Trading Update

RNS Number : 4814T

City of London Investment Group PLC

08 June 2009

 



CITY OF LONDON INVESTMENT GROUP PLC

('City of London' or 'the Group')

tRADING UPDATE FOR THE YEAR TO 31 MAY 2009

City of London (AIM: CLIG), a leading emerging markets asset management group, provides a trading update for the financial year ended 31 May 2009. The numbers that follow are all unaudited.

The Group has added new clients over the period despite the significant market declines. Funds under management ('FuM') were $3.50 billion (£2.17 billion) at 31 May 2009. This compares with $4.71 billion (£2.38 billion) at 31 May 2008, a decline of 26%, versus a fall of 36% in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index (MXEF) over the same period. With revenues almost entirely dollar denominated, the Group has benefitted throughout most of the period under review from the relative weakness of sterling.

A measure of the group's success in growing FuM during what most would see as an exceptionally difficult year can be found by referencing the opening and closing FuM to the index, MXEF. At 31st May 2008, the group was managing $4.7 billion, with MXEF at 1,207. The equivalent FuM re-based to the 31st May 2009 MXEF level of 773 would be $3.0 billion, so the additional $0.5 billion represents an underlying growth rate of just under 17%. Looked at in the same way, since the apparent peak of $4.95 billion in October 2007, underlying FuM have actually grown by 24%. In addition to the stated year end FuM, awarded but unfunded mandates total a further $517 million.

For the year to 31 May 2009, City of London expects that pre-tax profits will be approximately £5.4 million (2008: £10.7 million) and that profits after an anticipated tax charge of £1.6 million (29% of pre-tax profits) will be approximately £3.8 million (2008: profits of £7.1 million after a tax charge of £3.6 million, representing 34% of pre-tax profit). Basic and fully diluted earnings per share are expected to be 15.9p and 14.8p respectively (2008: 29.3p and 26.1p).

With FuM at significantly lower levels through the second and third quarters, fee income at an expected £20.3 million represents a decrease of around 19% compared to last year's £24.9 million, the fall having been cushioned by sterling weakness. That weakness however has had an adverse impact on costs, with overheads approximately 29% higher, but variable costs, which this year should form circa 46% of the total cost base (2008: 60%), fall from £9.0 million to around £6.7 million, and as a result total 'administrative expenses' are expected to be £14.5 million as compared to last year's £15.0 million.

The Group's dividend policy is unchanged, based on paying dividends that are covered approximately one and a half times by full year earnings per share, but a temporary reduction in earnings cover is intended this year in recognition of exceptional market conditions, and within the context of a strong cash position and an improving outlook. An interim dividend of 5p (2007/8: 6p) was paid in March, and in line with this and based upon the customary one thirds/two thirds split, the Board is recommending a final dividend of 10p per share (2008: 13.5p), making a total for the year of 15p (2008: 19.5p), covered 1.06 times by earnings per share (2008: 1.50 times). It is relevant to note that a substantial recovery of corporation tax, not far short of £1 million, has been accrued to reflect the allowable cost of share option exercises, but that in accordance with IAS12 this credit has for the most part been taken directly to reserves. While this tax adjustment therefore provides no earnings cover, it will upon receipt increase cash cover, and the Board proposes to take this into account when considering next year's interim dividend.

In keeping with the optimism expressed at the interim stage, the Group has continued to progress organic expansion with four senior appointments during the year. In the US, a fund manager was appointed to support the first mandate for a product investing via closed end funds in developed markets, which is expected to total US$100 million once funded. To implement the Group's decision to bring its US marketing in-house and reduce third party commissions, a marketing manager has been appointed to develop our direct relationship with the consultant industry which advises institutional investors.

In the UK, a senior fund manager specialising in Asian investment was appointed to provide the expertise necessary to develop The Asian Value & Growth Fund (a spoke of the World Markets Umbrella Fund), which will invest directly in equities in Emerging Asia. This will be launched on 1 July 2009, to be marketed initially to investors in the UK, and ultimately to the Group's client base in North America. A business development manager has been appointed to support the Group's objective to further strengthen City of London's relationships in the UK and European institutional markets. In the prior Funds Under Management Update (9 March 2009), we remained 'unfashionably optimistic' regarding our asset class. At that point MXEF was 7.5% above the low point reached in October 2008.  On 29 May 2009, MXEF closed 70% above that low and, whilst we certainly remain positive regarding the long-term prospects for emerging markets relative to developed markets, we believe that the index has probably advanced at what will prove to have been an unsustainable rate.  We therefore expect that there will likely be a retrenchment within the coming months. City of London Investment Group expects to announce final full year results for the year to 31 May 2009 on 14 September 2009. Summary and trading update
	Year to 31 May
	2008	2009
Funds under Management (at period end)	US$4.7bn	US$3.5bn
Turnover (plus investment income)	£25.7m	£20.4m
Administrative expenses	£15.0m	£14.5m
Profit before tax	£10.7m	£5.4m
Profit after tax	£7.1m	£3.8m
Profit per share, basic	29.3p	15.9p
Profit per share, diluted	26.1p	14.8p

Financials - consolidated income statement
	Year to 31 May
£'000	2008	2009
Fee income	24,879	20,250
Interest & other	869	(393)
Finder's commission	(3,559)	(3,036)
Custody & Administration	(775)	(898)
Total net income	20,982	15,923
Costs:
Human resources	3,640	4,390
Premises	291	447
Communications & IT	838	1,506
Business development	442	386
General	826	1,053
Total costs	6,037	7,782
Operating profit	15,377	8,141
Profit-share	4,682	2,764
Pre-tax profit	10,695	5,377
Tax	(3,559)	(1,581)
Post-tax profit	7,136	3,796
Dividends *	(3,237)	(4,418)
Retained	3,904	(622)

* prior year final plus current year interim

-ends-

For further information, please visit www.citlon.co.uk or contact:

Doug Allison (Finance Director)	Simon Hudson / Andrew Dunn
City of London Investment Group PLC	Tavistock Communications
Tel: [phone]	Tel: [phone]
Jeff Keating	Tom Price / Chris Sim
Singer Capital Markets Ltd	Evolution Securities Limited
Nominated Adviser & Joint Broker	Joint Broker
Tel: [phone]	Tel: [phone]

 

END

 

 

TSTILFVERSIEIIA