(Sharecast News) - Private equity investor Pantheon International said on Friday that its net asset value had increased 3.7% in July to 510.4p per share, primarily by favourable foreign exchange movements and valuation gains, while total NAV grew to £2.3bn.

During July, Pantheon invested £7.0m in share buybacks, bringing its year-to-date total to £19m out of a £30m allocation earmarked for the period between June and the August NAV publication, repurchasing 2.17m shares at a weighted average price of 321.1p per share - an average discount of 35.0% to the prevailing net asset value per share at the time of the transactions.

Pantheon also said it had committed £47.3m to new investments in July, including a co-investment in US-based Penta Group, a manager-led secondary transaction alongside Five Arrows, and a primary commitment to Hg Genesis 11. Net portfolio cash flow was £8.6m at the end of the month, with distributions of £23.1m exceeding capital calls of £14.5m.

The trust also said its net debt to NAV ratio stood at 9.5%, excluding its Asset Linked Note, with £105m drawn from its £400m revolving credit facility and $150m in private placement notes outstanding.

Reporting by Iain Gilbert at Sharecast.com