3i reports higher NAV as Action delivers double‑digit growth

(Sharecast News) - Private equity firm 3i Group has reported a further rise in net asset value over the nine months to December, supported by another strong year from Action, which continued to drive the group's overall performance.

3i said on Thursday that NAV per share increased from 2,857p on 30 September to 3,017p at the end of December, with its 20% total return for the period being aided by favourable currency movements.

Action again provided the bulk of the uplift, posting doubledigit growth in both net sales and operating EBITDA of 16% and 14%, respectively, as it also added a record number of new stores. Trading at the start of 2026 also said to be off to a solid start.

3i said Action had seen steady likeforlike sales growth of 4.9% in 2025 despite softer consumer sentiment in France. Like-for-like sales excluding France were up 7.2%.

Following Action's capital restructuring, 3i noted that it had received proceeds that were partly reinvested to lift its stake to just over 62%, alongside a further dividend from the business.

Elsewhere in its portfolio, companies such as Royal Sanders and Audley Travel continued to perform well, while the group also completed its sale of MAIT at a significant uplift to its prior valuation.

Chief exeucutive Simon Borrows said: "In 2025, Action continued its impressive growth trajectory. It opened a record number of new stores, entered two new countries and delivered double-digit annual sales and earnings growth. This was a strong result and Action continued to trade well, even in markets with a cautious consumer backdrop.

"In the first nine months of FY26, 3i generated �1.8bn of realised proceeds and dividends from its portfolio, while investing �1.6bn. We also delivered strong growth from a number of our other leading consumer and private label portfolio companies."

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com