It was the second straight banner day for a private-equity firm in London, with 3i Group rising after reporting its latest results.
3i III, +3.26% shares rose 4% after posting a 12.2% total return for the fiscal first-quarter ending June 30. 3i’s performance was buoyed by the European retailer Action, in which 3i holds a 53% stake, which saw a 151% rise in operating profit on a 31% increase in sales. In June, when nearly all stores were open in both 2020 and 2021, Action’s like-for-like sales rose 15%.
Bridgepoint Group extended Wednesday’s gains, when the firm surged 29% in its trading debut.
The broader FTSE 100 UKX, +0.19% wavered between gains and losses, held down by the profit warning from consumer products giant Unilever. Unilever ULVR, -5.31% shares skidded 4% after warning rising costs would keep operating margins flat. Rival Reckitt Benckiser RKT, -2.64% slipped 2%.
Morgan Sindall MGNS, +13.95% was the star of the midcaps, with the construction and regeneration company jumping 14% after saying results would be significantly ahead of its previous expectations.