Interim Results

25 September 2006 Enquiries: Personal Group Holdings Plc Tel: 0207 367 8888(on 25/9/06) Christopher Johnston, Chairman 01908 605000 ext 235 (thereafter) Ken Rooney, Managing Director John Barber, Finance Director Bankside Consultants Simon Rothschild Tel: 0207 367 8888 Personal Group Holdings Plc Interim statement for the six months to 30 June 2006 Personal Group Holdings Plc is one of the UK's leading providers of employee benefits insurance and consultancy. - Trading income ahead 5.8% at £11.78m - Headline EBITDA up by 5.7% at £4.63m - Profit on ordinary activities before tax up by 11.4% at £3.70m - The directors have today declared a dividend of 2.3p per share (2005: 2.2p) payable on 24 October 2006 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 6 October 2006. Shares will be marked ex-dividend on 4 October 2006 HIGHLIGHTS 2006 2005 % £m £m Trading income * 11.78 11.13 + 5.8 Headline EBITDA** 4.63 4.38 + 5.7 Pre-tax profit 3.70 3.32 +11.4 EBITDA per share 15.4p 14.5p + 6.2 Earnings per share (basic) 7.9p 7.2p + 9.7 Dividends per share paid in 2006 8.8p 8.4p + 4.8 Dividend per share payable October 2006 2.3p 2.2p + 4.5 * Trading income comprises earned premiums net of claims, claims handling and other income from the ongoing business representing commission and fees earned on financial products and other related services. ** EBITDA is defined as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation. Ken Rooney, Chief Executive, commented: "During the first half of 2006 we arranged 9 new benefit programmes including those for L'Oreal, Adams and Coventry Building Society. In addition, renewal programmes for several existing customers continue generating significant opportunities for our employee benefits divisions as anticipated. The activity in other areas of the business continues to expand." CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT The result for the first half of 2006 reflects the momentum created in 2005. However new business premiums during the year to date have been below what was achieved last year, which will have an impact on growth in the second half of this year and the first half of 2007. Trading income has increased by approximately 5.8% and, due in part to the control of expenses,profit before taxation increased by £0.38m to £3.70m (2005: £3.32m), an increase of 11.4%, and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) increased by £0.25m to £4.63m (2005: £4.38m), an increase of 5.7%. Headline EBITDA per share are 15.4p, an increase of 6.2% compared with 30 June 2005. Basic earnings per share are 7.9p, an increase of 9.7%, compared with 30 June 2005. After provision for taxation there is a surplus for the period of £2.4m (2005: £2.2m) which has been added to reserves. Shareholders' funds at 30 June 2006 were £20,462,000 (67p per share) and include net cash balances of approximately £9,034,000 in addition to £3,000,000 of 4% Treasury Loan Stock 2009 (market value £2,940,000 at 30 June 2006). In July we completed the sale to management of our small fee based financial advisory company R.E. Gee & Co. This former Berkeley Morgan group company had become less relevant to the operations of the financial advisory business of the group. Jon Pardoe, the founder of Berkeley Morgan, resigned his directorship of Personal Group Holdings plc in August 2006; we will miss him and wish him well. Jon's departure has accelerated the process of integrating the group's Milton Keynes and Blackburn office operations to create a wider range of insurance products and enhanced employee benefit services. In September 2006 we reduced our debt incurred on the acquisition of Berkeley Morgan Group Plc by a further £2,000,000 to £6,000,000. As I mentioned earlier, new business production from our work site team has not reached the record levels experienced in 2005. Renewals continue as expected and other divisions, particularly our employer paid employee benefit business, have done well, keeping current trading in line with directors' expectations. The directors have today declared a dividend of 2.3p per share (2005: 2.2p) payable on 24 October 2006 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 6 October 2006. My thanks to all employees, agents, consultants and brokers for their contribution to our continuing success. Christopher W T Johnston, Chairman 25 September 2006 CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT for the 6 months ended 30 June 2006 6 months ended 6 months ended 12 months ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 Unaudited Unaudited Audited £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 TECHNICAL ACCOUNT GENERAL BUSINESS Gross premiums written 7,854 7,524 15,638 Change in the gross 148 (47) (191) provision for unearned premiums Earned premiums, net 8,002 7,477 15,447 of reinsurance Claims paid (1,557) (1,472) (2,941) Change in the (111) (255) 121 provision for claims Claims incurred (1,668) (1,727) (2,820) Net operating expenses: Other (3,700) (3,429) (7,314) Balance on the 2,634 2,321 5,313 technical account for general business CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT (CONTINUED) for the 6 months ended 30 June 2006 6 months 6 months 12 months ended ended ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Note £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 NON-TECHNICAL ACCOUNT Balance on the general 2,634 2,321 5,313 business technical account Investment income 440 442 967 Unrealised (losses)/ (84) 147 107 gains on investments Investment expenses (10) (28) (36) and charges Net investment return 346 561 1,038 Other income 5,450 5,375 11,617 Other charges (4,663) (4,901) (10,182) Charitable donations (70) (38) (126) Profit on ordinary 4,223 3,866 8,739 activities before tax - Before goodwill amortisation - Goodwill (526) (548) (1,079) amortisation Total 3,697 3,318 7,660 Tax on profit on 1 (1,309) (1,141) (2,557) ordinary activities Profit for the period 2,388 2,177 5,103 Earnings per share Basic 2 7.9p 7.2p 16.9p Diluted 2 7.9p 7.2p 16.8p There are no recognised gains or losses for the period other than the profit for the financial period. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT 30 JUNE 2006 At 30 June 2006 At 30 June 2005 At 31 December 2005 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Note £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Assets Intangible assets Goodwill 8,732 9,837 9,247 Investments Investments in joint venture Share of gross assets 2,207 2,200 2,214 Share of gross liabilities (2,228) (2,215) (2,250) Net investment (21) (15) (36) Other financial investments 8,390 8,771 8,564 Debtors Debtors arising out of 1,129 1,167 1,501 direct insurance operations Other debtors due within 1,156 819 1,196 one year 2,285 1,986 2,697 Other assets Tangible assets 6,551 6,720 6,638 Cash at bank and in hand 9,034 7,044 8,564 15,585 13,764 15,202 Prepayments and accrued income Accrued interest and rent 43 47 48 Deferred acquisition costs 75 19 75 Other prepayments and 1,233 1,743 1,554 accrued income 1,351 1,809 1,677 Total assets 36,322 36,152 37,351 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AT 30 JUNE 2006 (CONTINUED) At 30 June At 30 June At 31 December 2006 2005 2005 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Note £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Liabilities Capital and reserves Called up share capital 1,528 1,528 1,528 Shares to be issued 309 277 298 Other reserve (650) (753) (763) Profit and loss account 19,275 17,199 19,498 Equity shareholders' funds 3 20,462 18,251 20,561 Technical provisions Provision for unearned 268 273 417 premiums Claims outstanding 1,093 1,359 982 1,361 1,632 1,399 Provision for other risks and 381 540 422 charges Creditors Current taxation 1,322 1,179 1,452 Other creditors including 1,275 867 867 other taxation and social security Bank loan 8,331 10,469 8,435 10,928 12,515 10,754 Accruals and deferred income 3,190 3,214 4,215 Total liabilities 36,322 36,152 37,351 CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT for the 6 months ended 30 June 2006 6 months ended 6 months ended 12 months ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 Unaudited Unaudited Audited £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Net cash inflow from 4,732 4,557 10,177 operating activities Loan interest paid (119) (323) (605) (including arrangement fees) Taxation paid (1,439) (1,248) (2,441) Capital expenditure Purchase of fixed assets (141) (124) (237) Sale of fixed assets 27 46 71 Purchase of own shares (4) (234) (243) Sale of own shares 31 21 38 (87) (291) (371) Acquisitions Acquisitions (net of cash - (10,788) (10,795) acquired) Equity dividends paid (2,652) (2,528) (3,191) Financing Additions to bank loans 4 12,234 12,243 Repayment of bank loans (108) (2,068) (4,111) (104) 10,166 8,132 Net cash flows 331 (455) 906 Cash flows were invested as follows: Increase/(decrease) in 470 (1,892) (372) cash holdings Net portfolio investment Ordinary shares, loans, (139) 1,437 1,278 finance leases, treasury loan stock Net investment of cash 331 (455) 906 flows PERSONAL GROUP HOLDINGS PLC Notes 1. Taxation comprises United Kingdom corporation tax of £1,309,000 (30 June 2005: £1,141,000, 31 December 2005: £2,582,000), and deferred taxation credit of £nil (30 June 2005: nil, 31 December 2005: £25,000). 2. The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share are based on the following: 30 June 30 June 31 December 2006 2005 2005 Earnings - basic and diluted £2,388,000 £2,177,000 £5,103,000 Weighted average number of shares Basic 30,172,248 30,219,190 30,185,071 Diluted 30,393,591 30,388,783 30,377,285 3. Reconciliation of movement in shareholders' funds. 30 June 30 June 31 December 2006 2005 2005 £000 £000 £000 Profit for the period 2,388 2,177 5,103 Dividends paid in period (2,652) (2,528) (3,191) (264) (351) 1,912 Shares to be issued 11 30 51 Profit on allocation of AESOP 41 18 36 shares Purchase of AESOP shares (4) (234) (243) Allocation and sale of AESOP shares 31 21 38 FRS 20 charge 86 - - (Decrease)/increase in (99) (516) 1,794 shareholders' funds Shareholders' funds brought forward 20,561 18,767 18,767 Shareholders' funds carried forward 20,462 18,251 20,561 The interim results, which have not been audited, have been prepared on the same basis and using the same accounting policies as those used in the preparation of the full year's accounts to 31 December 2005, except for the application of FRS 20 with effect from 1 January 2006. Prior period results have not been restated as the effect is not material. The interim statement, which was approved by the Board on 22 September 2006, is not the Company's statutory accounts. The statutory accounts for each of the two years to 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2005 received audit reports, which were unqualified and did not contain statements under section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The 2004 and 2005 accounts have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. Financial calendar for the year ending 31 December 2006 The Company announces the following dates in its financial calendar for the year ending 31 December 2006: - Payment of next dividend 24 October 2006 - Preliminary results for the year ending 31 December 2006 March 2007 - Publication of Report and Accounts for 2006 March 2007 - AGM April 2007
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