Special dividend and portfolio update

The Board of Juridica, a leading provider of strategic capital to both businesses and the legal markets for corporate claims, is pleased to announce a special dividend of 7 pence per share, (or 7.7% based on a mid-market share price of 90.5 pence on 3 January 2012), payable on 10 February 2012 to shareholders on the Register at 13 January 2012.

Outcomes in 2011

The Company has received gross cash proceeds during 2011 totaling approximately US$17.0 million. These are derived from seven different matters, including one case that completed (and was reported) in early 2011 and from recently received partial settlements with defendants in six different cases. This has resulted in cash profits of approximately US$12.3 million after allowing for the cost of investment in the completed case and the apportioned investment costs for the partially settled claims.

The partial settlements include proceeds from four separate patent cases and two antitrust cases. All of these cases include multiple defendants and all remain active. These investments have thus far been part of the Company’s portfolio for between 1.5 years and 3.4 years. The proceeds from the antitrust cases relate to settlements with relatively minor defendants in cases that are part of the portfolio of investments which provide security for the Company's loan to Fields Sullivan PLLC.

The Company has also had a decision in a commercial arbitration matter which, when finalised, will return the majority of the Company’s investment in the entire matter. The recent decision relates to only one part of the investment. Related ancillary proceedings are still ongoing for other aspects of the investment. The Company holds a significant equity interest in the entity that retains the rights to the proceeds from the claims and also retains rights to the entity’s assets.

Progress in other matter

  • A case involving one of the Company’s larger investments was expected to reach an important milestone by year-end. However, this case is not yet completed and proceedings in the case are continuing. Further developments are expected in this case in the first quarter of 2012.
  • Active settlement negotiations are ongoing in three of the Company’s five antitrust cases.
  • Two patent investments recently received favourable rulings at their Markman hearing. Trials for these cases are expected in the middle of 2012.
  • As previously disclosed, one patent investment that consists of two related multi-defendant patent infringement cases had one of its cases complete its trial in mid-2011. The jury in this case returned a verdict in favour of the plaintiffs on all liability issues, but awarded damages at a level that will not provide any proceeds to the Company. The second case remains active and the Company’s Investment Manager, Juridica Capital Management Limited (‘JCML’), expects the outcome of this second case to deliver a profit on the Company’s total investment.
  • In 2011 the trial for a case relating to one of the Company’s investments was completed and the judge’s ruling is expected to be received in early 2012.

New investment

The Company successfully closed a large investment that was noted as pending in the 2010 year-end accounts.

The Company expects to provide a more detailed report on these operating results as part of its audited financial results for the year ended 31 December 2011, which will be released by 30 April 2012.

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