Interim Results
Fletcher King PLC
17 December 2007
PRESS RELEASE
Not for release before 0700hrs, 17 December 2007
FLETCHER KING PLC
INTERIM RESULTS
Fletcher King announces strong performance for the first half of the year but
remains cautious for the full year results.
Fletcher King PLC, the London based property fund managers and asset managers
announces today its interim results for the 6 months to 31 October 2007.
Financial highlights:
• Profit before tax up 53% to £470,000 (2006: £308,000).
• Turnover up 6% at £3.598m (2006: £3.40m).
• Increased in interim dividend of 25% to 1.25p (2006: 1p) which
will be paid on 18 January 2008.
Operational highlights:
• The Investment and Fund Management department has performed well during the
period.
• The funds from the latest Stratton House Investment Property Syndicate
('SHIPS')are in place ready to capitalise on the attractive buying
opportunities that should present themselves in 2008.
• The Valuation and Rating department continues to perform strongly and the
volume of valuation instructions continues at undiminished levels.
Commenting David Fletcher, Chairman of Fletcher King said:
'I am delighted to announce another 6 months of strong trading during which we
have increased profit, turnover and dividend. However, going forward the company
will not be immune from the impact of the recent reduction in activity in the
commercial property market and I believe that the results for the full year will
fall materially short of those achieved during 2006.
That said, there will be a number of excellent buying opportunities during 2008
and we are well placed to take advantage of such opportunities with the funds
from the latest SHIPS fund.'
For further information:
David Fletcher, Fletcher King 020 7493 8400
Tim McCall, MJ2 020 7484 5353
FLETCHER KING PLC INTERIM REPORT 2007
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Group performed well compared with the same period last year with profits
before tax of £470,000 (2006 £308,000) on a turnover of £3.598m (2006 £3.4m).
Earnings per share are 3.46p (2006 2.2p). Your Directors have declared an
increased interim dividend of 1.25p (2006 1.0p) to be paid on 18 January 2008 to
shareholders on the register at close of business on 4 January 2008.
The Commercial Property Market
The commercial property investment market continued to perform strongly for the
first three months of the period at the end of which it moved sharply downwards
in reaction to the American sub prime mortgage crisis and the subsequent
banking liquidity problems. At the time of writing there is virtually no
institutional commercial property investment market.
The Central London office markets have been, and remain, relatively resilient
although we are of the opinion that the market peaked in early Summer and the
knock-on effect of the turmoil in financial markets is beginning to impact
rental growth.
Elsewhere in both the industrial and retail markets we are still seeing rental
growth. The jury is out on whether contagion from financial markets will impact
on the economy generally and thus rental values.
There is little institutional investment in the market and the debt financed
buyers have also substantially withdrawn as a result of their inability to gear.
With falling five year SWAP rates returns on equity for those that can borrow
are beginning to look attractive.
Divisional Trading
Investment Fund Management
A significant volume of business was transacted during the period although
volumes have fallen sharply since August.
Our latest SHIPS Fund, to which I referred in my last annual report, is holding
the equity it raised on deposit awaiting attractive buying opportunities which
we believe will present themselves during the second half of 2008 calendar year.
Asset Management
Two new management contracts were won during the period and the department met
its budgets for the half year. We continue to implement further operational
efficiencies.
Valuation and Rating
The department enjoyed a good first half and the volume of valuation
instructions continues at undiminished levels despite general market conditions.
We completed a number of large rating assignments during the period which
resulted in significant savings for our clients.
We still have a large number of unresolved appeals and can see a further
eighteen months of work before the 2005 Rating List is cleared and the new List
is published.
Rent Reviews
The department concluded a number of significant reviews and lease renewals
during the period and is currently on target for the remainder of the year.
Fletcher King Howard
The division had a busy first half but the outlook for the remainder of the year
is less clear as orders begin to slow, or projects are put on hold, as a result
of the 'credit crunch'.
OUTLOOK
The future is uncertain and much depends, for us, on the investment market and
the timing of when purchasers consider values have stabilised and the moment has
come to re-enter the market.
At this stage in the cycle there are substantial differences between this
downturn and previous ones. The most significant being that interest rates
remain low, as does inflation, and the economy is currently relatively strong.
Also there is not the chronic over supply of space that existed in downturns of
the 1970's and late 1980's.
There is currently a disconnect between property valuations and market
conditions. Until the valuers reflect more closely the market and substantially
down value portfolios, levels of activity will not be re-established.
We would expect to re-enter the market for our in-house funds during the second
half of 2008.
In view of the continuing uncertainties in the market, the Board has reviewed
the Company's prospects for the second half and consider that the results for
the full year will fall materially short of those achieved last year and this is
likely to be reflected in the final dividend.
DAVID FLETCHER
CHAIRMAN
18 December 2007
Registered Office:
61 Conduit Street
London W1S 2GB
Fletcher King Plc
Consolidated Interim Income Statement
(unaudited) for the 6 months ended 31 October 2007
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
31 October 31 October 30 April
2007 2006 2007
£000 £000 £000
Revenue 3,598 3,449 7,438
Employee benefits expense (2,255) (2,096) (4,602)
Depreciation expense (37) (38) (114)
Other operating expenses ( 903) (1,051) (1,951)
Operating profit 403 264 771
Profit on disposal of non-current
assets held for sale - - -
Income from investments 13 7 18
Finance income 54 37 106
Finance expense - - -
Profit before taxation 470 308 1,027
Taxation (151) (105) (351)
Profit for the period after taxation
attributable to equity shareholders 319 203 676
Basic earnings per share (note 2) 3.46p 2.20p 7.34p
Diluted earnings per share (note 2) 3.46p 2.20p 7.33p
Equity dividends on ordinary shares:
Declared and paid during period
Ordinary final dividend for the
year ended 30 April 2007:
3.75p per share (2006: 2.5p) 345 230 230
Interim dividend for the six months
ended 31 October 2006 (see below) - - 92
345 230 322
Proposed but not yet paid
Interim dividend for the six months
ended 31 October 2007:
1.25p per share (2006: 1.0p) 115 92 -
Ordinary final dividend
for 2007 (see above) - - 345
115 92 345
Fletcher King Plc
Consolidated Interim Balance Sheet
(unaudited) as at 31 October 2007
31 October 31 October 30 April
2007 2006 2007
£000 £000 £000
Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 379 138 125
Available for sale investments 846 553 897
1,225 691 1,022
Current assets
Trade and other receivables 1,434 1,668 1,600
Amounts recoverable on contracts 209 190 222
Cash and cash equivalents 2,255 1,844 2,990
3,898 3,702 4,812
Non-current assets classified as
held for sale - 393 -
Total assets 5,123 4,786 5,834
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables 773 489 395
Current taxation liabilities 134 102 187
Other creditors and provisions 637 869 1,605
1,544 1,460 2,187
Non-current liabilities
Deferred taxation liabilities - 121 94
Total liabilities 1,544 1,581 2,281
Shareholders' equity
Share capital 921 921 921
Share premium 140 140 140
Reserves 2,518 2,144 2,492
Total shareholders' equity 3,579 3,205 3,553
Total equity and liabilities 5,123 4,786 5,834
Fletcher King Plc
Consolidated Interim Statement of Changes in Equity
(unaudited) for the 6 months ended 31 October 2007
Profit Fair
Share Share and value Total TOTAL
capital premium loss reserve reserves EQUITY
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
Balance at 1 May 2007 921 140 2,216 276 2,492 3,553
Net profit for the period - - 319 - 319 319
Fair value loss on investments - - - 75 75 75
Deferred taxation adjustment - - - (23) (23) (23)
Total income and expense
for the period - - 319 52 371 371
Equity dividends paid - - (345) - (345) (345)
Balance at 31 October 2007 921 140 2,190 328 2,518 3,579
Balance at 1 May 2006 921 140 1,862 340 2,202 3,263
Net profit for the period - - 203 - 203 203
Fair value gain on investments - - - (44) (44) (44)
Deferred taxation adjustment - - - 13 13 13
Total income and expense for
the period 0 0 203 (31) 172 172
Equity dividends paid - - (230) - (230) (230)
Balance at 31 October 2006 921 140 1,835 309 2,144 3,205
Balance at 1 May 2006 921 140 1,862 340 2,202 3,263
Net profit for the period - - 676 - 676 676
Transfer of realised gains
on disposal - - - (142) (142) (142)
Deferred taxation adjustment - - - 43 43 43
Fair value gain on investments - - - 50 50 50
Deferred taxation adjustment - - - (15) (15) (15)
Total income and expense for
the period 0 0 676 (64) 612 612
Equity dividends paid - - (322) - (322) (322)
Balance at 30 April 2007 921 140 2,216 276 2,492 3,553
Fletcher King Plc
Consolidated Interim Cash Flow Statement
(unaudited) for the 6 months ended 31 October 2007
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
31 October 31 October 30 April
2007 2006 2007
£000 £000 £000
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before taxation 470 308 1,027
Adjustments for:
Depreciation expense 37 38 114
Income from fixed asset investments (13) (7) (18)
Finance income (54) (37) (106)
Finance expense - - -
Cash flows from operating activities
before movement in working capital 440 302 885
(Increase) / decrease in trade
and other receivables 166 (183) (115)
Increase / (Decrease) in trade and
other payables (590) (86) 556
Decrease / (increase) in work in
progress 13 11 (20)
Cash (absorbed by) / generated
from operations 29 44 1,306
Taxation paid (200) (125) (299)
Net cash flows from operating activities (171) (81) 1,007
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of equipment (302) (32) (95)
Proceeds from sale of equipment 16 - -
Purchases of investments - - (250)
Sales of investments - - 383
Finance income 54 37 106
Income from investments 13 7 18
Net cash flows from investing activities (219) 12 162
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid to shareholders (345) (230) (322)
Net cash flows from financing activities (345) (230) (322)
Net (decrease) / increase in cash
and cash equivalents (735) (299) 847
Cash and cash equivalents
at start of period 2,990 2,143 2,143
Cash and cash equivalents
at end of period 2,255 1,844 2,990
Fletcher King Plc
Explanatory Notes
1. Basis of preparation
These consolidated interim financial statements, which are neither audited nor
reviewed, comprise the unaudited results for the six months ended 31 October
2007 and 31 October 2006, together with the audited results for the twelve
months ended 30 April 2007, and have been prepared under the historical cost
convention as modified by the revaluation of available for sale financial
assets.
The Group has prepared these consolidated interim financial statements using the
principal accounting policies set out in note 2 of the 2007 Annual Report and
Accounts.
The Group has chosen not to adopt IAS 34 in preparing these consolidated interim
financial statements.
2. Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by reference to the result attributable
to equity shareholders of £319,000 (2006: £203,000) and the weighted average of
9,209,779 shares (2006: 9,209,779) in issue during the period.
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by reference to the result attributable
to equity shareholders of £319,000 (2006: £203,000) and the adjusted weighted
average of 9,221,475 shares (2006: 9,220,196) in issue during the period.
3. Results for 2007
The results for the year ended 30 April 2007 and the balance sheet at that date,
which have been included in these interim consolidated financial statements, are
not statutory accounts. The Group's statutory financial statements for the year
ended 30 April 2007 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The
independent auditors' report on those financial statements is unqualified and
does not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act
1985.
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