Interim Results

Liontrust Asset Management PLC 22 October 2003 Embargoed until 0700 hours, 22nd October 2003 LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC Interim results for the six months to 30th September 2003 Half year core profits rose by 75% to £3.544 million whilst funds under management rose by 59% to £4.083 billion with a further £579 million in transition. • Core pre tax operating profits (excluding performance fees) increased by 75% to £3.544 million from £2.031 million. • Core earnings per share up 92% at 9.66p. • Total pre tax operating profits rose by 31% to £3.56 million. • Total earnings per share improved by 50% to 9.70p. • Interim dividend of 1.5p per share (1p per share first half last year). • 10 new institutional mandates won worth £751 million. • Net unit trust sales £210 million. • Funds under management (including £579 million in transition) rose by 42% since 31 March 2003 to £4.662 billion from £3.274 billion (including £705 million in transition). The market rose by 17% over the period. Actual funds under management have risen 119% since 30 September 2002. • Funds under management on 21 October were £4.505 billion, with a further £508 million in transition. Nigel Legge, Joint Chief Executive, commenting on these results, said 'We have made steady progress again by concentrating on UK equities, investment process, client relationships and our people. The core cost: income ratio falling to 65.6% from 68.8% last year reflects the benefits, too, of controlling costs. We believe we can continue to make headway in what are generally regarded as fast changing and difficult times for the fund management sector.' Enquiries: Nigel Legge, Joint Chief Executive Liontrust Asset Management PLC 020 7412 1700 Richard Locke, Cazenove & Co. Ltd 020 7155 4706 Note to Editors Figures for funds in transition relate to mandates that the Company has been notified that it has been awarded, subject to contract. LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC Chairman's Interim Statement Thanks to a combination of strong inflows of new business and the 17% rise in the FTSE All-Share Index, our funds under management increased by 59% to £4.083bn from £2.569bn in the six months to 30 September 2003. In addition we had £579m of funds in transition at the end of the period compared with £705m at the end of March. On 21 October our funds under management stood at £4.505bn with a further £508m in transition. The average level of funds under management over the period was £3.48bn compared to £1.93bn for the 6 months to September 2002. As we have explained previously, our budgets and internal forecasts are based on 'core' profits, that is those excluding any contribution from performance related fees which, by their nature, are likely to be erratic and unpredictable. In the six months to 30 September core profits rose by 75% to £3.544m, compared with £2.031m for the same period a year ago. Total operating profits, that is those including profits from performance related fees, were £3.560m for the period under review, up 31% from £2.709m last year. Most of our performance related contracts fall due for calculation and payment (if earned) in the second half of our financial year. Relative performance of our four investment processes has been varied. The Small Cap. and Value investment processes have outperformed their benchmarks during 2003 while the Large Cap. and Growth investment processes, as represented by the Large Cap. and First Growth unit trusts, have underperformed theirs by 0.8% and 0.7% respectively to the end of September. Core earnings per share at 9.66p are up 92% on a year ago and total earnings per share (including the contribution from performance related fees earned in the period) rose 50% to 9.70p per share. These increases in earnings per share are higher than the corresponding increases in pre-tax profits as a result of tax reliefs that became due during the period. Core operating profits were maintained at an annualised 0.20% of average funds under management in the period. Once again we have kept a tight control on our costs and as a result the cost: income ratio on our core business has fallen to 65.6% from 68.8% at the same time last year. Total compensation costs as a percentage of pre-compensation profit are targeted to remain around 55% for this full year. Your board has decided to declare an interim dividend of 1.5p per share compared with 1.0p a year ago. The dividend will be paid on 20 November to shareholders on the register on 7 November. Any special dividend based on performance related earnings will be paid with the final dividend when the results for the full year are available. We have won ten institutional accounts during the period worth £751m. Net sales of proprietary unit trusts have also been strong at £210m. The First Income unit trust, based on our Value Dynamic investment process, has grown to over £500m. Sales for our Intellectual Capital unit trust are also rising. Once again, our recent experience has supported our view that the combination of a simple business model, built around clearly articulated investment processes, with few but able motivated people is a powerful formula for adding value. We remain enthusiastic about our prospects. Ellen Winser Chairman 22 October 2003 LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC Consolidated Profit and Loss Account Six months to 30th September 2003 6 months 6 months 12 months to 30.9.03 to 30.9.02 to 31.3.03 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Note £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover (Gross profit) 10,948 7,625 22,402 Staff costs (4,966) (3,191) (10,390) Exceptional staff costs 2 (272) 174 121 Total staff costs (5,238) (3,017) (10,269) Other operating charges (2,150) (1,899) (3,893) Operating profit 3,560 2,709 8,240 Interest receivable 200 173 345 Profit on ordinary activities before 3,760 2,882 8,585 taxation Tax on profit on ordinary activities 3 (564) (750) (2,506) Profit on ordinary activities after 3,196 2,132 6,079 taxation Dividends paid and proposed (685) (323) (3,961) Profit for the period transferred to 2,511 1,809 2,118 reserves pence pence pence Basic earnings per share 4 9.70 6.47 18.86 Basic earnings per share (adjusted) 4 10.40 6.10 18.59 Basic earnings per share (core) 4 9.66 5.03 10.20 Diluted earnings per share 4 9.40 6.21 18.16 Diluted earnings per share (adjusted) 4 10.08 5.35 17.91 Diluted earnings per share (core) 4 9.35 4.83 9.82 6 months 6 months 12 months to 30.9.03 to 30.9.02 to 31.3.03 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Core earnings 3,544 2,031 4,254 Performance related earnings 288 504 3,865 3,832 2,535 8,119 Exceptional staff costs (272) 174 121 Operating profit 3,560 2,709 8,240 LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC Consolidated Balance Sheet At 30th September 2003 30.9.03 30.9.02 31.3.03 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets 329 292 286 Own shares held by the Liontrust Asset Management Employee Trust 5,034 3,454 3,454 5,363 3,746 3,740 Current assets Short term investments 183 99 174 Debtors 15,827 9,260 32,006 Cash at bank and in hand 11,595 7,784 9,915 27,605 17,143 42,095 Creditors - amounts falling due within one (19,218) (11,680) (36,270) year Net current assets 8,387 5,463 5,825 Total assets less current liabilities 13,750 9,209 9,565 Capital and reserves Called up ordinary share capital 349 335 335 Share premium account 8,373 2,731 2,777 Profit and loss account 5,028 6,143 6,453 Shareholders' funds (all equity interests) 13,750 9,209 9,565 LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC Consolidated Cash Flow Statement Six months to 30th September 2003 6 months 6 months 12 months to 30.9.03 to 30.9.02 to 31.3.03 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating profit 3,560 2,709 8,240 Depreciation charges 49 52 104 (Increase)/ decrease in short term investments (9) 15 (60) Decrease/ (increase) in debtors 16,179 5,679 (17,067) (Decrease)/ increase in creditors (13,173) (4,344) 16,527 Net cash inflow from operating activities 6,606 4,111 7,744 Net cash inflow from operating activities 6,606 4,111 7,744 Returns on investment and servicing of finance 200 173 345 Taxation (1,329) (502) (1,854) Capital expenditure and financial investment (1,672) (3,488) (3,534) Equity dividends paid (3,799) (2,328) (2,651) 6 (2,034) 50 Financing 1,674 258 305 Increase/ (decrease) in cash 1,680 (1,776) 355 LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC Notes to the Financial Statements 1. Basis of preparation The unaudited interim financial information, which has been approved by the Board of Directors, has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Group's accounts for the year ended 31st March 2003. The financial information for the year ended 31st March 2003 has been abridged from the financial statements which received an unqualified audit report and which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. 2. Exceptional staff costs Exceptional staff costs are accrued in respect of the potential employer's National Insurance liability on unapproved share options. Exceptional staff costs: 30.9.03 30.9.02 31.3.03 £'000 £'000 £'000 Provision /(write back) for National Insurance on unapproved share options 272 (174) (121) 272 (174) (121) 3. Taxation The interim tax charge has been calculated at the estimated full year effective corporation tax rate of 15% (2002: 30%). This rate has been calculated taking into account the corporation tax rate of 30% and relief arising from gains on exercised share options. LIONTRUST ASSET MANAGEMENT PLC 4. Earnings per share The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on profit after taxation and the weighted number of ordinary shares in issue for each period, excluding the shares held by the Liontrust Asset Management Employee Trust. The weighted average number of ordinary shares was 32,948,794 for the six months ended 30th September 2003, 32,969,515 for the six months ended 30th September 2002 and 32,237,093 for the year ended 31st March 2003. In accordance with the methodology set out in the Annual Report & Accounts we have stated two further measures of basic earnings per share. The adjusted figure is calculated after removing the exceptional item and associated tax charge/ credit. The core figure is calculated after removing the exceptional item, the performance related fees and costs and related tax charges. For the six months to 30th September 2003 these are reconciled to the basic earnings per share as follows: Earnings EPS £'000 pence Basic earnings 3,196 9.70 Exceptional item less tax charge 231 Adjusted earnings 3,427 10.40 Performance related fees and costs less tax charge (245) Core earnings 3,182 9.66 The calculation of diluted earnings per share is based on profit after taxation and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue for each period, as above, adjusted for the effect of options to subscribe for shares that were in existence at 30th September 2003. The adjusted weighted average number of ordinary shares so calculated was 34,014,808 for the six months ended 30th September 2003, 34,333,617 for the six months ended 30th September 2002 and 33,475,251 for the year ended 31st March 2003. 5. Dividends The directors propose to pay an interim dividend in respect of the current period of 1.5 pence per share (2002: 1.0 pence) payable on 20 November 2003 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 7 November 2003. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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