Interim Results
Fiske PLC
17 January 2002
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The first half of our current financial year has proved to be a difficult and
testing period. Markets have been volatile, the economic background gloomy and
overall levels of activity have been depressed. During the half-year we sold a
further 325,000 shares in the London Stock Exchange at a profit of £1,097,000.
As a consequence our results show a profit before tax for the half-year ended
30 November 2001 of £881,000 (2000: £1,109,000) after a loss of £216,000
(2000: profit £569,000) on trading. We retain a holding of 175,000 shares in
the London Stock Exchange, at nil value, which were quoted at 421p per share
on the 15 January 2002.
At the end of October Malcolm Bryant, our Finance Director, resigned by mutual
agreement. We have appointed Amanda Andrews as Financial Controller. Amanda
has worked for some four years at Fiske in a senior financial role.
The Board has looked carefully at the firm's overheads and has taken steps to
make a meaningful reduction. The costs involved have been taken in the first
half-year and the savings will accrue in the second half.
Our industry is going through a period of consolidation. We are aware of the
opportunities open to a firm like ours, with an AIM quotation and a strong
balance sheet and will continue to seek ways of improving both the quality and
quantity of our earnings.
The Board has approved the payment of a maintained interim dividend of 2p per
share.
Record date: 25 January 2002
Ex-dividend date: 23 January 2002
Payment date: 22 February 2002
G. Maitland Smith
Chairman
17 January 2002
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
For the six months ended 30 November 2001
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
30 November 30 November 31 May
2001 2000 2001
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
£'000 £'000 £'000
TURNOVER
Gross commission receivable 1,312 2,799 4,614
Commission payable (525) (1,213) (1,949)
Other income 206 241 460
993 1,827 3,125
OPERATING COSTS
Staff costs (554) (566) (1,215)
Depreciation (54) (47) (102)
Other operating charges (727) (766) (1,477)
(1,335) (1,379) (2,794)
OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT (342) 448 331
Gain on disposal of fixed asset 1,097 540 1,236
investment
Other income from fixed asset 13 2 16
investments
Interest receivable and similar income 113 121 257
Interest payable - (2) (3)
1,223 661 1,506
PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE 881 1,109 1,837
TAXATION
Taxation on profit on ordinary (282) (367) (560)
activities
PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER 599 742 1,277
TAXATION
Dividends paid and proposed (130) (130) (373)
Retained profit for the period/year 469 612 904
Retained profit brought forward 1,806 902 902
Retained profit carried forward 2,275 1,514 1806
PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT (continued)
For the six months ended 30 November 2001
EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE
Headline earnings per share has been calculated in accordance with the
definition in the Institute of Investment Management Research ('IIMR')
Statement of Investment Practice No. 1, 'The definition of IIMR Headline
Earnings', in order to take out the exceptional gain arising on the disposal
of London Stock Exchange shares as follows:-
Six Six
months months Year
Ended ended ended
30 30 31
November November May
2001 2000 2001
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
Basic earnings per ordinary share 9.2p 11.4p 19.7p
Less: gain on disposal of fixed asset investment
after taxation 12.5p 5.8p 13.3p
______ ______ ______
Headline (loss)/earnings per ordinary share
(3.3p) 5.6p 6.4p
______ ______ ______
Diluted earnings per ordinary share 9.2p 11.1p 18.3p
Less: gain on disposal of fixed asset investment
after taxation 12.5p 5.7p 12.4p
______ ______ ______
Headline diluted (loss)/earnings per ordinary share
(3.3p) 5.4p 5.9p
______ ______ ______
NOTE
Financial information for the year ended 31 May 2001 has been extracted from
the Company's statutory accounts which have been delivered to the Registrar of
Companies. The audit report on the accounts for the year ended 31 May 2001 was
unqualified. The financial information contained in this Interim Report does
not constitute the Company's statutory accounts within the meaning of s240 of
the Companies Act 1985.
BALANCE SHEET
30 November 2001
30 31 May
30 November 2001
November
2000 Audited
2001
Unaudited £'000
Unaudited
£'000
£'000
FIXED ASSETS
Tangible assets 208 215 254
Investments 115 75 99
323 290 353
CURRENT ASSETS
Market and client debtors 7,237 20,093 9,818
Other debtors 160 306 210
Cash at bank and in hand 4,675 4,362 4,347
12,072 24,761 14,375
CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one
year
Market and client creditors (7,293) (19,875) (9,875)
Other creditors (852) (1,691) (1,072)
(8,145) (21,566) (10,947)
NET CURRENT ASSETS 3,927 3,195 3,428
TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT 4,250 3,485 3,781
LIABILITIES
PROVISION FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES - (3) -
4,250 3,482 3,781
CAPITAL AND RESERVES
Called up share capital 1,630 1,625 1,630
Share premium account 345 343 345
Profit and loss account 2,275 1,514 1,806
EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 4,250 3,482 3,781
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
For the six months ended 30 November 2001
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING (LOSS)/PROFIT TO NET CASH (OUTFLOW)/INFLOW
FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Six months Six months Year
ended ended ended
30 30 31 May
November November
2001
2001 2000
Audited
Unaudited Unaudited
£'000
£'000 £'000
Operating (loss)/profit (342) 448 331
Depreciation charges 54 47 102
Decrease in debtors 2,631 17,200 27,565
Decrease in creditors (2,788) (16,773) (26,957)
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating (445) 922 1,041
activities
Six months Six months Year
Ended ended ended
30 30 31 May
November November
2001
2001 2000
Audited
Unaudited Unaudited
£'000
£'000 £'000
CASH FLOW STATEMENT
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating (445) 922 1,041
activities
Returns on investment and servicing of finance 126 121 270
Disposal of fixed asset investment 1,097 540 1,236
Taxation
UK corporation tax paid (182) - (740)
Capital expenditure (24) (17) (135)
Equity dividends paid (244) (243) (373)
Financing - - 8
Increase in cash 328 1,323 1,307
Increase in cash in the period/year 328 1,323 1,307
Change in net cash 328 1,323 1,307
Net funds brought forward 4,347 3,039 3,040
Net funds carried forward 4,675 4,362 4,347
Represented by:
Cash at bank and in hand 4,675 4,362 4,347
INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO FISKE PLC
Introduction
We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information for
the six months ended 30 November 2001 which comprises the profit and loss
account, the balance sheet and the cash flow statement. We have read the other
information contained in the interim report and considered whether it contains
any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial
information.
Directors' responsibilities
The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is
the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors
are also responsible for ensuring that the accounting policies and
presentation applied to the interim figures are consistent with those applied
in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any changes, and the
reasons for them, are disclosed.
Review work performed
We conducted our review in accordance with the guidance contained in Bulletin
1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A
review consists principally of making enquiries of management and applying
analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial
data and, based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and
presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A
review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of
assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than
an audit performed in accordance with United Kingdom auditing standards and
therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly, we
do not express an audit opinion on the financial information.
Review conclusion
On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that
should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months
ended 30 November 2001.
Deloitte & Touche
Chartered Accountants
Stonecutter Court
1 Stonecutter Street
London EC4A 4TR
17 January 2002