Half-year Report

RNS Number : 7560J

Fletcher King PLC

15 December 2022

 

FLETCHER KING PLC

Interim Results for the 6 months ended 31 October 2022

Financial Highlights

  Turnover:       1,338,000    (2021: £1,426,000)

  Earnings before tax:  £32,000    (2021: £11,000)

  Basic EPS:    0.23p per share    (2021: 0.12p per share)

  Dividend proposed:  nil    (2021: nil)

Operational Highlights

· Earnings before tax improved slightly on the comparative period last year, with lower operational overheads compensating for a reduction in revenue.

· Transactional activity has stalled in the current market conditions and this is likely to continue for a while.

· Successful in winning some new property management instructions which will add recurring fee income to the existing portfolio of asset management and fund management clients.

· Fee income from bank valuations has also continued to grow.

· The move to new offices has been well received and provides a welcome reduction in property overheads.

Commenting on the results David Fletcher, Chairman of Fletcher King said:

"With inflation driving up interest rates, and the current political and economic uncertainty, the property market is going through a period of transition and it is unclear how long this might last. Transactional activity is likely to remain subdued for a while as this period of price adjustment plays out. The market turbulence will however create opportunities and we remain vigilant to prospects for growth and development".

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company are responsible for the release of this announcement.

ENQUIRIES:

Fletcher King Plc

David Fletcher / Peter Bailey

Tel: [phone]

Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nomad)

James Caithie / Liam Murray

Tel: [phone]

The interim results are available on the Company's website: www.fletcherking.co.uk

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Results

Turnover for the period was £1,338,000 (2021: £1,426,000) with a profit before tax of £32,000 (2021: £11,000).

Dividend

In view of the continued uncertainty and the low level of profit the Board is not declaring an interim dividend (2021: no dividend).

The Commercial Property Market

Both capital and occupational markets are now suffering, mainly as a result of the current economic and political uncertainties, and capital values in particular have begun to decline.

The capital markets have seen a significant reduction in demand and there is currently very little activity. A number of large transactions have fallen through and interest in new propositions is lukewarm. This situation is likely to continue for some time, with significant falls in capital values likely in the second half. Nevertheless there is still considerable foreign capital waiting to invest, particularly in Central London, and once a degree of confidence returns to both the economy and our political leadership, we believe that we are likely to see a significant change.

 
Conversely, in the letting markets, despite the fact that rental values are now experiencing some pressure, lettings are generally reasonably active and even in the retail sector we have achieved some satisfactory lettings in a number of our managed portfolios. These are in locations throughout the country, although principally in prime locations.
Demand for Grade A offices in the City and West End remains very strong, record rents are still being achieved and we are also seeing some substantial companies looking to bring their offices into the centre from the suburbs.

 
For the first time in many years, the industrial sector is experiencing reduced demand and capital values have come under pressure. In our view this is likely to see it becoming the worst performing sector in the second half.

Business Overview

Bearing in mind the difficult market conditions, it is pleasing that we are able to report a profit for the period. It would have been higher if demand in the capital markets had not suffered.

Property Asset Management and Fund Management continue to perform well and attract new business and we hope to add new instructions in the coming months.

Our volume of bank valuations continues to grow, despite the increased cost of borrowing. We have added new clients during the year and this is likely to continue.
Income from Rating Appeals remains difficult but we hope some of the long outstanding appeals will be settled in the second half.

The Investment Department had a very disappointing first half and we anticipate similar under performance in the months to come.

 
Our move to new offices has been very successful and the reduced property overhead is welcomed in these difficult times.

Outlook

It is impossible to predict the future with so much uncertainty in the world.

 
We are growing our secure income flow in Property Asset Management and Fund Management, and continue to perform well on rent collection.

The volume of valuations seems set to continue but rating is likely to be slow.

 
The investment department will continue to be under pressure but we do have some excellent instructions, although the timing of them is impossible to predict in the current economic climate.

The good news is that our balance sheet is strong and our clients remain very loyal for which we thank them. We have an excellent and hard-working team who are committed to improving performance.

DAVID FLETCHER

CHAIRMAN

15 December 2022

Fletcher King Plc

Consolidated Interim Statement of Comprehensive Income

 for the 6 months ended 31 October 2022

	6 months ended		6 months ended		Year ended
	31 October		31 October		30 April
	2022 (Unaudited)		2021 (Unaudited)		2022 (Audited)
	£000		£000		£000
Revenue	1,338		1,426		2,967
Employee benefits expense	(744)		(642)		(1,630)
Depreciation and amortisation expense	(99)		(140)		(346)
Gain recognised on remeasurement of lease liability	-		-		125
Other operating expenses	(496)		(643)		(1,014)
Share based payment expense	(9)		-		(10)
	(1,348)		(1,425)		(2,875)
Other operating income	26		13		39
Investment income	24		-		18
Finance income	2		-		-
Finance expense	(10)		(3)		(15)
Profit before taxation	32		11		134
Taxation	(8)		-		18
Profit for the period	24		11		152
Other comprehensive income
Fair value gain on financial assets through other comprehensive income	-		-		-
Total comprehensive income for the period	24		11		152
Earnings per share (note 4)
- Basic	0.23p		0.12p		1.62p
- Diluted	0.21p		0.12p		1.48p
Dividends per share
Interim dividend proposed	-		-		-
Dividends paid	0.50p		-		-

Fletcher King Plc

Consolidated Interim Statement of Financial Position

as at 31 October 2022

		31 October		31 October		30 April
		2022 (Unaudited)		2021 (Unaudited)		2022 (Audited)
		£000		£000		£000
Assets
Non-current assets
Software		69		-		76
Property, plant and equipment		237		8		266
Right-of-use asset		436		136		494
Financial assets		529		529		529
Deferred tax asset		24		-		32
		1,295		673		1,397
Current Assets
Trade and other receivables		1,346		837		1,329
Corporation tax debtor		-		111		97
Cash and cash equivalents		2,418		3,096		3,365
		3,764		4,044		4,791
Total assets		5,059		4,717		6,188
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables		567		647		1,124
Provisions		-		100		25
Current taxation liabilities		-		-		-
Lease liabilities		154		580		610
Total current liabilities		721		1,327		1,759
Non current liabilities
Lease liabilities		329		-		402
Shareholders' equity
Share capital		1,025		921		1,025
Share premium		522		140		522
Investment revaluation reserve		(101)		(101)		(101)
Share option reserve		19		-		10
Reserves		2,544		2,430		2,571
Total shareholders' equity		4,009		3,390		4,027
Total equity and liabilities		5,059		4,717		6,188

Fletcher King Plc

Consolidated Interim Statement of Changes in Equity

for the 6 months ended 31 October 2022

						Investment		Share
		Share		Share		revaluation		Option		Retained		TOTAL
		capital		premium		reserve		Reserve		earnings		EQUITY
		£000		£000		£000		£000		£000		£000
Balance at 1 May 2022		1,025		522		(101)		10		2,571		4,027
Profit for the period		-		-		-		-		24		24
Equity dividends paid		-		-		-		-		(51)		(51)
Share based payment expense		-		-		-		9		-		9
Balance at 31 October 2022 (Unaudited)		1,025		522		(101)		19		2,544		4,009
Balance at 1 May 2021		921		140		(101)		-		2,419		3,379
Profit for the period		-		-		-		-		11		11
Equity dividends paid		-		-		-		-		-		-
Balance at 31 October 2021 (Unaudited)		921		140		(101)		-		2,430		3,390
Balance at 1 May 2021		921		140		(101)		-		2,419		3,379
Profit for the year		-		-		-		-		152		152
Share issue		104		443		-		-		-		547
Cost of share issue		-		(61)		-		-		-		(61)
Share based payment expense		-		-		-		10		-		10
Balance at 30 April 2022 (Audited)		1,025		522		(101)		10		2,571		4,027

Fletcher King Plc

Consolidated Interim Statement of Cash Flows

for the 6 months ended 31 October 2022

		6 months ended		6 months ended		Year ended
		31 October		31 October		30 April
		2022 (Unaudited)		2021 (Unaudited)		2022 (Audited)
		£000		£000		£000
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before taxation from continuing operations		32		11		134
Adjustments for:
Movement in provision		(25)		-		(75)
Depreciation and amortisation expense		99		140		346
Remeasurement of lease liability		-		-		(125)
Investment income		(24)		-		(18)
Finance income		(2)		-		-
Finance expense		10		3		15
Share based payment expense		9		-		10
Cash flows from operating activities
before movement in working capital		99		154		287
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables		(17)		311		(181)
(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables		(557)		(261)		216
Cash (absorbed by) / generated from operations		(475)		204		322
Taxation received		97		-		-
Net cash flows (used in)/generated from operating activities		(378)		204		322
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of fixed assets		(5)		-		(352)
Investment income		24		-		18
Finance income		2		-		-
Net cash flows from investing activities		21		-		(334)
Cash flows from financing activities
Lease payments		(539)		-		(1)
Proceeds of share placing		-		-		547
Placing costs		-		-		(61)
Dividends paid to shareholders		(51)		-		-
Net cash flows from financing activities		(590)		-		485
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents		(947)		204		473
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period		3,365		2,892		2,892
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		2,418		3,096		3,365

Fletcher King Plc

Explanatory Notes

1.  General information

The Company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. The address of its registered office is 19-20 Great Pulteney Street, London W1F 9NF.

These interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 14 December 2022.

2.  Basis of preparation

The interim financial information in this report has been prepared using accounting policies consistent with IFRS as endorsed by the UK.  IFRS is subject to amendment and interpretation by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and the International Financial Reporting Standards Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) and there is an ongoing process of review and endorsement by the UK Endorsement Board. The financial information has been prepared on the basis of IFRS that the Directors expect to apply for the year ended 30 April 2023.

The accounting policies applied by the Group in this interim report are the same as those applied by the Group in the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 April 2022. There are no new standards, interpretations and amendments, effective for the first time from 1 May 2022, that have had a material effect on the financial statements of the Group.

3.  Non Statutory Accounts

The financial information for the period ended 31 October 2022 set out in this interim report does not constitute the Group's statutory accounts for that period. Whilst the financial figures included in this interim report have been computed in accordance with IFRS, this interim report does not contain sufficient information to constitute an interim financial report as that term is defined in IAS34. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 April 2022 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was unqualified, did not contain a statement under either Section 498(2) or Section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006 and did not include references to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis.

The financial information for the 6 months ended 31 October 2022 and 31 October 2021 is unaudited.

Fletcher King Plc

Explanatory Notes

4.  Earnings per share

	6 months to 31 October 2022 Number	6 months to 31 October 2021 Number	Year ended 30 April 2022 Number
Weighted average number of shares for basic earnings per share	10,252,209	9,209,779	9,375,425
Share options	920,000	-	920,000
Weighted average number of shares for diluted earnings per share	11,172,209	9,209,779	10,295,425
	£000	£000	£000
Earnings for basic and diluted earnings per share:	24	11	152
Basic earnings per share	0.23p	0.12p	1.62p
Diluted earnings per share	0.21p	0.12p	1.48p

 

END

 

 

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