21 March
2024
APTITUDE SOFTWARE GROUP
plc
('Aptitude' or 'the
Group')
Audited Results for the Year
Ended
31 December
2023
Aptitude (LSE: APTD), a
market-leading provider of finance transformation software
solutions, specialising in autonomous finance, reports its Audited Results for the year ended 31 December
2023.
Financial Highlights
Year ended 31
December
|
2023
|
2022
|
%
Change
|
Annual Recurring
Revenue1, 2 ('ARR') at year end
|
£51.1m
|
£50.2m2
|
2%
|
Revenue
|
|
|
|
Total Revenue
|
£74.7m
|
£74.4m
|
-
|
- Recurring
Revenue3
|
£53.4m
|
£50.5m
|
6%
|
-
Non-Recurring Revenue
|
£21.3m
|
£23.9m
|
(11%)
|
Profit and EPS
|
|
|
|
Adjusted Operating
Profit4
|
£9.7m
|
£7.5m
|
29%
|
Statutory Operating
Profit
|
£5.3m
|
£3.7m
|
43%
|
Adjusted Operating
Margin4
|
13%
|
10%
|
3%
|
Basic Earnings per Share
|
7.2p
|
4.5p
|
60%
|
Cash and Balance Sheet
|
|
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents at year
end
|
£34.1m
|
£29.2m
|
17%
|
Net funds5
|
£22.7m
|
£15.9m
|
43%
|
Final Ordinary Dividend per
Share
|
3.6p
|
3.6p
|
-
|
Full Year Ordinary Dividend per
Share
|
5.4p
|
5.4p
|
-
|
·
|
Adjusted Operating Profit grew by
29% to £9.7m (2022: £7.5m).
|
·
|
Year on year constant currency
growth in ARR of 2% with headline growth rates moderated by
continuing churn in Subscription, Billing and Revenue
Management.
|
·
|
Despite a reduction in non-recurring
revenue of £2.6m (11%), total revenue remained steady at £74.7m, an
increase of £0.3m from the prior year as a result of the increase
in higher quality, recurring revenue.
|
·
|
Recurring Revenue, the strategic
priority of the Group, grew 6% to £53.4 million (2022: £50.5
million), representing 71% of total revenue (2022: 68%).
|
·
|
Continued balance sheet strength,
with cash of £34.1m (2022: £29.2m) and Net
Funds5 of £22.7m (2022: £15.9m). Cash conversion remains a key
strength and is improving with the increase in recurring revenue
and an improving operating margin.
|
·
|
As announced separately today, the
Board has approved a share buyback programme of up to £20m over
three years as part of a programme of enhanced returns. The Group's
robust balance sheet provides the opportunity to take advantage of
the prevailing market conditions to repurchase shares at
advantageous levels, while maintaining the necessary investment to
support the organic growth of the business.
|
·
|
Maintained full year dividend of
5.4p per share.
|
Strategic Progress:
·
|
Appointment of new executive team,
with both CEO and CFO roles filled by internal candidates, who have
tenure with the organisation and strong operational and market
experience.
|
·
|
Executive team appointed to ensure
Aptitude can complete the shift from a business set up to sell
regulatory compliance software to an organisation delivering an
intelligent finance data management and accounting
platform.
|
·
|
This shift is required to execute
against the significant global opportunity for the Fynapse platform
supported by our strategic partnerships who recognise how Aptitude
is uniquely positioned to help them capitalise on the AI autonomous
finance opportunity.
|
·
|
The acceleration of our partner
strategy is already delivering results, with increased partner
pipeline and marketing activity.
|
·
|
Upon appointment, the CEO completed
an organisational review, which has concluded the need for
organisational realignment to support the opportunity with Fynapse
and partners.
|
·
|
The following is being implemented
to support this:
|
|
o
|
Strategic refocus and linked
objectives aligning the entire organisation to execute on the
Fynapse opportunity, mitigating client churn and scaling through
partners.
|
|
o
|
Alignment of product and technology
with the recent appointment of a Chief Product and Technology
Officer.
|
|
o
|
Implementation of a global and
Fynapse partner led go-to-market team.
|
|
o
|
Robust churn mitigation solutions
being implemented across the Group.
|
|
o
|
Refocus of the partner programme to
build stronger and deeper relationships with a smaller number of
critical partners to drive velocity of deals.
|
|
o
|
Performance management reframed
around objectives and key results ('OKRs') supporting the Group's
refreshed Fynapse and partner led strategy.
|
The
Fynapse Opportunity
·
|
Fynapse provides clients with a
differentiated offering enabling CFOs to move from closing the
books, to supporting their full Autonomous Finance vision and
subsequent elevation to strategic advisor of the
business.
|
·
|
Fynapse provides organisations with
the ability to support this transformation rapidly (months vs.
years) and cost effectively when compared to other vendors in the
market.
|
·
|
Fynapse provides Aptitude with an
expanded go-to-market opportunity via the ability to continue to
serve the Tier 1 market as well as Tier 2 and 3 and additional
sector types.
|
·
|
Fynapse also significantly expands
the opportunity with partners as it delivers immediate value to
their clients, which opens up multiple channel types, and therefore
will drive an increased velocity of deals for the Group.
|
·
|
Importantly, Fynapse provides a
cutting-edge technology foundation that is designed for AI and
designed to hold vast quantities of information to support the
insights of the CFO.
|
·
|
Underpinning our confidence in
long-term growth is the traction Fynapse continues to gain in the
market, represented by pipeline progression and the acceleration
and commitment by key partners to jointly go-to-market on their
vision for AI Autonomous Finance. As an example, Aptitude and
Microsoft continue to build on the existing relationship. Alongside
its recently launched Copilot for Finance, Fynapse has been
identified as a key component to Microsoft's AI and Autonomous
Finance ERP strategy, enabling a single view of business and
finance data with high processing speeds, supporting Copilot for
Finance. This is expected to support the momentum of our
strategy.
|
Business Highlights in 2023:
·
|
New business success for our market
leading Autonomous Finance platform, Fynapse to a first new logo
client for a multi-year subscription agreement, complementing the
existing Telco charter client.
|
·
|
Multi-year renewal for Subscription
Management offering, eSuite providing complementary revenue stream
and cross sale potential.
|
·
|
Continued new customer momentum with
other Compliance and Finance Transformation offerings including a
multi-year agreement to provide the Aptitude Insurance Calculation
Engine to a UK government agency.
|
·
|
A material new multi-year agreement
with an existing global Financial Services client to take Aptitude
Assure, the Group's recurring managed services solution.
|
Outlook:
·
|
Fynapse increases Aptitude's
go-to-market opportunity, but selling a broader platform offering
like Fynapse needs alternative skills and business
expertise. The organisational realignment
is expected to be completed across 2024 to ensure the business is
fully ready to capitalise on the market opportunity with Fynapse,
supported by a more focused partner community.
|
·
|
We have seen macroeconomic
conditions continue to impact churn and investment decisions,
resulting in lengthening sales cycles. However, with Fynapse we
expect to see this change over time. By expanding our go-to-market
approach to include tier 1, 2 and 3 organisations and enhancing our
partner channels, this will lead to shorter sales cycles and a
stronger flow of business going forward.
|
·
|
These trends will moderate headline
revenue this year and profitability is now expected to be in line
with 2023 performance, before returning to more normalised growth
in 2025 and beyond.
|
·
|
Underpinning our confidence in
long-term growth is the traction Fynapse continues to gain in the
market, represented by pipeline progression and the acceleration,
and commitment by key partners, to jointly go-to-market, on their
vision for AI Autonomous Finance.
|
·
|
The growth in higher quality,
recurring revenues through Fynapse with its cloud native
capabilities is also expected over the medium term to generate a
progressive margin benefit for the Group.
|
·
|
As announced separately today, the
Group will be conducting a buyback programme of £20.0 million over
a three-year period. The Group's target of incremental profitable
growth is expected to drive higher returns for investors in line
with the expected growth of Fynapse. The Board view the buyback
programme as providing an enhanced capital return to
shareholders.
|
·
|
The expected growth through the
combination of the opportunity with Fynapse, its partners, and
existing clients, coupled with carefully controlled investment is
expected to generate improved returns for shareholders over the
coming years.
|
Commenting on the results, Alex Curran, Chief Executive
Officer, said: -
'2023 represented a year of transition for Aptitude, with the
formation of a new leadership team, a refocused strategy, and the
realignment of the organisation to truly deliver on the Fynapse
opportunity and address churn mitigation.
The refocus will continue, and I expect will complete across
2024, but it will set the business up for success. It will enable
Aptitude to move from directly selling regulatory and compliance
software to a partner led platform organisation underpinned by
Fynapse. This will enable growth through multiple partner channels
which in turn drives a greater number of deals with shorter sales
cycles.
The AI Autonomous Finance market is significant in size and
supported by our strategic partnerships, including Microsoft who
recently launched Autonomous ERP and Copilot for Finance, where
Fynapse plays a key role.
This provides confidence in the outlook for the Company and
the ability of the Group to return to growth in 2025 and
beyond.'
Contacts
Aptitude Software Group plc
Ivan Martin,
Chairman
020-3687-3200
Alex Curran, Chief Executive
Officer
Mike Johns, Chief Financial
Officer
Alma Strategic Communications
Caroline Forde / Hilary
Buchanan
020-3405-0205
About Aptitude
Aptitude Software provides
software solutions that deliver fully autonomous finance to enable
its clients to drive growth, efficiency and sustainability. Fynapse
is Aptitude's intelligent finance data management and accounting
platform designed to increase productivity and lower costs for
finance teams globally. Fynapse provides a single view of
finance and business data, unparalleled performance and automation,
faster and better insights, user-friendly functionality and
market-leading total cost of ownership. www.aptitudesoftware.com
Prior to publication the information communicated in this
announcement was deemed by the Company to constitute inside
information for the purposes of article 7 of the Market Abuse
Regulations (EU) No 596/2014 as amended by regulation 11 of the
Market Abuse (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations No 2019/310 ('MAR').
With the publication of this announcement, this information is now
considered to be in the public
domain.
Throughout this
announcement:
1 Annual Recurring Revenue ('ARR')
is the value of Aptitude's recurring revenue at a specific point in
time, normalised to a one-year period. ARR includes recurring
revenues contracted but yet to commence and excludes recurring
revenues which are currently being received but are known to be
terminating in the future. Included in ARR are recurring revenues
from the Group's solution management services.
2 Constant Currency is calculated by
comparing the 2023 results with 2022 results retranslated at the
rates of exchange prevailing during 2023.
3 Recurring Revenue includes
revenues from the Group's solution management services.
4 Adjusted Operating Profit and
Adjusted Operating Margin exclude non-underlying operating items,
unless stated to the contrary. Further detail in respect of the
non-underlying operating items can be found within Note
2.
5 Net Funds represents cash and cash
equivalents less finance obligations, which includes capital lease
obligations and a loan.
Certain non-IFRS financial measures
(e.g. Adjusted Operating Profit) are included which assist
management in comparing performance on a consistent
basis.
Chairman's
Statement
Overview
2023 marked the transition to a new
management team for Aptitude, with Alex Curran, Chief Executive
Officer, and Mike Johns, Chief Financial Officer, both appointed in
the year. Alex and Mike were both internal candidates, who have
tenure with the business and strong operational and market
experience to support the business effectively. Their appointments
reflect the strength of Aptitude's talent management and succession
planning.
The team have acted swiftly since
their appointments, realigning the Group's strategy toward the
Fynapse opportunity and key strategic partnerships, refreshing the
Senior Leadership Team and flattening and globalising the Group's
organisational structure.
The Fynapse platform enables clients
to create a truly autonomous finance function, through the
provision of a centralised finance data cloud and a rich data
foundation for the use of market-leading AI tooling, and it is
supported by modern engines that offer accounting, subledger and
calculation capabilities.
Fynapse will enable Aptitude to move
from regulatory and compliance to a platform
organisation.
Highlights in 2023
include:
·
|
The first, post charter client sale
of Fynapse to a first new logo client with a multi-year
subscription agreement
|
·
|
Meeting key market readiness for our
Microsoft partnership with integration to Dynamics 365 and
enablement on the Azure cloud platform.
|
·
|
The go-live of the US telco charter
client on Fynapse, providing the organisation with powerful
insights, processing power and significant cost
efficiencies.
|
The new Senior Leadership Team will
drive an increase in momentum which is reflected in a growing
pipeline of Fynapse opportunities and strategic alignment with
partners on their vision for Autonomous Finance. This pipeline is
further supported by our partner community which provides
confidence in the success of the platform over the coming
years.
To execute on its strategy and key
objectives Aptitude relies on the strength of its people, and I
would like to thank our global team for their hard work and
dedication during a period of significant change for the Group. The
Board is committed to enabling a high-performance culture across
Aptitude and supporting the further development of talent in the
organisation.
Dividend and Share
Buyback
The Board has proposed an unchanged
final dividend of 3.60 pence per share (2022: 3.60 pence), making a
total ordinary dividend of 5.40 pence per share for the year (2022:
5.40 pence). Subject to shareholder approval at the Group's Annual
General Meeting on 14 May 2024, the proposed final dividend will be
paid on 14 June 2024 to shareholders on the register at 24 May
2024.
As announced separately today
Aptitude has commenced an on-market share buyback programme of up
to £20m over three years in line with the newly adopted capital
allocation policy. The buyback programme is in accordance with the
Group's authority to make market purchases of its own Ordinary
Shares granted to it by shareholders on 17 May 2023.
Outlook
We believe the Group is well
positioned to capitalise on the Fynapse opportunity. Fynapse's
speed of implementation, lower total cost of ownership and
flexibility compared with larger ERP products provide a strong
foundation for the acceleration of recurring revenue growth and a
quicker benefit for our clients.
The strategic partnerships
supporting Fynapse also provide Aptitude with the ability to sell
through multiple channels, to multiple sectors, which in turn will
drive a greater velocity of deals.
Additionally, the Group continues to
carefully manage its other products against the macro-economic
environment as increased levels of churn continue to impact the
Groups portfolio of products. This combined with the reduction in
implementation services revenues and lengthening of sales cycles
will result in lower overall revenues in 2024. Profitability will
be in line with the performance in 2023 before returning to growth
in 2025 and beyond.
Ivan Martin
Chairman
20 March 2024
Chief Executive Officer's
Report
Strategic Focus and
Organisational Progress
2023 represented a year of
realignment for Aptitude and a refocus of the Group's core
strategic aims with Fynapse and strategic partners. Underlying
Aptitude's historic success is the Group's strength in accounting
hub and compliance solutions, which provide the organisation with
the knowledge, skills, experience and credibility of delivering for
the office of the CFO. This experience based on our heritage
provides the base for the exciting opportunity ahead with Fynapse,
the Group's intelligent finance data management and accounting
platform.
The AI Autonomous Finance opportunity
In the second half of 2023 the Board
and Senior Leadership Team conducted a review of the business,
which concluded that a realignment and refocus of the organisation
around the Fynapse and partner opportunity was required. This
reflects the transition away from selling compliance and regulatory
software to being a platform organisation and being able to take
advantage of the significant AI Autonomous Finance market which
Fynapse underpins. To support this transition, we have implemented
a global approach to go-to-market designed to drive
momentum.
Fynapse underpins AI Autonomous
Finance which is a self-learning and self-improving finance
function, powered by interoperable AI and cloud technologies.
Autonomous Finance is a partner to the finance professional,
advising on logical next steps and recommendations based on real
data and trends in their organisation. Autonomous Finance
frees finance from repetition, transforming the CFO office into a
strategic and business enabler.
Investment levels have been
maintained for eSuite, the Group's subscription management
solution. eSuite provides a mid-term growth opportunity for the
Group, including supplementing the opportunity presented by Fynapse
through cross-sell activity and the ability to support complex
subscription accounting.
Investment levels across the Group's
compliance products have been managed to support the Group's
existing client base, with a priority placed on client retention
and a firm emphasis on the migration to Fynapse.
Organisational realignment to provide ability to realise the
opportunity with Fynapse
To support the opportunity with
Fynapse and partners, a new and refreshed Senior Leadership Team
and associated flattened organisational structure has been
implemented across the Group. The new leadership structure includes
specific accountable individuals for Product and Technology,
Growth, and Client Experience globally. This structure will enable
a clear focus on growth, client acquisition and help to support
improved long-term retention across the regions the Group operates
in. The Group's Product and Technology functions have also been
recently combined supporting an end-to-end design and engineering
approach.
Following the launch of the new
strategy, the Group adopted a new set of organisational objectives
and key results ('OKRs'), which are regularly monitored by the
Board and SLT, and provide the clarity required to support
organisational progress. The Group's primary objectives over the
coming years will be to deliver the Fynapse growth opportunity,
work towards reducing client churn and scale the organisation
through the strength of our key strategic partnerships.
Key Strategic
Partners
Partnerships are the key foundation
to Aptitude's scalable growth, and it is a priority for the Group
to increase the proportion of Annual Recurring Revenue ('ARR')
generated through a more concentrated group of partners. Included
within this group is a big-4 accountancy firm, which has developed
a managed service offering in partnership with Aptitude and
Microsoft. The opportunity for Fynapse is further expanded by the
partnership with Microsoft. This partnership is expected to be an
accelerator of growth going forward and allows both Aptitude and
Microsoft to present an end-to-end solution to prospects, providing
a wider opportunity for Fynapse. Fynapse is the only platform
selected by Microsoft which provides subledger functionality to
support Dynamics 365. Aptitude has worked with Microsoft to roll
out Fynapse sales training to Microsoft's sales representatives.
Microsoft and Aptitude's Autonomous Finance visions are
complementary, and the AI functionality available in Microsoft's
platforms further enable Fynapse's capabilities and market
opportunity for both organisations.
Transitioning SaaS business model with enhanced
profitability
The Group continues to target an
acceleration in the growth of Annual Recurring Revenue ('ARR')
driving an increase in recurring revenues which currently represent
71% (2022: 68%) of overall revenue. The growth through Fynapse,
both direct and through partners, will generate higher quality
recurring revenues as a result of the cloud native nature of the
platform. The increase in higher quality revenues is expected to
generate an overall margin benefit to the Group, increased
profitability, and improved cash conversion.
Software-as-a-Service ('SaaS') ARR
now accounts for 46% (2022: 44%) of the Group's total ARR. Fynapse,
with its cloud native capabilities is expected to enable higher
margins to be achieved compared to the Group's existing SaaS
deployed products. The transition to SaaS and improved quality of
revenues will be a continuing process over the coming years and
ultimately deliver a stronger business.
Current spend on research and
development is 24% of revenue (2022: 23%). The Group expenses all
research and development through the P&L as incurred, including
the entire development of Fynapse.
The combination of growth in higher
margin recurring revenues, the refocus of the Group's go-to-market
approach through strategic partnerships with Microsoft and others,
as well as a controlled and efficient overhead base will drive the
increasing profitability of the Group over the coming
years.
Products and
Services
The Group benefits from its
experience of supporting the office of the CFO. The Group has
aligned the product set around the Fynapse growth opportunity and
will support Aptitude's shift from selling compliance and
regulatory software to a platform organisation underpinned by
Fynapse.
AI
Autonomous Finance and Finance Transformation
AI Autonomous Finance and finance
transformation includes both the Fynapse platform and the Aptitude
Accounting Hub ('AAH').
Aptitude's vision for Autonomous
Finance is of a self-learning, and self-improving, finance
function, where tasks are optimized and intelligent, systems are
efficient and interoperable, and an enterprise-wide data platform
supports real-time insights, enabling finance to be a strategic and
trusted advisor to the business.
Fynapse, the Group's intelligent finance data management and accounting
platform delivers on Autonomous Finance, with a cloud
native, highly performant and modular solution that not only serves
operational and regulatory accounting requirements, but also
delivers a granular data fabric upon the extendable Fynapse data
cloud. Fynapse provides the rich foundation for AI tooling,
enabling Aptitude's clients to realise the efficiencies that may be
achieved from emerging AI technologies and the Autonomous Finance
function.
The Fynapse platform enables the
expansion of the go-to-market opportunity for Aptitude moving from
compliance and regulations to finance transformation and enabling
organisations to create a truly autonomous finance function. It
also provides organisations and strategic partners with a
differentiated alternative to the ERP vendors through its market
leading support of AI for finance, rapid implementation timelines,
high volume processing and cutting-edge technology that supports
real-time streaming.
Along with the overall Fynapse
platform, the Group has initially developed the accounting rules
and subledger engines which build upon the successful AAH product
and its' significant pedigree to centralise, automate and manage
operational, management and regulatory accounting and posting into
an extendable enterprise subledger.
Fynapse has a low total cost of
ownership, with rapid implementation cycles, which make the
platform commercially attractive to a wide range of organisations
varying in size and sector.
The Group continues strategic
investment in Fynapse, with an increasing proportion of overall
research and development spend directed toward the platform. The
overall cost of our investment in Fynapse increased in 2023 to £6.1
million (2022: £4.9 million) all of which is expensed. The platform
nature of Fynapse provides options for the Group in the mid-term,
either through the development of new engines with additional
functionality, or through strategic acquisitions of supporting
functionality.
The Group's strategic focus is the
successful execution against the Fynapse opportunity through
partnerships, direct sales, and conversions from the existing
client base.
The Group signed a strategic
partnership with Microsoft in December 2022 to deeply integrate the
Fynapse platform with Microsoft Dynamics 365 and operate on the
Microsoft Azure cloud platform, which has been completed in 2023.
The partnership allows both Aptitude and Microsoft to present a
combined end-to-end solution to prospects, increasing
competitiveness against vendors providing single stack
functionality, as well as strengthening Microsoft's competitive
position. The Group's vision for AI Autonomous Finance is
complementary with Microsoft's investments in AI across its
offerings and will further benefit the Fynapse platform and
Aptitude's clients.
The Group's charter client was an
existing AAH user, and a significant opportunity exists in
migrating the Group's current AAH clients to Fynapse, presenting
both an upsell opportunity as well as a retention tool. Fynapse
will also allow a simplified cross-sell opportunity as additional
engine functionality is developed on the platform.
The first new logo direct sale of
Fynapse was achieved in 2023 with the sale achieved in a new market
for Aptitude, demonstrating the breadth of the opportunity with the
platform. The Group looks ahead to 2024 with growing pipeline
momentum and an increasingly referenceable offering to
prospects.
AAH is the Group's established
product which centralises and automates finance, accounting and
reporting processes, creating a deep level of operational
intelligence for our clients. It also delivers a consolidated, yet
highly granular, single view of financial data which enhances
business insights to assist decision making.
Subscription Management
eSuite, Aptitude's subscription
management tool, is a modular, cloud based end-to-end SaaS solution
for large, international, enterprise customers. The application is
targeted towards the subscription economy and provides identity
management, CRM, automated billing, payment processing, and churn
management capabilities, enabling businesses to acquire, monetise
and optimise customers subscriptions.
While macroeconomic conditions have
had a short-term effect on the predominantly media and publishing
dominated eSuite client base, the Group is confident in the
mid-term growth opportunity for eSuite. As a result, investment
levels in eSuite have been maintained to further strengthen
functionality, minimise churn and position the product well as
macroeconomic conditions improve. The Group will take a targeted
go-to-market approach, prioritising the key media and publishing
sectors in line with eSuite's strengths.
Compliance Suite
The compliance suite includes the
Aptitude Insurance Calculation Engine ("AICE"), Aptitude RevStream
("AREV"), the Aptitude Revenue Recognition Engine ("ARRE"), the
Aptitude Lease Accounting Engine ("ALAE"), Aptitude Calculate
("AC") and the Aptitude Platform ("APT").
The Group has achieved significant
historical success with its suite of compliance products. The
products have generated a sizeable amount of Annual Recurring
Revenue and demonstrated Aptitude's strength and credibility in
serving the office of the CFO. Aptitude's target for the compliance
suite is in maintaining client satisfaction, minimising client
churn and cross-selling Fynapse. The Group will take an
opportunistic go-to-market approach and establish investment at
appropriate levels to underpin client satisfaction.
Assure and Implementation Services
Aptitude Assure is a solution
management services offering resourced from Aptitude's innovation
centre in Poland. This service extends the responsibilities of
Aptitude beyond traditional software maintenance services to
include those that have typically been performed by the clients'
own teams. Beyond extended solution support, Assure includes
release management, processing support, client enablement, and
solution optimisation through the monitoring of system performance,
solution health checks, and office hours for expert advisory.
Clients with Assure allow the Group to support client adoption of
new product features as offerings evolve and will be of particular
importance to Fynapse clients as the product further evolves in
future. Assure services are higher margin than traditional
implementation services, recurring, and are provided at a lower
cost of ownership for the Group's clients.
Aptitude also provides
implementation services to its clients, with the scale of such
services depending on the nature of the application, the size of
the opportunity and the balance of responsibilities between
Aptitude and its partners. The Group's services are provided by a
significant pool of highly skilled individuals, providing deep
domain, technical and functional expertise which is highly valued
by our clients and provide a differentiator compared to our
competitors.
The business continues to expand the
enablement of its partner network to facilitate their ability to
implement Aptitude's product suite reliably and efficiently. While
it is expected that this enablement will lead to a greater
proportion of services being provided by partners, it will also
increase the velocity of software through those partnerships. The
Group is committed to retaining a high-quality delivery capability
in line with client demand to support its clients and
partners.
Growth and Client
Success
The foundation of Aptitude's
strategy for growth is the Fynapse platform. Fynapse presents by
far the largest addressable market for all of the Group's products,
and as such the Group is restructuring and refocusing its
go-to-market and product investment in delivering on this
opportunity.
The Group has recently appointed a
Chief Revenue Officer to drive a consistent global approach to
growth, including expanding Aptitude's successful approach with
partners in the US out to other regions. The Group has also adopted
a focused go-to-market approach centred on a select number of
regions, sectors, and partners in line with the opportunity in
those areas.
Also fundamental to Aptitude's
growth is the retention of our client base. Gross ARR churn for
2023 was 10% (2022: 7%), with the higher than usual rate affected
by the macroeconomic environment, which impacted the Group's
predominantly Technology, Media and Telecoms client base in eSuite,
AREV and ARRE disproportionately. Mitigation of the gross churn
rate is a critical priority in 2024, and the Group has implemented
several initiatives, including the acceleration of investment in
key product functionality and the enhancement of a data led client
health process to assist in churn that has continued.
The Group has also appointed a Chief
Client Experience Officer, with ownership of all key touchpoints
for a client during their life with Aptitude. The appointment of
this end-to-end and globalised role increases organisational
visibility and speed in addressing client needs and
concerns.
People and
Locations
Aptitude has office locations across
the UK, US, Poland, Singapore, Australia and Canada, and the
Group's two technology centres are based in Poland and the
north-west of England. The Group's presence in Poland continues to
generate cost advantages for Aptitude. The Group has recently
appointed a Chief Product and Technology Officer to provide
end-to-end accountability for the design and build of Aptitude's
products and enhance collaboration across the Product and
Technology teams based across multiple regions.
Aptitude targets a high-performance
culture, where individuals can achieve their potential in support
of the Group's objectives. Supported by a newly refocused People
and Culture team, the Group regularly assesses employees on a
performance and potential basis, with an aim to invest in and
develop key talent. Through this assessment, the Group is able to
retain and develop key talent in support of succession planning,
actively manage lower performers to a better outcome and increase
efficiency.
Overall headcount decreased 10% to
472 (31 December 2022: 527). The reduction in headcount is a result
of cost reduction action taken in 2023 as a result of the final
elements of the eSuite integration and organisational restructuring
in support of the refocused strategy. The new structure is flatter,
with a reduced management layer, and more efficient. Of the total
headcount, 281 (2022: 296) are based at the innovation centres and
working on the design, implementation, and support of the Group's
products. The Group continues to monitor headcount closely, with
future roles hired in line with revenue opportunity.
Aptitude takes diversity and
inclusion very seriously, especially in relation to reward. The
Group intends to implement structural processes to ensure fairness
in approach to promotions and compensation in 2024. Additionally,
the Group is continuing the Women in Leadership initiative to help
attract a diverse range of talent to its leadership
roles.
Capital Allocation Policy
Aptitude aims to deliver high
returns to shareholders through targeting sustainable profit growth
and strong free cash flow. The Group invests in developing its
business driven by the opportunity with Fynapse, while maintaining
robust liquidity to manage the working capital cycle. Aptitude's
capital allocation priorities are as follows
·
|
Managing working capital - The
first priority of the Group is to maintain sufficient cash reserves
to manage the annual working capital cycle, while maintaining
appropriate levels of net funds. A level of net cash not less than
1.5 x adjusted EBITDA is the Group's stated minimum.
|
·
|
Investment for organic growth - The Group continues to invest in the organic growth of the
business including the need to continue to invest in our people and
technology and through capital expenditure where
required.
|
·
|
Maintenance of the Group's progressive dividend
- The Group is committed to provide progressive
dividends to shareholders, and this remains the preferred ongoing
method to return cash to shareholders without impacting on the
investment required to grow the business
|
·
|
Enhanced returns to shareholders - As the Group continues to generate excess cash after the above
priorities, the Group will look to make enhanced returns to
shareholders
|
As announced separately today,
Aptitude has commenced an on-market share buyback programme of up
to £20m over three years in line with the newly adopted capital
allocation policy. The buyback programme is in accordance with the
Group's authority to make market purchases of its own Ordinary
Shares granted to it by shareholders on 17 May 2023.
While the above framework is
intended to guide decision making for the allocation of capital,
the Board may choose to exercise discretion in its application
should there be a business requirement.
With the focused strategy,
organisational realignment activities combined with a new
leadership team, I am confident that Aptitude will capitalise on
the significant AI Autonomous Finance market opportunity, that is
sponsored by our strategic partners.
This will result in a stronger
underlying business and higher quality revenues for the Group
through Fynapse.
Alex Curran
Chief Executive Officer
20 March 2024
Group Financial Performance
Revenue
Recurring
Revenues
Annual Recurring Revenue ('ARR')
grew by 2% on a constant currency basis in the year to £51.1
million at 31 December 2023 (31 December 2022: £50.2 million,
restated for the prevailing exchange rate at 31 December
2023).
ARR is the key financial metric for
the Group. Included within ARR are Aptitude's annual licence fees
and maintenance for its on-premise clients, subscription fees for
the Group's SaaS clients and revenues from its Solution Management
Service offering ('Aptitude Assure'), this offering contributed ARR
at 31 December 2023 of £5.0 million (31 December 2022: £4.3
million).
Net Retention Rate in the year was
98% (2022: 102%), measured by the total value of on-going ARR at
the year-end from clients in place at the start of the year as a
percentage of the opening ARR from those clients on a constant
currency basis. The Group benefitted from standard inflationary
clauses within the majority of its contracts, however, continuing
churn, predominantly in Subscription, Billing and Revenue
Management, reduced the benefit of these increases.
Recurring revenues recognised in
2023 increased by 6% to £53.4 million (2022: £50.5 million),
representing growth of 6%. Recurring revenues are a strategic
priority for the Group and now represent 71% of overall revenue
(2022: 68%). A key part of the Group's strategy is to increase this
percentage whilst maximising the growth rate of Aptitude's ARR,
increasing both the overall quality of revenue and operating
margin.
Non-Recurring
Revenue
Non-recurring revenue, comprised of
implementation services, software development and non-recurring
software fees which totalled £21.3 million for the year ended 31
December 2023 (2022: £23.9 million) representing an 11% reduction.
The reduction in non-recurring revenues is in line with the Group's
expectation as it works more closely with its partners in this
area.
Research & Development Expenditure
Total expenditure on product
management, research & development increased 5% in the year
ended 31 December 2023 to £17.8 million (2022: £17.0 million).
Research & development costs represent 24% of revenue for the
year ended 31 December 2023 (2022: 23%). The Group will carefully
monitor research & development spend and ensure that investment
is only made in line with the revenue opportunity.
The Board has continued to prudently
determine that none of the internal research & development
costs incurred during the year meet the criteria for
capitalisation. Consequently, these have been expensed as incurred
through the income statement.
Operating Profit and Margins
Adjusted Operating Profit for the
year ended 31 December 2023 was in line with expectations at £9.7
million (2022: £7.5 million). Adjusted Operating Margin increased
to 13% (2022: 10%) following the completion of the integration of
the MPP Global acquisition and other cost action taken in the year.
Operating profit on a statutory basis was £5.3 million (2022: £3.7
million).
In addition to the cost action
outlined above, the Group's evolving revenue mix towards higher
recurring revenue generated an incremental margin benefit. The
continued success of Fynapse, with its cloud-native capabilities,
is expected to further enhance margins.
Foreign Exchange
With 50% (2022: 42%) of the Group's
revenues being generated from North American clients, the majority
of which are invoiced in US Dollars, the financial results are
impacted by changes in the US dollar exchange rate. Aptitude's 2022
revenue and Adjusted Operating Profit would have been reported at
£74.2 million and £7.7 million respectively on a constant currency
basis (compared to actual result of £74.4 million and £7.5
million). Constant currency is calculated by comparing the 2023
results with 2022 results retranslated at the rates of exchange
prevailing during 2023.
Non-Underlying Items
Non-underlying items of £4.4 million
(2022: £3.8 million) are principally related to the £0.8 million
(2022: £0.4 million) of final integration costs incurred on the MPP
Global acquisition, £0.2m of restructuring costs and intangible
amortisation of £3.4 million (2022: £3.4 million).
Taxation
The total tax charge before
adjusting for the impact of non-underlying and other sundry items
of £1.8 million (2022: £1.5 million) represents 18.83% of the
Group's profit before tax (2022: 21.08%).
Statutory Results
The Group reported a profit for the
year attributable to equity shareholders of £4.1 million (2022:
£2.6 million).
Earnings per Share
Adjusted Basic Earnings per Share
increased by 37% to 13.6 pence (2022: 9.9 pence) and Basic Earnings
per Share increased 60% to 7.2 pence (2022: 4.5 pence).
Dividend
A final ordinary dividend of 3.60
pence per share is proposed (2022: 3.60 pence), making a total
ordinary dividend of 5.40 pence per share for the year (2022: 5.40
pence).
Balance Sheet
The Group continues to have a strong
balance sheet with net assets at 31 December 2023 of £60.3 million
(2022: £60.5 million). Cash at 31 December
2023 was £34.1 million (31 December 2022: £29.2 million) and net
funds of £22.7 million (31 December 2022: £15.9 million). Trade
receivables (net) at 31 December 2023 increased to £10.3 million
(2022: £9.7 million) of which £5.0 million (2022: £4.1 million)
were overdue for payment at the year end. Of these overdue balances
£3.6 million has been collected at 18 March 2024. DSO (debtor days)
increased to 53 at 31 December 2023 (2022: 44). The growth in the
Group's Annual Recurring Revenue resulted in deferred income at 31
December 2023 increasing to £31.5 million (2022: £29.6
million).
Mike Johns
Chief Financial Officer
20 March 2024
Group Income
Statement
for the year ended 31
December 2023
|
|
Year ended 31 Dec
2023
|
Year
ended 31 Dec 2022
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Note
|
Before non-underlying
items
|
Non- underlying
items
|
Total
|
Before
non-underlying items
|
Non-
underlying items
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Continuing operations
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
Revenue
|
1
|
74,685
|
-
|
74,685
|
74,394
|
-
|
74,394
|
Operating costs
|
2
|
(64,959)
|
(4,441)
|
(69,400)
|
(66,887)
|
(3,822)
|
(70,709)
|
Operating profit
|
|
9,726
|
(4,441)
|
5,285
|
7,507
|
(3,822)
|
3,685
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Finance income
|
|
282
|
-
|
282
|
18
|
-
|
18
|
Finance costs
|
|
(527)
|
-
|
(527)
|
(498)
|
-
|
(498)
|
Net finance costs
|
|
(245)
|
-
|
(245)
|
(480)
|
-
|
(480)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Profit before income tax
|
|
9,481
|
(4,441)
|
5,040
|
7,027
|
(3,822)
|
3,205
|
Income tax expense
|
3
|
(1,786)
|
871
|
(915)
|
(1,481)
|
871
|
(610)
|
Profit for the period
|
|
7,695
|
(3,570)
|
4,125
|
5,546
|
(2,951)
|
2,595
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Earnings per share
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic
|
4
|
|
|
7.2p
|
|
|
4.5p
|
|
Diluted
|
4
|
|
|
7.1p
|
|
|
4.5p
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
group statement of
comprehensive income
for the year ended 31
December 2023
|
Year ended 31 Dec
2023
|
Year ended
31 Dec 2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Profit for the year
|
4,125
|
2,595
|
Other comprehensive income/(expense)
|
|
|
Items that will or may be
reclassified to profit or loss:
|
|
|
Cash flow hedges reclassified to
income statement
|
(1,242)
|
187
|
Gain on effective cash flow
hedges
|
1,044
|
1,445
|
Currency translation
difference
|
(954)
|
1,972
|
Deferred tax on cash flow
hedges
|
50
|
(335)
|
|
|
|
Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year, net of
tax
|
(1,102)
|
3,269
|
|
|
|
Total comprehensive income for the year
|
3,023
|
5,864
|
Group Balance
Sheet
for the year ended 31
December 2023
|
|
As at
|
As at
|
|
|
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec 2022
|
|
|
Notes
|
£000
|
£000
|
|
ASSETS
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Property, plant and equipment
including right-of-use assets
|
6
|
4,484
|
5,103
|
|
Goodwill
|
7
|
46,006
|
46,006
|
|
Intangible assets
|
8
|
17,739
|
21,120
|
|
Other long-term assets
|
|
1,016
|
1,307
|
|
Deferred tax assets
|
|
1,379
|
423
|
|
|
|
70,624
|
73,959
|
|
Current assets
|
|
|
|
|
Trade and other
receivables
|
9
|
12,526
|
12,297
|
|
Financial assets - derivative
financial instruments
|
|
1,141
|
1,339
|
|
Current income tax assets
|
|
1,037
|
1,352
|
|
Cash and cash equivalents
|
|
34,085
|
29,245
|
|
|
|
48,789
|
44,233
|
|
Total assets
|
|
119,413
|
118,192
|
|
LIABILITIES
|
|
|
|
|
Current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Financial liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
- borrowings
|
10
|
(1,250)
|
(1,250)
|
|
Trade and other payables
|
11
|
(40,773)
|
(38,146)
|
|
Capital lease obligations
|
12
|
(426)
|
(553)
|
|
Current income tax
liabilities
|
|
(1,588)
|
(119)
|
|
Provisions
|
13
|
(100)
|
(114)
|
|
|
|
(44,137)
|
(40,182)
|
|
Net
current assets
|
|
4,652
|
4,051
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Non-current liabilities
|
|
|
|
|
Financial liabilities -
borrowings
|
10
|
(7,139)
|
(8,347)
|
|
Capital lease obligations
|
12
|
(2,588)
|
(3,196)
|
|
Provisions
|
13
|
(268)
|
(202)
|
|
Deferred tax liabilities
|
|
(4,967)
|
(5,724)
|
|
|
|
(14,962)
|
(17,469)
|
|
NET
ASSETS
|
|
60,314
|
60,541
|
|
Group Balance
Sheet
for the year ended 31
December 2023
|
|
As at
|
As
at
|
|
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
|
|
|
|
Share capital
|
14
|
4,204
|
4,204
|
Share premium account
|
|
11,959
|
11,959
|
Capital redemption reserve
|
|
12,372
|
12,372
|
Other reserves
|
|
34,989
|
35,199
|
Accumulated losses
|
|
(2,349)
|
(3,286)
|
Foreign currency translation
reserve
|
|
(861)
|
93
|
TOTAL EQUITY
|
|
60,314
|
60,541
|
Group Statement of changes in
shareholders' equity
for the year ended 31
December 2023
|
Attributable to owners of the
Parent
|
|
Share
capital
|
Share
premium
|
Accumulated
losses
|
Foreign currency translation
reserve
|
Capital
|
|
|
|
redemption
|
Other
|
Total
|
|
reserve
|
reserves
|
equity
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
Group
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Balance at 1 January 2023
|
4,204
|
11,959
|
(3,286)
|
93
|
12,372
|
35,199
|
60,541
|
Profit for the year
|
-
|
-
|
4,125
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4,125
|
Cash flow hedges reclassified to
income statement
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(1,242)
|
(1,242)
|
Gain on effective cash flow
hedges
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
1,044
|
1,044
|
Deferred tax on cash flow
hedges
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
50
|
50
|
Exchange rate adjustments
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(954)
|
-
|
-
|
(954)
|
Total comprehensive income for the year
|
-
|
-
|
4,125
|
(954)
|
-
|
(148)
|
3,023
|
Share options - value of employee
service
|
-
|
-
|
125
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
125
|
Transfer on exercise of
options
|
-
|
-
|
(151)
|
-
|
|
124
|
(27)
|
Purchase of own shares
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(186)
|
(186)
|
Deferred tax on share
options
|
-
|
-
|
(66)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(66)
|
Dividends to equity holders of the
company
|
-
|
-
|
(3,096)
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
(3,096)
|
Total Contributions by and distributions to owners of the
company recognised directly in equity
|
-
|
-
|
(3,188)
|
-
|
-
|
(62)
|
(3,250)
|
Balance at 31 December 2023
|
4,204
|
11,959
|
(2,349)
|
(861)
|
12,372
|
34,989
|
60,314
|
Group Cash Flow
Statement
for the year ended 31
December 2023
|
|
Year ended
|
Year
ended
|
|
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
Note
|
£000
|
£000
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from operating activities
|
|
|
|
Cash generated from
operations
|
15
|
11,945
|
5,272
|
Interest paid
|
|
(316)
|
(498)
|
Income tax paid
|
|
(635)
|
(1,597)
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash flows generated from operating activities
|
|
10,994
|
3,177
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from investing activities
|
|
|
|
Purchase of property, plant and
equipment, excluding right-of-use assets
|
|
(601)
|
(831)
|
Interest received
|
|
282
|
18
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash (used in) investing activities
|
|
(319)
|
(813)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
flows from financing activities
|
|
|
|
Net proceeds from issuance of
ordinary shares
|
|
-
|
23
|
Dividends paid to company's
shareholders
|
5
|
(3,096)
|
(3,093)
|
Purchase of own shares
|
|
(186)
|
-
|
Repayments of loan
|
|
(1,250)
|
(313)
|
Extension fee on loan
|
|
(40)
|
-
|
Repayment of capital lease
obligations
|
|
(534)
|
(405)
|
|
|
|
|
Net
cash generated (used in) from financing
activities
|
|
(5,106)
|
(3,788)
|
|
|
|
|
Net
increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
|
5,569
|
(1,424)
|
|
|
|
|
Cash, cash equivalents and bank
overdrafts at beginning of year
|
|
29,245
|
29,064
|
Exchange rate (losses)/gains on cash
and cash equivalents
|
|
(729)
|
1,605
|
|
|
|
|
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
|
34,085
|
29,245
|
Notes to the Audited preliminary results for the year ended 31
December 2023
1. Segmental analysis
Business segments
The Board has determined the
operating segments based on the reports it receives from management
to make strategic decisions.
The only business segment for both
periods was Aptitude and therefore no segmental analysis is
provided for this period.
The principal activity of the Group
throughout 2022 and 2023 was the provision of business-critical
software and services.
1
(a) Geographical analysis
The Group has two geographical
segments for reporting purposes, the United Kingdom and the Rest of
the World.
The following table provides an
analysis of the Group's sales by origin and by
destination.
|
Sales revenue by origin
|
Sales revenue by
destination
|
|
Year ended
31 Dec 2023
|
Year
ended
31 Dec
2022
|
Year ended
31 Dec 2023
|
Year
ended
31 Dec
2022
|
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
£000
|
|
United Kingdom
|
41,087
|
39,329
|
11,747
|
15,809
|
|
Rest of World
|
33,598
|
35,065
|
62,938
|
58,585
|
|
|
74,685
|
74,394
|
74,685
|
74,394
|
|
2. Non-underlying items
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec 2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Amortisation of
intangibles
|
3,381
|
3,382
|
Acquisition and associated
reorganisation costs
|
1,060
|
440
|
|
4,441
|
3,822
|
3. Income tax expense
|
Year ended
31 Dec 2023
|
Year
ended
31 Dec
2022
|
Analysis of charge in the year
|
£000
|
£000
|
Current tax:
|
|
|
- tax charge on underlying
items
|
(2,463)
|
(1,051)
|
- adjustment to tax in respect of
prior periods on underlying items
|
(241)
|
(344)
|
Total current tax
|
(2,704)
|
(1,395)
|
Deferred tax:
|
|
|
- tax credit/(charge) on underlying
items
|
951
|
(111)
|
- tax credit on non-underlying
items
|
871
|
871
|
- adjustment to tax in respect of
prior periods on underlying items
|
(33)
|
25
|
Total deferred tax
|
1,789
|
785
|
Income tax expense
|
(915)
|
(610)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
The net adjustment to tax in respect
of prior periods on underlying items totalling £274,000 (2022:
£319,000) relates to the reduction in the assumed benefit from
research and development relief in the UK.
The total tax charge of £915,000
(2022: £610,000) represents 18.2% (2022: 19.0%) of the Group profit
before tax of £5,040,000 (2022: £3,205,000).
After adjusting for the impact of
non-underlying items, change in tax rates, share based payment
charge and prior year tax charge, the tax charge for the year of
£1,702,000 (2022: £1,375,000) represents 17.95% (2022: 19.57%),
which is the tax rate used for calculating the adjusted earnings
per share.
The difference between the total tax
charge and the amount calculated by applying the effective United
Kingdom corporation tax rate of 23.50% (2022: 19.00%) to the profit
on ordinary activities before tax is as follows:
|
Year ended
31 Dec 2023
|
Year
ended
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Profit before tax
|
5,040
|
3,205
|
|
|
|
Tax at the United Kingdom corporation
tax rate of 23.50% (2022: 19.00%)
|
(1,185)
|
(610)
|
Effects of:
|
|
|
Adjustment to tax in respect of prior
periods
|
(274)
|
(319)
|
Adjustment in respect of foreign tax
rates
|
62
|
(138)
|
Non-underlying expenses not
deductible for tax purposes
|
(138)
|
(45)
|
Other
|
166
|
(303)
|
Research and development tax
relief
|
226
|
561
|
Recognition of tax losses not
recognised as a deferred tax asset
|
190
|
214
|
Change in future tax rates
|
38
|
30
|
Total taxation
|
(915)
|
(610)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
United Kingdom corporation tax is
calculated at 23.50% (2022: 19.00%) of the estimated assessable
profit for the year. Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated
at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions.
4. Earnings per share
To provide an indication of the
underlying operating performance per share, the adjusted profit
after tax figure shown below excludes non-underlying items and has
a tax charge using the effective rate of 17.95% (2022:
19.57%).
|
Year ended
31 Dec 2023
|
Year
ended
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Profit before tax and non-underlying
items
|
9,481
|
7,027
|
Tax charge at a rate of 17.95% (2022:
19.57%)
|
(1,702)
|
(1,375)
|
|
7,779
|
5,652
|
Prior years' tax charge
|
(274)
|
(320)
|
Non-underlying items net of
tax
|
(3,570)
|
(2,951)
|
Recognition of tax losses not
recognised as a deferred tax asset
|
190
|
214
|
Profit on ordinary activities after
tax
|
4,125
|
2,595
|
|
2023
Number
(thousands)
|
2022
Number
(thousands)
|
Weighted average number of
shares
|
57,338
|
57,288
|
Effect of dilutive share
options
|
670
|
819
|
|
58,008
|
58,107
|
|
|
|
| |
|
2023
Basic EPS
pence
|
2023
Diluted EPS
pence
|
2022
Basic EPS
pence
|
2022
Diluted
EPS pence
|
Earnings per share
|
7.2
|
7.1
|
4.5
|
4.5
|
Non-underlying items net of
tax
|
6.2
|
6.2
|
5.2
|
5.1
|
Prior years' tax charge
|
0.5
|
0.5
|
0.6
|
0.6
|
Recognition of tax losses
|
(0.3)
|
(0.3)
|
(0.4)
|
(0.4)
|
Adjusted earnings per
share
|
13.6
|
13.5
|
9.9
|
9.8
|
Adjusted earnings per share are
calculated using adjusted profit after tax.
5. Dividends
|
2023 pence per
share
|
2022 pence
per share
|
2023
£000
|
2022
£000
|
Dividends paid:
|
|
|
|
|
Interim dividend
|
1.80
|
1.80
|
1,032
|
1,032
|
Final dividend (prior
year)
|
3.60
|
3.60
|
2,064
|
2,061
|
|
5.40
|
5.40
|
3,096
|
3,093
|
|
|
|
|
|
Proposed but not recognised as a liability:
|
|
|
|
|
Final dividend (current
year)
|
3.60
|
3.60
|
2,064
|
2,064
|
The proposed final dividend was
approved by the Board on 20 March 2024 but was not included as a
liability as at 31 December 2023, in accordance with IAS 10 'Events
after the Balance Sheet date'. If approved by the shareholders at
the Annual General Meeting this final dividend will be payable on
14 June 2024 to shareholders on the register at the close of
business on 24 May 2024.
6. Property, plant and equipment including right-of-use
assets
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Opening net book value 1
January
|
5,103
|
4,261
|
Additions
|
601
|
1,660
|
Net disposals
|
(117)
|
(8)
|
Exchange movements
|
(54)
|
322
|
Depreciation
|
(1,049)
|
(1,132)
|
|
4,484
|
5,103
|
7. Goodwill
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Opening net book value 1
January
|
46,006
|
46,006
|
|
46,006
|
46,006
|
8. Intangible assets
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Opening net book value 1
January
|
21,120
|
24,502
|
Amortisation
|
(3,381)
|
(3,382)
|
|
17,739
|
21,120
|
9. Trade and other
receivables
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Trade receivables
|
10,678
|
10,091
|
Less: provision for impairment of
receivables
|
(358)
|
(421)
|
Trade receivables - net
|
10,320
|
9,670
|
Other receivables
|
14
|
-
|
Prepayments
|
1,796
|
1,513
|
Accrued income
|
396
|
1,114
|
|
12,526
|
12,297
|
Within the trade receivables balance
of £10,678,000 (2022: £10,091,000) there are balances totalling
£5,036,000 (2022: £4,057,000) which, at 31 December 2023, were
overdue for payment. Of this balance £3,612,000 (2022: £2,841,000)
has been collected at 18 March 2024 (2022: 17 March
2023).
10. Financial liabilities
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Bank loan
|
8,389
|
9,597
|
The borrowings are repayable as
follows:
|
|
|
Within one year
|
1,250
|
1,250
|
In the second year
|
7,188
|
8,438
|
|
8,438
|
9,688
|
Unamortised prepaid facility
arrangement fees
|
(49)
|
(91)
|
At 31 December
|
8,389
|
9,597
|
|
|
| |
On 15 October 2021, the Group and
Company entered into a loan agreement with Bank of Ireland
consisting of a £10 million term loan in addition to a revolving
credit facility of £10 million. The loan is secured on all the
assets of the Group. Operating covenants are limited to the Group's
net debt leverage of 2.0 : 1 and interest cover of 4.0 : 1. At 31
December 2023, the Group's net debt leverage was -3.7 : 1 and
interest cover was 16.5 : 1. The term loan is repayable over three
years with an initial 12-month repayment holiday followed by annual
capital repayments of £1,250,000. The term loan contains two
one-year extension options, one of which was exercised during the
year. The Group's current intention is to exercise the second
extension option in the next year. At the end of the term, a bullet
payment for the remaining balance of the loan is due. The loan is
denominated in Pound Sterling and carries interest at SONIA plus
1.75%. The Group entered into an interest swap on 2 November 2021,
effectively fixing the interest rate at 2.95% over the term of the
loan.
11. Trade and other payables
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Trade payables
|
482
|
826
|
Other tax and social security
payable
|
1,614
|
1,370
|
Other payables
|
168
|
204
|
Accruals
|
7,034
|
6,183
|
Deferred income
|
31,475
|
29,563
|
|
40,773
|
38,146
|
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Amounts payable under capital lease
agreements:
|
|
|
Within one year
|
538
|
642
|
Within two to five years
|
1,997
|
2,284
|
After five years
|
906
|
1,387
|
Total
|
3,441
|
4,313
|
Less: future finance
charges
|
(427)
|
(564)
|
Present value of lease obligations
|
3,014
|
3,749
|
Less: Amount due for settlement
within 12 months (shown under current liabilities)
|
(426)
|
(553)
|
|
2,588
|
3,196
|
12.
Capital lease obligations
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
The present value of financial lease
liabilities is split as follows:
|
|
|
Within one year
|
426
|
553
|
Within two to five years
|
1,728
|
1,897
|
After five years
|
860
|
1,299
|
|
3,014
|
3,749
|
13.
Provisions for other liabilities and charges
|
Provisions
|
|
31 Dec 2023
|
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
At 1 January
|
316
|
379
|
Charged/(released) to income
statement
|
158
|
(76)
|
Utilised in period
|
(114)
|
-
|
Foreign exchange movement
|
8
|
13
|
At
31 December
|
368
|
316
|
£288,000 (2022: £273,000) of the
total provision at 31 December 2023 of £368,000 (2022: £316,000)
relates to the cost of dilapidations in respect of its occupied
leasehold premises.
14.
Share capital
Ordinary shares of 7 1/3p each
|
Number
|
£000
|
Issued and fully paid:
|
|
|
At 1 January 2023
|
57,337,611
|
4,204
|
At
31 December 2023
|
57,337,611
|
4,204
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
15. Cash flows from operating
activities
Reconciliation of profit before tax
to net cash generated from operations:
|
Year ended
31 Dec 2023
|
Year
ended
31 Dec
2022
|
|
£000
|
£000
|
Profit before tax for the year
|
5,040
|
3,205
|
Adjustments for:
|
|
|
Depreciation
|
1,049
|
1,132
|
Amortisation
|
3,381
|
3,382
|
Share-based payment
expense
|
125
|
695
|
Finance
income
|
(282)
|
(18)
|
Finance costs
|
527
|
498
|
Changes in working capital excluding the effects of
acquisition:
|
|
|
Decrease/(increase) in
receivables
|
63
|
(1,485)
|
Increase/(decrease) in
payables
|
2,042
|
(2,137)
|
Cash
generated from operations
|
11,945
|
5,272
|
16. Contingent liabilities
The Group had no contingent
liabilities at 31 December 2023. In 2022, two clients have ceased
the implementation of the Group's products and provided the Group
with correspondence terminating their multi-year agreement alleging
contractual breaches by Aptitude and claiming damages. The
Group rejected both the purported termination of the two agreements
and claim for damages and has notified the clients of the charges
due to Aptitude under the minimum terms of their agreements. One
was resolved in the year and the Group maintain their position on
the other, therefore no provision has been recognised at 31
December 2023 (2022: £nil).
The Group does not consider a
contingent liability in respect of either of the claims at 31
December 2023.
17.
Statement by the directors
The preliminary results for the year
ended 31 December 2023 are prepared in accordance with UK adopted
International Accounting Standards (IAS) and interpretations by the
IFRS Interpretations Committee applicable to companies reporting
under UK adopted IFRS. They do not include all the information
required for full annual statements and should be read in
conjunction with the 2023 Annual Report. The accounting policies
adopted in this preliminary announcement are consistent with the
Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2023.
The comparative figures for the
financial year 31 December 2022 have been extracted from the
Group's statutory accounts for that financial year. The 2022
financial statements, which were prepared in accordance with UK
adopted international accounting standards and company law, have
been reported on by the Group's auditors and delivered to the
registrar of companies.
The financial information set out in
this preliminary announcement does not constitute the Company's
statutory accounts for the years ended 31 December 2023 or 31
December 2022. The Annual Report for 2023 will be delivered to the
Registrar of Companies in due course. The auditors' report on those
accounts was unqualified and neither drew attention to any matters
by way of emphasis nor contained a statement under either section
498(2) of Companies Act 2006 (accounting records or returns
inadequate or accounts not agreeing with records and returns), or
section 498(3) of Companies Act 2006 (failure to obtain necessary
information and explanations).
The Board of Aptitude Software Group
plc approved the release of this audited preliminary announcement
on 20 March 2024.
The Annual Report for the year ended
31 December 2023 will be posted to shareholders in due course and
will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the
Annual General Meeting of the Company. The report will also be
available on the investor relations page of our web site
(www.aptitudesoftware.com). Further copies will be available on
request and free of charge from the Company Secretary at 8th Floor,
138 Cheapside, London, EC2V 6BJ.