Interim Results

Teather & Greenwood Holdings PLC 15 December 2004 For Immediate Release 15 December 2004 TEATHER & GREENWOOD HOLDINGS PLC ('Teather & Greenwood' or 'the Group') INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2004 Teather & Greenwood, one of the UK's leading independent stockbrokers, announces its interim results for the six months ended 31 October 2004. Highlights • Operating profit increased to £0.9m (2003: £0.4m) on turnover of £9.6m (2003: £9.8m); • Profit before tax £0.9 million (2003: £0.6m); • Earnings per share up 88% to 1.5p (2003: 0.8p); • New office opened in Edinburgh to service principally Scottish institutional clients; • Corporate Finance team involved in 24 transactions with a total value in excess of £900 million including the acquisition of a 20% stake in Geest for Bakkavor Group and the take-private transaction of DFS Furniture by Lord Kirkham; • Research capability broadened in core areas including media, retail and support services with the recruitment of several experienced analysts; • Institutional agency business continued to increase with market share in both FTSE 100 and the FT All Share Index in excess of 2%; • Investment Funds team increased the number of new brokerships by nine to over forty; • Sale of all non-core activities completed; • Commenting on outlook, Lord Baker, Chairman said: 'In line with our strategy, our institutional agency business is growing strongly and we are winning new brokerships and mandates at a pleasing rate in both the small/midcap arena and closed end funds sector. Taking account of the market's relatively positive mood, we remain confident about the future.' Enquiries: Nick Stagg, Chief Executive 020 7426 9000 Teather & Greenwood Richard Darby, Nicola Cronk Buchanan Communications 020 7466 5000 Notes to editors: Teather & Greenwood Limited is the principal operating company of Teather & Greenwood Holdings plc, which is quoted on the Official List and which is a Member of the London Stock Exchange. Teather & Greenwood Limited provides a range of complementary services focused on institutional stockbroking and corporate finance advisory services and is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Teather & Greenwood Limited is the fourth largest corporate broker in the UK to quoted companies, with 108 corporate brokerships. For more information on Teather & Greenwood Limited and its services, please visit the company's website: www.teathers.com. Chairman's Statement Trading conditions since May 2004 have remained relatively stable. The summer months, in line with previous years, were quiet but after the summer vacation period the market was stronger and we were particularly busy in October. We are making good progress in implementing the corporate strategy set out in the Annual Report. We focus upon institutional stockbroking and corporate finance advisory services in the mid and small cap sectors together with a large cap institutional agency business. We are also a market leader in the closed end funds sector. In August we opened a new office in Edinburgh to service principally Scottish institutional clients with mainly a large cap agency service. We have continued to expand this team with the addition of a highly rated analytical presence. Our equities research team has been strengthened in several core areas including media, retail and support services. We now provide research on over 230 companies from FTSE and AIM, and we will continue to expand our coverage. We have taken the strategic decision to locate all our corporate advisory staff in London, resulting in the closure of our office in Liverpool. Since the end of our half-year we have sold our Tax Efficient Solutions business to Smith and Williamson. This completes the sale of all non-core activities. We are now fully focused on our corporate strategy to be 'the UK institutional broker of choice'. Management tightly controls costs and the fixed cost base in the first half was lower than in the corresponding period. We continue to invest in developing our core activities to capitalise on the operational gearing of the Group. Financial Highlights Turnover for the group for the six months ended 31 October 2004 was £9.6 million (2003: £9.8 million). The small decrease in turnover arises from lower profits in market making (including investment funds) offset by a substantial increase in corporate finance revenues. Operating profit increased to £0.9 million (2003: £0.4 million), while operating costs fell to £8.8 million (2003: £9.4 million). Earnings per share were 1.5p (2003: 0.8p). As a result of the closure of the Liverpool office deferred consideration previously provided of £0.5 million has been released against a write down of goodwill of £0.3 million. Operating expenses also include the cost of closure of the Liverpool office. The balance sheet as at the 31 October 2004 showed net assets of £9.9 million (2003: £8.3 million) including cash of £17.7 million (2003: £0.9 million). The increase in cash during the period was accounted for largely by settlement monies held as part of a market operation, amounting to £16.0 million. The Board is not recommending the payment of an interim dividend (2003: nil). The future policy will be kept under review. Business Review During the first half-year we were involved in 24 corporate transactions with a total value in excess of £900 million as well as a net gain of four brokerships. Our presence in the midcap arena was reinforced by two large market operations and sole brokership of a take-private. These comprised the acquisition of a 20% stake in Geest for Bakkavor Group for approximately £86 million and a 10% stake in Easyjet for Icelandair for approximately £60 million. We were sole broker to Lord Kirkham's private offer vehicle in the take-private of DFS Furniture plc for £507 million. Our institutional agency business has continued to increase and our market share in both FTSE 100 and the FT All Share Index was in excess of 2% which is a significant improvement over last year. Our investment funds teams had a successful first half in winning nine new brokerships, bringing the total number of brokerships to over forty in this area. Outlook In line with our strategy, our institutional agency business is growing strongly and we are winning new brokerships and mandates at a pleasing rate in both the small/midcap arena and closed end funds sector. Taking account of the market's relatively positive mood, we remain confident about the future. Lord Baker of Dorking Chairman 15 December 2004 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the six months ended 31 October 2004 6 6 months months Year ended ended ended 31/10/04 31/10/03 30/04/04 Note £'000 £'000 £'000 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Turnover Continuing operations 1 9,625 9,643 18,647 Discontinued operations - 117 146 Group turnover 9,625 9,760 18,793 Operating costs (8,765) (9,355) (18,163) Operating profit/(loss) Continuing operations 860 710 1,070 Discontinued operations - (305) (440) Group operating profit 860 405 630 (Loss)/Profit on disposal of fixed asset investments (5) 1 1 Profit on disposal of discontinued operation - 250 820 Profit on ordinary activities before interest 855 656 1,451 Net interest receivable/(payable) 5 (71) (115) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 860 585 1,336 Taxation on profit on ordinary activities 6 (12) (150) (150) Profit for the period 848 435 1,186 Profit transferred to reserves 848 435 1,186 Earnings per share 2 1.5p 0.8p 2.1p Diluted earnings per share 2 1.5p 0.8p 2.1p Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 October 2004 31/10/04 31/10/03 30/04/04 Note £'000 £'000 £'000 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Fixed assets Tangible assets 456 1,132 677 Investments 130 230 230 Intangible assets - 300 250 586 1,662 1,157 Current assets Trading positions 4,484 4,586 4,445 Debtors 34,978 90,044 48,200 Cash at bank and in hand 17,696 877 1,258 57,158 95,507 53,903 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 47,881 88,405 46,045 Net current assets 9,277 7,102 7,858 Total assets less current liabilities 9,863 8,764 9,015 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year - 500 - Net assets 9,863 8,264 9,015 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 5,710 5,710 5,710 Share premium account 2,418 2,418 2,418 Treasury Reserve (1,185) (1,185) (1,185) Other reserves 14 14 14 Profit and loss account 2,906 1,307 2,058 Equity shareholders' funds 9,863 8,264 9,015 Consolidated cash flow statement for the six months ended 31 October 2004 6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended 31/10/2004 31/10/2004 30/04/2004 Note £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 3 16,370 1,051 2,085 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest and other investment income received 2 78 5 Interest paid (9) (126) (119) Net cash outflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance (7) (44) (114) Capital expenditure and financial investment Receipts from sales of tangible fixed assets - 1 1 Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (131) (22) (40) Payments to acquire treasury shares - (17) (17) Receipts from sales of trade investments 95 - - Net cash outflow from capital expenditure (36) (38) (56) Acquisitions and disposals Receipts from sale of part of TGIM - 250 820 Financing Issue of ordinary share capital - 17 17 Increase in cash 5 16,327 1,236 2,752 Notes for the six months ended 31 October 2004 1. Turnover & segmental analysis 6 months to 31 October 2004 6 months to 31 October 2003 Year ended to 30 April 2004 Continuing Discontinued Total Continuing Discontinued Total Continuing Discontinued Total Operations Operations £'000 Operations Operations £'000 Operations Operations £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Corporate Finance 2,855 - 2,855 1,491 - 1,491 4,271 - 4,271 Investment Management 1,041 - 1,041 1,158 - 1,158 2,354 - 2,354 Institutional 4,161 - 4,161 4,623 117 4,740 7,575 146 7,721 Investment Funds 1,568 - 1,568 2,371 - 2,371 4,447 - 4,447 Total 9,625 - 9,625 9,643 117 9,760 18,647 146 18,793 2. Earnings per share 6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended 31/10/2004 31/10/2003 30/04/2004 Diluted Diluted Diluted Earnings Earnings Earnings Earnings Earnings Earnings £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Earnings 848 848 435 435 1,186 1,186 Number of shares 56,754,839 56,071,902 56,891,345 56,235,944 57,144,742 56,051,168 Earnings per share 1.5p 1.5p 0.8p 0.8p 2.1p 2.1p Calculation of number of shares at 31 October 2004 At 1 May 57,095,698 57,095,698 57,034,498 57,034,498 57,034,498 57,034,498 Weighted average number of shares issued in the period - - 19,957 19,957 40,466 40,466 Dilutive effect of share option schemes 682,937 - 655,401 - 1,093,574 - Own shares purchased and held in EBT (1,023,796) (1,023,796) (818,511) (818,511) (1,023,796) (1,023,796) At end of period 56,754,839 56,071,902 56,891,345 56,235,944 57,144,742 56,051,168 3. Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities 6 months ended 6 months ended 12 months to ended 31/10/2004 31/10/2003 30/04/2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating profit 860 405 630 Depreciation and amortisation 602 636 1,158 Decrease/(increase) in trading positions 165 (718) (702) Decrease/(increase) in debtors 13,222 (34,842) 7,127 Increase/(decrease) in creditors 1,521 35,570 (6,128) Net cash inflow from operating activities 16,370 1,051 2,085 4. Net funds at end of period Bank balances 17,696 877 1,258 Bank overdrafts (368) (1,392) (257) 17,328 (515) 1,001 Bank balances include £16,765,000 (31 October 2003: £85,000) received in the course of settlement of client bargains, and bank overdrafts include £140,000 (31 October 2003: £313,000) in the course of settlement of client bargains. 5. Combined reconciliation on net cashflow and analysis of movements in net funds At 30/4/2004 Cash flow At 31/10/2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Bank balances 1,258 16,438 17,696 Bank overdrafts (257) (111) (368) Total net funds 1,001 16,327 17,328 6. Taxation on profit on ordinary activities The tax charge for the six months ended 31 October 2004 relates to the writing off of a prior year deferred tax asset. 7. Basis of preparation The interim figures are unaudited. The accounts for the year to 30 April 2004 are abridged. The periods ended 31 October 2003 and 2004, and the year ended 30 April 2004 do not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the year ended 30 April 2004 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. These statutory accounts were audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP and their report thereon was unqualified. Copies of the interim results are available, free of charge to the public on any weekday at the registered office of the Company (Beaufort House, 15 St Botolph Street, London EC3A 7QR). Independent review report for the six months ended 31 October 2004 Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information for the six months ended 31 October 2004 which comprises the consolidated profit and loss account, the consolidated balance sheet, the consolidated cash flow statement and related notes 1 to 7. 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. This report is made solely to the company in accordance with Bulletin 1999/4 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 company, for our review work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed. 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 responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority which require 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 group 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 31 October 2004. Deloitte & Touche LLP Chartered Accountants London 15 December 2004 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings