TIDMFLK

RNS Number : 5748I

Fletcher King PLC

08 August 2023

FLETCHER KING PLC

Audited results for the Year Ending 30 April 2023

Highlights

   --      Revenue for the year of GBP3,079,000 (2022: GBP2,967,000) 
   --      Statutory profit before tax of GBP192,000 (2022: GBP134,000) 
   --      Adjusted profit before tax of GBP165,000 (2022: GBP144,000) * 
   --      Adjusted basic earnings per share of 2.01p (2022: 1.73p) ** 
   --      Final proposed dividend: 0.75p per share (2022: 0.50p per share) 
   --      Significant cash reserves: GBP2.8m as at 30 April 2023 (2022: GBP3.4m) 

*Adjusted profit before tax is before share-based payment expenses and after other comprehensive income (see note 2). The Board considers the adjusted results to be an important measure of performance due to the nature of the Company, and with share options being awarded to directors and key staff only.

**Adjusted basic earnings per share is calculated using adjusted profits (see note 4).

The Annual Report and Accounts will shortly be posted on the Company's website and a further announcement will be made when the document is sent to shareholders.

Commenting on the results, David Fletcher, chairman of Fletcher King Plc said:

"We are pleased to report improved results compared with last year and to be able to recommend an increased dividend payment. We have started the new financial year with some encouraging instructions and are optimistic for the forthcoming period".

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of the UK Market Abuse Regulation and the Directors of the Company are responsible for the release of this announcement.

For further information, please contact:

 
 
 Fletcher King plc                 Tel: +44 (0) 20 7493 8400 
 David Fletcher, Non-Executive 
  Chairman 
  Peter Bailey, Finance Director 
 
 Cairn Financial Advisers LLP      Tel: +44 (0) 20 7213 0880 
 (Nominated Adviser) 
 James Caithie 
  Liam Murray 
 
 
 
 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Results

Revenue for the year was GBP3,079,000 (2022: GBP2,967,000). Adjusted profit before tax (see note 2) was GBP165,000 (2022: GBP144,000). Statutory profit before tax was GBP192,000 (2022: GBP134,000).

The Board considers the adjusted results to be an important measure of performance and to be more representative of performance for the year than the statutory results (which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards).

Dividend

The Board is proposing a final dividend of 0.75p per share. The final dividend is subject to shareholder approval at the AGM and will be paid on 27 October 2023 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 29 September 2023. With no interim dividend paid (2022: GBPnil per share) the dividend for this year will amount to 0.75p per share (2022: 0.5p per share).

The Commercial Property Market

Looking back to my statement twelve months ago, I reported that both the letting and capital markets were considerably more buoyant than the previous year. Regrettably that state of affairs did not continue.

Due to the uncertainties of the economy, with interest rates rising and inflation falling much more slowly than expected, the commercial property capital markets are currently moribund. The potential for a change of Government is further clouding investors' vision and whilst there is a considerable volume of funds waiting to enter the commercial property market, the timing is unpredictable.

In contrast to the property capital markets, the letting markets, particularly in London and other big cities, are still reasonably active although this is primarily for grade A office space which is still in demand with higher rents achieved than in the previous year.

Business Overview

Despite the difficult market I am pleased to report an overall growth in turnover and profit for the year.

Once again, Property Asset and Fund Management enjoyed a strong year with new clients added.

Bank valuations also continued to grow, with an increase in instructions from new lenders.

I am pleased to report that, at last, rating appeals moved ahead and some very long-standing large appeals were successfully concluded and hopefully that progress will continue.

The Investment department has had a very difficult year, along with most in the property industry, and recorded its worst results for some time. We believe this was a reflection of falling capital values resulting from the political and economic uncertainties reported above.

Outlook

It continues to be impossible to accurately predict the future of the property markets and thus our performance, whilst current uncertainties prevail. Nevertheless, we are reasonably optimistic for the coming year particularly as we are in discussion with a number of potential new Property Management instructions.

We anticipate that the volume of valuations will continue to grow and we expect rating appeals to do likewise.

We also expect the Investment Department to do much better this coming year but the volume of their work is particularly difficult to predict under current circumstances.

The general state of the market has not been conducive to generating activity with our new large shareholder but we will continue to look for opportunities to collaborate in the forthcoming period.

As usual, our balance sheet and cash reserves remain strong and that continues to be of great importance in these volatile times.

Our loyal clients and hard-working and talented staff have enabled us to perform well this year and on behalf of the Board I thank them all.

DAVID FLETCHER

CHAIRMAN

7 August 2023

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

for the year ended 30 April 2023

 
                                        Note       2023      2022 
                                                 GBP000    GBP000 
 
 Continuing operations 
 Revenue                                          3,079     2,967 
 
 Employee benefits expense                      (1,704)   (1,630) 
 Depreciation expense                             (197)     (346) 
 Gain recognised on remeasurement 
  of lease liability                                  -       125 
 Other operating expenses                       (1,064)   (1,014) 
  Share based payment expense                      (17)      (10) 
                                              ---------  -------- 
                                                (2,982)   (2,875) 
 
 Other operating income                              51        39 
 Investment income                                   42        18 
 Finance income                                      21         - 
 Finance expense                                   (19)      (15) 
                                              ---------  -------- 
 
 Profit before taxation                             192       134 
 
 
 Taxation                                            41        18 
                                              ---------  -------- 
 
 Profit for the year                                233       152 
 
 Other comprehensive income: amounts 
  not to be 
 reclassified to profit or loss 
 Fair value loss on financial assets               (44)         - 
  through 
 other comprehensive income 
 
 Total comprehensive income for 
  the year attributable to equity 
  shareholders                                      189       152 
 Earnings per share 
 Basic                                     4      2.27p     1.62p 
  Diluted                                  4      2.09p     1.48p 
 Adjusted earnings per share 
 
 Basic                                     4      2.01p     1.73p 
 Diluted                                   4      1.84p     1.58p 
 
 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

as at 30 April 2023

 
                                     2023     2022 
                                   GBP000   GBP000 
 
 Assets 
 Non-current assets 
 Intangible assets                     61       76 
 Property, plant and equipment        205      266 
 Right-of-use asset                   378      494 
 Financial assets                     485      529 
 Deferred tax assets                   73       32 
                                    1,202    1,397 
                                  -------  ------- 
 
 Current assets 
 Trade and other receivables        1,553    1,375 
 Corporation tax debtor                 -       97 
 Cash and cash equivalents          2,755    3,365 
                                  -------  ------- 
                                    4,308    4,791 
                                  -------  ------- 
 
 
 
 Total assets                       5,510    6,188 
                                  -------  ------- 
 
 Liabilities 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other payables             901    1,124 
 Provisions                             -       25 
 Lease liabilities                    141      610 
                                    1,042    1,759 
                                  -------  ------- 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
                                  -------  ------- 
 Lease liabilities                    286      402 
                                  -------  ------- 
 
 
 Total liabilities                  1,328    2,161 
                                  -------  ------- 
 
 Shareholders' equity 
 Share capital                      1,025    1,025 
 Share premium                        522      522 
 Investment revaluation reserve     (145)    (101) 
 Share option reserve                  27       10 
 Retained Earnings                  2,753    2,571 
                                  -------  ------- 
 Total shareholders' equity         4,182    4,027 
                                  -------  ------- 
 
 Total equity and liabilities       5,510    6,188 
                                  -------  ------- 
 
 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

for the year ended 30 April 2023

 
                                              2023     2022 
                                            GBP000   GBP000 
 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
 Profit before taxation from continuing 
  operations                                   192      134 
 Adjustments for: 
 Movement in provision                        (25)     (75) 
 Depreciation and amortisation expense         197      346 
 Remeasurement of lease liability                -    (125) 
 Investment income                            (42)     (18) 
 Finance income                               (21)        - 
 Finance expense                                19       15 
 Share based payment expense                    17       10 
                                           -------  ------- 
 
 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
  before 
  movement in working capital                  337      287 
 
 Increase in trade and other receivables     (224)    (181) 
 (Decrease)/increase in trade and 
  other payables                             (223)      216 
                                           -------  ------- 
 
 Cash (absorbed by) / generated 
  from operations                            (110)      322 
 
 Taxation received                              97        - 
                                           -------  ------- 
 
 Net cash flows from operating 
  activities                                  (13)      322 
                                           -------  ------- 
 
 Cash flows from investing activities 
 Purchase of fixed assets                      (5)    (352) 
 Investment income                              42       18 
 Finance income                                 21        - 
 Net cash flows from investing 
  activities                                    58    (334) 
                                           -------  ------- 
 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Lease payments                              (604)      (1) 
 Proceeds of share placing                       -      547 
 Placing costs                                   -     (61) 
 Dividends paid to shareholders               (51)        - 
                                           -------  ------- 
 Net cash flows from financing 
  activities                                 (655)      485 
                                           -------  ------- 
 
 Net (decrease)/increase in cash 
  and cash equivalents                       (610)      473 
 Cash and cash equivalents at start 
  of year                                    3,365    2,892 
                                           -------  ------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at end 
  of year                                    2,755    3,365 
                                           -------  ------- 
 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

For the year ended 30 April 2023

 
                                                                    Investment      Share 
                                   Note       Share       Share    Revaluation     option     Retained      TOTAL 
                                            capital     premium        Reserve    reserve     Earnings     EQUITY 
                                             GBP000      GBP000         GBP000     GBP000       GBP000     GBP000 
 
 Balance as at 1 
  May 2021                                      921         140          (101)          -        2,419      3,379 
 
 Total comprehensive 
  income for the year                             -           -              -          -          152        152 
 Share issue                                    104         443              -          -            -        547 
 Cost of share issue                              -        (61)              -          -            -       (61) 
 Share based payment 
  expense                                         -           -              -         10            -         10 
 
 
 Balance at 30 April 
  2022                                        1,025         522          (101)         10        2,571      4,027 
 
 Profit for the year                              -           -              -          -          233        233 
 Fair value loss 
  on financial assets 
  through other comprehensive 
  income                                          -           -           (44)          -            -       (44) 
 Share based payment 
  expense                                         -           -              -         17            -         17 
 Equity dividends 
  paid                                2           -           -              -          -         (51)       (51) 
 
 
 Balance at 30 April 
  2023                                        1,025         522          (145)         27        2,753      4,182 
 
 

NOTES

1. General information

Whilst the financial information included in this preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards, this announcement does not itself contain sufficient information to comply with IFRSs.

The financial information is presented in pounds sterling rounded to the nearest thousand, and prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards and under the historical cost convention, except for the revaluation of certain financial assets. The financial information set out in this announcement does not comprise the Group's statutory accounts for the years ended 30 April 2023 or 30 April 2022.

The financial information for the year ended 30 April 2022 is derived from the statutory accounts for that year which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either Section 498 (2) or Section 498 (3) of the Companies Act 2006 and did not include references to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis.

The financial information for the year ended 30 April 2023 is derived from the audited statutory accounts for the year ended 30 April 2023 on which the auditors have given an unqualified report, that did not contain a statement under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006 and did not include references to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis. The statutory accounts will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's annual general meeting.

2. Alternative performance measures - profit reconciliation

The reconciliation set out below provides additional information to enable the reader to reconcile to the numbers discussed in the Chairman's Statement and Highlights section.

 
 Year ended 30 April                               2023     2022 
                                                 GBP000   GBP000 
 
 Profit before taxation                             192      134 
 Add back: Share based payment expense               17       10 
 Include: Fair value loss on financial assets      (44)        - 
  through OCI 
 
 Adjusted profit before share-based payment 
  expense and taxation                              165      144 
 
 Taxation                                            41       18 
 
 Adjusted profit after tax for the year             206      162 
                                                -------  ------- 
 

The fair value loss on financial assets represents the unrealised loss in the year on the revaluation of the Group's interest in the SHIPS 16 syndicate.

3. Dividends

 
 Year ended 30 April                              2023     2022 
                                                GBP000   GBP000 
 Equity dividends on ordinary shares: 
 Declared and paid during year 
 Ordinary final dividend for the year ended       51       - 
  30 April 2022: 0.50p per share (2021: nil) 
 Interim dividend for the year ended 30              -        - 
  April 2023: nil per share 
  (2022: nil) 
                                               -------  ------- 
 
                                                    51        - 
                                               -------  ------- 
 
 Proposed ordinary final dividend for the 
  year ended 
  30 April 2023: 0.75p per share                    77 
                                               ------- 
 

4. Earnings per share

 
 Number of shares                                           2023           2022 
                                                              No             No 
 
 Weighted average number of shares for basic 
  earnings per share                                  10,252,209      9,375,425 
  Share options                                          920,000        920,000 
                                                   -------------  ------------- 
 
   Weighted average number of shares for diluted 
   earnings per share                                 11,172,209     10,295,425 
                                                   =============  ============= 
 
 
 
   Earnings                                               GBP000         GBP000 
 
   Profit after tax for the year                             233            152 
 (used to calculate the basic and diluted 
  earnings per share) 
 Add back: Share based payment expense                        17             10 
 Include: Fair value loss on financial assets               (44)              - 
  through OCI 
 
 Adjusted profit after tax for the year                      206            162 
                                                   -------------  ------------- 
 (used to calculate the adjusted basic and 
  diluted earnings per share) 
 
 
   Earnings per share 
 Basic                                                     2.27p          1.62p 
  Diluted                                                  2.09p          1.48p 
 
 
   Adjusted earnings per share 
 
   Basic                                                   2.01p          1.73p 
   Diluted                                                 1.84p          1.58p 
 

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this announcement are forward-looking statements relating to the Company's operations, performance and financial position based on current expectations of, and assumptions and forecasts made by, management. They are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any outcomes or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward looking statements. They are made only as of the date of this announcement and no representation, assurance, guarantee or warranty is given in relation to them including as to their accuracy, completeness, or the basis on which they are made.

END

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