Interim Results
Debt Free Direct Group PLC
11 January 2005
11 JANUARY 2005
DEBT FREE DIRECT GROUP PLC
INTERIM RESULTS FOR SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2004
Strong Pre-Christmas Trading, Turnover For Period Up 66%
Debt Free Direct Group PLC, the leading debt advice and solutions company,
announces its results for the six months ended 31 October 2004.
Results Highlights :
• Sales for the six months to October 2004 are up 66% to £3.09 million
compared to £1.86 million in the corresponding period to October 2003.
• The above growth in turnover reflects a continuing trend, which can be
demonstrated as follows:
Average monthly Employee New IVA
Turnover numbers Annualised case
£ (period end) run rate
- 5 months to 30 April 2003 211,650 51 699
- 6 months to 31 October 2003 309,472 57 870
- 6 months to 30 April 2004 392,280 88 1140
- 6 months to 31 October 2004 514,901 117 1320
• Gross profit margin on advertising has been maintained at 65%, which
is consistent with previous periods.
• As demonstrated above, overheads and, in particular, employee numbers
have increased significantly to expand our operating capacity and facilitate
future growth. This has had a short-term impact on EBITDA during their
initial training period.
• Financial performance is in line with management expectations, with
EBITDA profit of £251,169 and loss before tax of £8,496.
• Net assets were £5.4m at 31 October 2004.
Whilst we remain confident that the monthly case run-rate by the end of our
financial year will exceed our previous expectations, it remains too soon to
predict whether that excess run-rate will be achieved early enough to compensate
fully in the current financial year for the investment in future growth made in
both the first and second half year.
Chief Executive's Report:
Current trading and prospects
• Strong trading in the pre-Christmas period saw the trend growth in
turnover continue, with monthly turnover for both November and December
being in excess of £600,000 (and new IVA annualised case run rate had grown
to 1764).
• We previously announced our ambition to considerably expand our operating
capacity, notably with the recruitment of significant numbers of new
employees.
In recent months the emphasis has been on the recruitment of sufficient
numbers of call handling and IVA processing staff. Whilst the pace of
recruitment had initially proven to be slower than hoped, we have now
recruited more staff than originally envisaged, to enable us to achieve our
target number of cases for the year and continue to increase the pace of
growth in the business. Total employee numbers now stand at 128.
Consequently, this means that we will be in a stronger position moving into
the next financial year than previously anticipated.
The market
• As we said in our trading update, released on 11 November 2004:
'The board is increasingly confident that the scale of the consumer debt
problem is significantly greater than previously estimated. We have
recently commissioned independent research and, as a result, our assessment
of the size of both the existing market and the potential future market has
once again had to be revised upwards. This assessment allows for our view
that interest rates are probably near to, or at the top of, their cycle.
With regard to the existing market, the research shows that rising interest
rates have already taken their toll, as 865,000 people have considered (or
are considering) bankruptcy as an option.
One in three people is concerned about the impact of rising interest rates
on their ability to pay off debts. This is not surprising, given that 9%
(4.8 million people) spend more than they earn on a regular basis and 5%
(2.5 million people) do so every month'.
This view was expressed in November 2004 and has been substantiated by our call
volumes for early January, which have generated 'qualifying responses' (for
IVAs), which are up 95% on the same period last year. Therefore, we confidently
anticipate that the number of over-indebted consumers requiring our services in
the future will increase substantially.
Growing our business
• As stated above, the increase in staff means that we are now in a stronger
position to meet the anticipated increase in demand.
• We have enjoyed considerable success in securing media buying deals at less
than forecast costs. The benefits of this will be felt over the forthcoming
year. In particular, these savings will allow us to continue our growth
through increased advertising spend in the more expensive, high volume
media areas, whilst still maintaining our overall gross margin.
• We have agreed bank facilities sufficient to fund the Company's
anticipated future growth.
• Additional premises (5,000 square feet) have been taken on, sufficient to
accommodate the IVA case supervisory team requirements for the foreseeable
future. Furthermore, this will free up space in our existing premises to
better accommodate future growth in call handling and IVA processing staff.
A Redmond
Chief Executive Officer
11 January 2004
Grenville Folwell, Chairman said:
'I am delighted that the Group has continued to make successful progress during
the six months to 31 October 2004.
The Group is well placed to exploit its distinct position in a dynamic market.
By providing best advice to our target sector and by maintaining our high
ethical and regulated standards, we aim to become the most respected provider of
advice and appropriate solutions to over-indebted consumers in a rapidly
expanding marketplace.'
Enquiries
Debt Free Direct
Andrew Redmond (CEO) 01257 240599
Paul Latham (FD) 01257 240529
Citigate Dewe Rogerson 0207 638 9571
Michael Berkeley
Sarah Gestetner
Fiona Mulcahy
Note to Editors
Debt Free Direct helps individuals find the best solution to their debt
problems, based upon an analysis of their particular financial circumstances.
Financial information on an individual is process through a computer model (The
Best Advice Model) developed by Debt Free Direct in order to recommend a
solution suitable for that individual's particular financial circumstances. The
solutions offered range from basis advice, such as simply destroying credit
cards and curbing unnecessary expenditure, to the following solutions:
• consolidation loan
• re-mortgage
• informal arrangement
• individual voluntary arrangement (IVA)
• bankruptcy
Debt Free Direct is unique in the marketplace in that, unlike most of its
competitors who sell specific products, Debt Free Direct looks to provide the
best advice to the consumer and recommends them the most appropriate service.
Debt Free Direct is based in Chorley, Lancashire, and was admitted to AIM in
December 2002.
DEBT FREE DIRECT GROUP PLC
CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
PERIOD FROM 1 MAY 2004 TO 31 OCTOBER 2004
Period from 1 Period from Period from 1 Year from 1
May 04 to 31 1 Nov 03 to May 03 to 31 May 03 to 30
Oct 04 30 Apr 04 Oct 03 Apr 04
£'000 £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover 3,089 2,354 1,857 4,211
Cost of Sales (1,076) (847) (590) (1,437)
GROSS PROFIT 2,013 1,507 1,267 2,774
Administrative expenses (1,762) (1,317) (949) (2,266)
EBITA 251 190 318 508
Depreciation (77) (69) (26) (96)
Goodwill amortisation (157) (160) (152) (312)
OPERATING PROFITS 17 (39) 140 100
Interest receivable 14 35 7 43
Interest payable and similar charges (40) (43) (36) (79)
(LOSS)/PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE (9) (47) 111 64
TAXATION
Tax on (loss)/Profit on ordinary activities (45) (8) 0 (8)
(LOSS)/PROFIT FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD (54) (55) 111 (56)
(Loss)/Profit per share - basic and diluted -0.17p -0.23p 0.47p 0.21p
The group has no recognized gains or losses other than the results for the
period as set out above.
All of the activities of the group are classed as continuing.
DEBT FREE DIRECT GROUP PLC
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET
AS AT 31 OCTOBER 2004
As at 31 Oct As at 31 Oct As at 30 Apr
04 03 04
£000 £000 £000
FIXED ASSETS
Intangible assets 2,400 2,639 2,558
Tangible assets 602 207 564
3,002 2,846 3,122
CURRENT ASSETS
Debtors 3,753 1,641 2,642
Cash at bank (182) 3,682 1,171
3,571 5,323 3,813
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year (1,044) (1,717) (1,330)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 2,527 3,606 2,483
CREDITORS: Amounts falling due after more than
one year (42) (156) (64)
PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGE (94) (1,988) (94)
5,393 4,308 5,447
CAPITAL AND RESERVES 309 289 309
Called-up equity share capital 5,196 4,023 5,196
Share premium account (112) (4) (58)
Profit and loss account
SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 5,393 4,308 5,447
DEBT FREE DIRECT GROUP PLC
CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
PERIOD FROM 1 MAY 2004 TO 31 OCTOBER 2004
Period from Period from Year from 1
1 May 04 to 1 May 03 to May 03 to 30
31 Oct 04 31 Oct 03 Apr 04 £'000
£'000 £'000
NET CASH FLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES (1,168) (37) (764)
RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND SERVICING OF FINANCE
Interest received 14 7 43
Interest paid (35) (36) (85)
Interest element of finance lease rental payments (4) 0 (9)
NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM RETURNS ON INVESTMENTS AND
SERVICING OF FINANCE (25) (29) (51)
CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (87) (22) (318)
NET CASH OUTFLOW FROM CAPITAL EXPENDITURE (87) (22) (318)
ACQUISITIONS
Acquisition of DFD Limited preference shares and
loan notes 0 0 (1,360)
NET CASH (OUTFLOW) / INFLOW FROM ACQUISITIONS 0 0 (1,360)
NET CASH OUTFLOW BEFORE FINANCING (1,280) (87) (2,493)
FINANCING
Issue of equity share capital 0 3,850 3,850
Professional costs charged to the share premium
account 0 (162) (188)
Capital element of finance lease rental payments (28) (162) (188)
Repayments of loans 0 0 (33)
NET CASH INFLOW FROM FINANCING (28) 3,688 3,583
(DECREASE)/INCREASE IN CASH (1,308) 3,601 1,090
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING PROFIT TO NET
CASHOUTFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Operating profit 17 140 100
Amortisation 157 152 312
Depreciation 77 26 96
Increase in debtors (1,111) (387) (1,396)
Increase in creditors (308) 32 124
Net cash outflow from operating activities (1,168) (37) (764)
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW
(Decrease)/Increase in cash in the period (1,308) 3,601 1,090
Hire purchase agreements acquired with subsidiary 0
(1,308) 3,601 1,090
DEBT FREE DIRECT GROUP PLC
CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD FROM 1 MAY 2004 TO 31 OCTOBER 2004
NOTES
1. EARNINGS PER SHARE
The earnings per share has been calculated using the loss for the financial
period and a weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the six
month period to 31 October 2004 of 30,949,200 (23,790,308 for the period ended
31 October 2003 and 26,744,493 for the year ended 30 April 2004).
2. COMPARATIVE FIGURES
The comparative figures represent the 6 month periods to 30 April 2004 and 31
October 2003 and the year from 1 May 2003 to 30 April 2004.
3. STATUS OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION
The accounts of the Group for the six months to 31 October 2004 were approved by
the Board on 7 January 2005.
The interim financial statements have not been audited and do not constitute
statutory accounts as defined under s.240 of the Companies Act 1985.
The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with
applicable accounting standards and are consistent with those adopted and
disclosed in the Group's statutory accounts for the year ended 30 April 2004.
Those accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been
delivered to the Registrar of Companies.
4. DISTRIBUTION OF THE INTERIM REPORT
Copies of the Interim Report are being sent to shareholders. Further copies of
the Interim and Annual Report and Accounts may be obtained from the Company's
Registered Office, Cloth Hall Court, Infirmary Street, Leeds. In addition, an
electronic version will be available on the Company's website,
www.debtfreedirect.co.uk
This information is provided by RNS
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