Interim Results

RNS Number : 7094G

Fiske PLC

05 February 2010

 



Fiske PLC

5 February 2010

Fiske Plc

('Fiske' or 'the Company')

Interim Results

Fiske Plc (the 'Company') announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 November 2009. In accordance with rule 26 of the AIM Rules for Companies this information is also available, under the Investors section, at the Company's website, http://www.fiskeplc.com .

For further information please contact:

  • Gerry Beaney/David Hignell Grant Thornton Corporate Finance (Nominated Adviser)

    (tel: [phone])

  • Gerard Luchini, Fiske Plc - Compliance Officer

    (tel: [phone])

 

Chairman's Statement

The improvement in our business began in August and has enabled us to earn a profit of £286,000 at the pre-tax level for the half year to 30 November 2009 compared with a loss of £139,000 for the six months ended 30 November 2008. Most of the impetus for the improvement over last year is in stock market conditions but we have continued to attract additional funds for management and our emphasis on our expansion as a fund manager is on track. Our acquisition in April 2009 of Vor Financial, a specialist bond manager, has been a success.

Conditions in the Stock Market have vastly improved from the panic of early 2009. However, many of the underlying problems remain. The banks need to continue to rebuild their balance sheets with both equity and retained profits. Unfortunately the culture in the banks has still to adjust to the new climate. The economy remains close to recession. Printing money by the authorities does wonders for asset bubbles but rather less for the real economy. One despairs of the wisdom and abilities of the economic and financial authorities worldwide. For the immediate future this vast supply of money should be good for markets but one day this year the printing will have to end and that will present a real challenge for the markets.

At Fiske we have changed neither our strategy nor our balance sheet. We continue to strengthen our institutional department and our private client fund management business has grown organically as well as by acquisition. Whilst we remain cautious on the outlook for markets and the economy in the short term, we remain confident in our ability to grow our business this financial year. Last October we paid a reduced second interim dividend in respect of the last financial year of 2p. For this year's first interim dividend we feel it would be prudent to pay 2p as opposed to the 2.5p paid this time last year. Accordingly our first interim dividend of 2p will be paid on 12 March 2010 to shareholders on the register on 12 February 2010. The shares will be marked ex-dividend in the market on 10 February 2010.

C F Harrison Chairman

5 February 2010

Independent Review Report to Fiske plc

We have been engaged by the Group to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 November 2009 which comprises the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated statement of changes in equity, the consolidated cash flow statement and related notes 1 to 3. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

This report is made solely to the Group in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410 "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Auditing Practices Board.  Our work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company those matters we are required to state to them in an independent review report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Group, for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

Directors' responsibilities

The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors.  The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the AIM Rules of the London Stock Exchange.

As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of the Group are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.  The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies the Group intends to use in preparing its next annual financial statements.

Our responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the Group a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review.

Scope of Review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410 "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making inquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 November 2009 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the AIM Rules of the London Stock Exchange.

Deloitte LLP

Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors

London, UK

5 February 2010

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the six months ended 30 November 2009

		Six months ended 30 November 2009 Unaudited	Six months ended 30 November 2008 Unaudited	Year ended 31 May 2009             Audited
		£'000	£'000	£'000
Fee and commission income		2,043	1,621	3,480
Fee and commission expenses		(476)	(371)	(863)
Net fee and commission income		1,567	1,250	2,617
Other income		97	96	154
Total revenue		1,664	1,346	2,771
Profit on disposal of available-for-sale investments		3	-	-
Impairment on available-for-sale investments		-	-	(27)
Profit/(loss) on investments held for trading		101	(141)	(107)
Operating expenses		(1,520)	(1,300)	(2,741)
Write-down of goodwill		-	(121)	(145)
Amortisation of intangibles		-	(45)	(45)
Operating profit/(loss)		248	(261)	(294)
Investment revenue		28	39	52
Finance income		13	85	109
Finance costs		(3)	(2)	(6)
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation		286	(139)	(139)
Taxation		(73)	(4)	(11)
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation		213	(143)	(150)
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
Movement in unrealised appreciation of investments		2	(16)	(178)
Deferred tax on movement in unrealised appreciation of investments		-	(3)	50
Net other comprehensive income/(expense)		2	(19)	(128)
Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the period/year attributable to equity shareholders		215	(162)	(278)
Earnings per ordinary share (pence)
Basic		2.5p	(1.7)p	(1.8)p
Diluted		2.5p	(1.7)p	(1.8)p

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

	Share Capital	Share Premium	Revaluation Reserve	Retained Earnings	Total Equity
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
Balance at 1 December 2008	2,087	1,187	831	735	4,840
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation	-	-	-	(7)	(7)
Other comprehensive income/(loss)	-	-	(109)	-	(109)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for period	-	-	(109)	(7)	(116)
Issue of ordinary share capital	22	29	-	-	51
Dividends paid	-	-	-	(208)	(208)
Balance at 31 May 2009	2,109	1,216	722	520	4,567
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation	-	-	-	213	213
Other comprehensive income	-	-	2	-	2
Total comprehensive income for period	-	-	2	213	215
Dividends paid	-	-	-	(169)	(169)
Balance at 30 November 2009	2,109	1,216	724	564	4,613

Consolidated Balance Sheet

30 November 2009

		As at 30 November 2009 Unaudited	As at 30 November 2008 Unaudited	As at 31 May 2009 Audited
		£'000	£'000	£'000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Goodwill		380	254	380
Property, plant and equipment		53	91	75
Available-for-sale investments		1,236	1,421	1,233
Total non-current assets		1,669	1,766	1,688
Current assets
Trade and other receivables		9,992	13,946	10,664
Investments held for trading		245	114	187
Cash and cash equivalents		3,327	3,254	3,143
Total current assets		13,564	17,314	13,994
Total assets		15,233	19,080	15,682
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables		10,277	13,809	10,836
Current tax liabilities		79	117	22
Total current liabilities		10,356	13,926	10,858
Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities		264	314	257
Total non-current liabilities		264	314	257
Total liabilities		10,620	14,240	11,115
EQUITY
Share capital		2,109	2,087	2,109
Share premium		1,216	1,187	1,216
Revaluation reserve		724	831	722
Retained earnings		564	735	520
Shareholders' equity		4,613	4,840	4,567
Total equity and liabilities		15,233	19,080	15,682

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For the six months ended 30 November 2009

	Six months ended 30 November 2009 Unaudited	Six months ended 30 November 2008 Unaudited	Year ended 31 May 2009 Audited
	£'000	£'000	£'000
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from/(used in) by operations	323	(394)	(197)
Interest paid	(3)	(2)	(6)
Tax paid	(10)	-	(117)
Net cash generated from /(used in) operating activities	310	(396)	(320)
Investing activities
Interest received	13	85	109
Investment income received	28	39	52
Proceeds on disposal of available-for-sale investments	23	-	-
Purchases of available-for-sale investments	(20)	-	-
Purchases of property, plant and equipment	(1)	(10)	(25)
Payments to acquire subsidiary undertaking	-	-	(160)
Cash acquired with subsidiary undertaking	-	-	160
Net cash generated from investing activities	43	114	136
Financing activities
Proceeds from issue of ordinary share capital	-	-	-
Dividends paid	(169)	(250)	(459)
Net cash used in financing activities	(169)	(250)	(459)
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	184	(532)	(643)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,143	3,786	3,786
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period/year	3,327	3,254	3,143

Notes to the Interim Financial Statements

1.        Basis of preparation

The financial information contained in this half year financial report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.

The figures and financial information for the period ended 31 May 2009 are extracted from the latest published audited financial statements of the Group and do not constitute the statutory financial statements for that period. The audited financial statements for the period ended 31 May 2009 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the independent auditors on those financial statements contained no qualification or statement under section 498(2) or section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial information has been prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union and IFRIC interpretations. The financial information has been prepared under the historical cost convention, except for the revaluation of certain financial instruments. The statutory financial statements are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union.

Except as described below, the Group has applied consistent accounting policies in preparing the interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 November 2009, the comparative information for the six months ended 30 November 2008, and the financial statements for the period ended 31 May 2009.

The Group applies revised IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements, which became effective as of 1 January 2009. As a result, the Company presents in the statement of changes in equity all owner changes in equity, whereas all non-owner changes in equity are presented in the statement of comprehensive income. This standard is concerned with presentation only and does not have any impact on the results or net assets of the Company. Comparative information has been re-presented where applicable so that it also is in conformity with the revised standard.

As permitted, the Company has chosen not to adopt IAS 34 "Interim Financial Statements" in preparing this interim financial information.

The directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing these half-yearly financial statements.

2.        Taxation

The tax charge for the six months to 30 November 2009 reflects all the necessary provisions for current tax, taking into account the availability of losses brought forward, and movements in deferred tax. In arriving at the effective tax rate account has been taken of the change in the rate of tax charged and the disallowance of the cost of share-based payments charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

3.        Dividends paid

Dividends paid of £169,000 (2008 - £250,000) refer to the second interim dividend paid for the preceding year.

The Interim dividend of 2p will be paid on 12 March 2010 to shareholders on the register on 12 February 2010. The shares will be marked ex-dividend on 10 February 2010.

 

END

 

 

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