 

2,261,789

 

2,290,858

   Less: Goodwill


(133,956)


(133,965)

Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited

 

2,127,833

 

2,156,893

Basic ordinary shares outstanding


218,673,490


218,962,441

Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share

 

$9.73

 

$9.85

 

 

Definitions and use of non-GAAP financial measures and alternative performance measures

 

Burford reports its consolidated financial results in accordance with US GAAP. US GAAP requires us to present financial statements that consolidate some of the limited partner interests in private funds we manage as well as assets held on our balance sheet where we have a partner or minority investor. We therefore refer to various presentations of our consolidated financial results as follows:

 

•     

Consolidated refers to assets, liabilities and activities that include those third-party interests, partially owned subsidiaries and special purpose vehicles that we are required to consolidate under US GAAP. At the date of this announcement, the major entities where there is also a third-party partner in, or owner of, those entities include Burford Opportunity Fund C LP, Burford Advantage Master Fund LP, Colorado Investments Limited ("Colorado") and several other entities in which Burford holds investments where there is also a third-party partner in, or owner of, those entities.

•     

Burford-only refers to assets, liabilities and activities that pertain only to Burford on a proprietary basis, excluding any third-party interests and the portions of jointly owned entities owned by others.

•     

Group-wide refers to the totality of assets managed by Burford, including those portions of the private funds owned by third parties and including private funds that are not consolidated within Burford's consolidated financial statements. Group-wide is therefore the sum of Burford-only and non-controlling interests in consolidated and non-consolidated private funds. Group-wide does not include third-party interests in capital provision assets, the economics of which have been sold to those third parties, which do not meet the criteria to be recognized as a sale under US GAAP. This includes the third-party interests in Colorado and other capital provision asset subparticipations.

 

We subdivide our capital provision assets into two categories:

 

•     

Direct, which includes all of our capital provision assets that we have originated directly (i.e., not through participation in a private fund) from our balance sheet. We also include direct (i.e., not through participation in a private fund) complex strategies assets in this category.

•     

Indirect, which includes our balance sheet's participations in one of our private funds (i.e., Burford Advantage Master Fund LP).

 

We also use certain unaudited alternative performance measures, including:

 

•     

Internal rate of return ("IRR") is a discount rate that makes the net present value of a series of cash flows equal to zero and is expressed as a percentage figure. We compute IRR on concluded (including partially concluded) legal finance assets by treating that entire portfolio (or, when noted, a subset thereof) as one undifferentiated pool of capital and measuring actual and, if necessary, estimated inflows and outflows from that pool, allocating costs appropriately. IRRs do not include unrealized gains or losses.

•     

Return on invested capital ("ROIC") from a concluded asset is the absolute amount of realizations from such asset in excess of the amount of expenditure incurred in financing such asset divided by the amount of expenditure incurred, expressed as a percentage figure. ROIC is a measure of our ability to generate absolute returns on our assets. Some industry participants express returns on a multiple of invested capital ("MOIC") instead of a ROIC basis. MOIC includes the return of capital and, therefore, is 1x higher than ROIC. In other words, 70% ROIC is the same as 1.70x MOIC.

 

Other unaudited alternative performance measures and terms we use include:

 

•     

Commitment is the amount of financing we agree to provide for a legal finance asset. Commitments can be definitive (requiring us to provide financing on a schedule or, more often, when certain expenses are incurred) or discretionary (allowing us to provide financing after reviewing and approving a future matter). Unless otherwise indicated, commitments include deployed cost and undrawn commitments.

•     

Deployment refers to the financing provided for an asset, which adds to our deployed cost in such asset.

•     

Deployed cost is the amount of financing we have provided for an asset at the applicable point in time.

•     

Fair value adjustment is the amount of unrealized gain or loss recognized in our consolidated statements of operations in the relevant period and added to or subtracted from, as applicable, the asset or liability value in our consolidated statements of financial position.

•     

Portfolio includes deployed cost, net unrealized gains or losses and undrawn commitments.

•     

Realization: A legal finance asset is realized when the asset is concluded (i.e., when litigation risk has been resolved). A realization will result in us receiving cash or, occasionally, non-cash assets, or recognizing a due from settlement receivable, reflecting what we are owed on the asset.

•     

Realized gain / loss reflects the total amount of gain or loss, relative to cost, generated by a legal finance asset when it is realized, calculated as realized proceeds less deployed cost, without regard for any previously recognized fair value adjustment.

•     

Unrealized gain / loss represents the fair value of our legal finance assets over or under their deployed cost, as determined in accordance with the requirements of the applicable US GAAP standards, for the relevant financial reporting period (consolidated statements of operations) or cumulatively (consolidated statements of financial position).

•     

YPF-related assets refers to our Petersen and Eton Park legal finance assets, which are two claims relating to the Republic of Argentina's nationalization of YPF S.A., the Argentine energy company.

 

We also use certain non-GAAP financial measures, including:

 

•     

Book value per ordinary share is calculated by dividing total Burford Capital Limited equity by the number of ordinary shares issued and outstanding.

•     

Cash receipts provide a measure of the cash that our capital provision and other assets generate during a given period as well as cash from certain other fees and income. In particular, cash receipts represent the cash generated from capital provision and other assets, including cash proceeds from realized or concluded assets and any related hedging assets, and cash received from asset management income, services and/or other income, before any deployments into financing existing or new assets. Cash receipts are a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with US GAAP. The most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP is proceeds from capital provision assets as set forth in our consolidated statements of cash flows. We believe that cash receipts are an important measure of our operating and financial performance and are useful to management and investors when assessing the performance of our Burford-only capital provision assets.

•     

Return on tangible equity ("ROTE") is Burford-only net income/(loss) divided by the average of tangible equity at the beginning and end of the relevant period, with tangible equity calculated as total Burford Capital Limited equity less goodwill. ROTE is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with US GAAP. The most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP is net income/(loss) attributable to Burford Capital Limited shareholders as set forth in our consolidated statements of operations. We believe ROTE is an important measure of our operating and financial performance and is useful to management and investors when assessing the performance of our Burford-only capital provision assets.

•     

Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited is calculated by subtracting intangible assets (such as goodwill) from total Burford Capital Limited equity. Tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share is calculated by dividing tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited by the total number of outstanding ordinary shares. Each of tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited and tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share is a non-GAAP financial measure and should not be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with US GAAP. The most directly comparable measure calculated in accordance with US GAAP is total Burford Capital Limited equity as set forth in our consolidated statements of financial position. We believe that tangible book value attributable to Burford Capital Limited per ordinary share is an important measure of our financial condition and is useful to management and investors when assessing capital adequacy and our ability to generate earnings on tangible equity invested by our shareholders.

 

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, as substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with US GAAP.

 

 

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any ordinary shares or other securities of Burford.

 

This announcement does not constitute an offer of any Burford private fund. Burford Capital Investment Management LLC, which acts as the fund manager of all Burford private funds, is registered as an investment adviser with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The information provided in this announcement is for informational purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. The information contained in this announcement is not, and should not be construed as, an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities (including, without limitation, interests or shares in any of Burford private funds). Any such offer or solicitation may be made only by means of a final confidential private placement memorandum and other offering documents.

 

Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, regarding assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events. These statements are intended as "forward-looking statements". In some cases, predictive, future-tense or forward-looking words such as "aim", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "guidance", "intend", "may", "plan", "potential", "predict", "projected", "should" or "will" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements, but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. In addition, Burford and its representatives may from time to time make other oral or written statements that are forward-looking, including in its periodic reports that Burford files with, or furnishes to, the US Securities and Exchange Commission, other information made available to Burford's security holders and other written materials. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Burford cautions that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on numerous assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs and that Burford's actual results of operations, including its financial position and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates, may differ materially from (and be more negative than) those made in, or suggested by, the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement. Significant factors that may cause actual results to differ from those Burford expects include, among others, those discussed under "Risk Factors" in Burford's annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on March 28, 2024 and other reports or documents that Burford files with, or furnishes to, the US Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. In addition, even if Burford's results of operations, including its financial position and liquidity, and the development of the industry in which it operates are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, those results of operations or developments may not be indicative of results of operations or developments in subsequent periods.

 

Except as required by applicable law, Burford undertakes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

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