TIDMFFX
RNS Number : 0090L
FAIRFX Group PLC
28 September 2016
FairFX Group plc
("FairFX" or "the Group" or "the Company")
Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2016
Strong growth and improved margins
FairFX, the low cost multi-currency payments service, announces
its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2016.
Key Financial Highlights
-- Turnover up 10 per cent. to GBP344 million (H1 2015: GBP312 million)
-- Revenue up 26 per cent. to GBP4.6 million (H1 2015: GBP3.6 million)
-- Gross pro t up 30 per cent. to GBP3.6 million (H1 2015: GBP2.7 million)
-- Net loss reduced by 57 per cent. to GBP0.9 million (H1 2015: GBP2.1 million)
Key Operational Highlights
-- Raised GBP5.25 million through placing, including strategic
investment by Crystal Amber Fund Limited
-- The Group delivered on its strategy to shift the business mix
towards higher margin products. As a result, increases of 26 per
cent and 30 per cent in revenue and gross profit respectively were
achieved from a 10 per cent. rise in turnover
-- Total retail customer numbers increased by 40,376 to a total
of 548,424 with emphasis on card customers, which increased by
34,165 despite headwinds experienced by many travel-related
companies
-- Corporate card platform growth of 64% to GBP30.4 million in
turnover (H1 2015: GBP18.5 million)
-- Remodelled website with rebranding and full-service mobile app deployed ahead of schedule
-- Targeted marketing investments of GBP1.6 million (H1 2015:
GBP2 million), principally used for running of TV commercial
-- Fully operational throughout EU referendum campaign with record week during voting period
-- Strategic partnership with HolidayExtras to promote FairFX's products to its customer base
Post-Period End
-- Growth in new card sales accelerated further with 17,002
cards sold in the 2 months post-period end
-- Total turnover in July and August was approximately GBP165
million, an increase of 32 per cent. on the same period last
year
-- Strategic partnership with Premier League Champions Leicester City signed
-- Accelerated growth in Corporate card platform usage to 79 per cent. year-on-year
Commenting on the results and outlook, Chief Executive Officer,
Ian Strafford-Taylor, said:
"The first half of the year has been very successful for FairFX,
especially given the various macro-economic factors encountered.
The twin effects of global political events and the EU referendum
campaign have hindered many companies with a travel-related focus
but FairFX has continued to grow. At the same time, we have
significantly reduced the net loss for the first half, showing a
clear path towards achieving profitability in 2017."
About FairFX
FairFX is a leading international payment services provider,
incorporated in the UK in 2005. The Company has developed a
cloud-based peer-to-peer payments platform that enables personal
and business customers to make easy, low-cost multi-currency
payments in a broad range of currencies and across a range of FX
products all via one integrated system. The FairFX platform
facilitates payments either direct to Bank Accounts or at 30
million merchants and over 1 million ATM's in a broad range of
countries globally via Mobile apps, the Internet, SMS, wire
transfer and MasterCard/VISA debit cards.
FairFX operates within the rapidly growing online multi-currency
payments market and provides transactional services to both
personal and business customers through four channels being
Currency Cards, Physical Currency, FairPay and Dealing. The
Currency Card and Physical Currency offerings facilitate multiple
overseas payments at points of sale and ATM's whereas the FairPay
and Dealing products support wire transfer foreign exchange
transactions direct to Bank Accounts.
For Corporates, FairFX has a market-leading business-expenses
solution based around its corporate prepaid card allied to a
platform allowing the Corporate to better control expenses and
improve transparency whilst removing administrative burdens from
staff.
In addition, FairFX has entered into a number of "white-label"
arrangements for the use of its P2P matching platform. Partners
include easyjet, ThinkMoney, Pitney Bowes and Quintessentially.
FairFX has also partnered with Concur Technologies, Inc. a leading
provider of integrated travel and expense management solutions with
over 25 million users globally. Such relationships provide strong
support for FairFX's customer acquisition strategy.
Operational Summary
The Group has delivered another strong period of growth during
the half, with progress continuing across both the Corporate and
Retail segments. This growth has been driven by an improved mix of
business and FairFX's proven marketing capabilities, which are
driving the growing customer base. The business is also well
capitalised to continue its platform and marketing investment
following the GBP5.25 million placing in March, which included a
GBP5 million strategic investment by Crystal Amber Fund
Limited.
As at 30 June 2016, the Group's total number of retail customers
had reached 548,424, increasing by 40,376 during the period, of
which 34,165 were new card customers. This growth was particularly
encouraging given the discernible impact of negative headwinds
faced by many companies operating in the travel industry, such as
people delaying their overseas travel decisions. The Group regards
the continued growth in customers as evidence of the effectiveness
of its card products, especially taking into account the external
market environment.
The strategy to drive further optimisation saw the Group's
business mix shift towards higher margin products. As a result, the
Group saw an increase of 26 per cent. and 30 per cent. in revenues
and gross profits respectively. Reflecting the Company's grasp of
current market requirements and ability to harness value, FairFX's
corporate business segment delivered considerable growth of 64 per
cent. compared to the same period last year, resulting in turnover
of GBP30.4 million.
The remodelling and rebranding of the Group's website is
delivering a much improved customer experience and the provision of
essential product information and offers. Furthermore, deployment
of the FairFX full-service mobile app means that we are capturing
growth from the shift in consumer preference to using mobile as
their primary means to perform retail transactions. The
developments and upgrades were all completed on time for the start
of the peak season for marketing FairFX's retail card product, and
were in place for the Group's TV advertising campaign which started
on 6(th) June to tie in with the holiday season.
During the period, the Group deployed GBP1.6 million for use in
targeted marketing investments to promote its products, principally
across broadcast media. This policy has delivered marked increases
in new customer acquisitions and brand awareness.
The Group remained fully operational throughout the EU
referendum campaign when currency markets were particularly
volatile, which was testament to the robustness of our systems and
procedures. As such the Group delivered a record performance in
terms of KPIs during the week of the referendum when some peers did
not accept business. In the week of the referendum, revenues
increased 30 per cent. on the previous record week and 50 per cent.
on the same week in June 2015.
In June, FairFX also launched its South African business, which
provides services converting ZAR into other currencies for movement
out of South Africa through a tripartite agreement with Morgan West
Ltd and Mercantile Bank. It is the intention of FairFX to expand
its presence in the country through delivering a full-service
offering, including currency cards.
FairFX continues to develop commercial partnerships that expose
the business to new customers and revenue streams. In line with
this strategy, FairFX entered into a partnership with HolidayExtras
to promote the Company's products to its customer base. The
agreement sought to exploit synergies present in the shared
objectives of improving customer experience through innovative
technology, a broad product range and highly competitive
pricing.
Since the period end, FairFX has developed three further
commercial partnerships. In August the Group signed deals with
social dining network VizEat as well as Monarch Airlines, which is
promoting FairFX's products to its air passengers who receive
preferential currency card rates. The Group also signed a high
profile agreement in July with Leicester City FC, for whom FairFX
is providing all foreign exchange requirements, including money
conversion for player transfers.
Financial Review
The six months ended 30 June 2016 has seen the Group continue
the strong trajectory of 2015, with key product lines experiencing
double-digit growth.
Group turnover for the period was GBP344 million (H1 2015: 312
million), an increase of 10 per cent. Gross pro ts were GBP3.6
million (H1 2015: GBP2.7 million), an increase of 30 per cent.
These substantial increases were mainly due to a business mix
focused on higher margin products. While the Group incurred a
GBP0.9 million loss, this was 57 per cent. lower than the 2015
figure (H1 2015: GBP2.1 million).
On March 7 2016 FairFX successfully raised GBP5.25 million
(before expenses) from the issue of new ordinary shares to certain
institutional investors, including Crystal Amber Fund Limited
("Placing"). Proceeds from the Placing have been used to accelerate
FairFX's marketing activities and aggressively target the corporate
card segment in 2016 across TV and digital platforms. The Placing
proceeds also helped bolster the sales effort to corporates for the
market-leading FairFX platform, and expand IT resources for new
product developments and overseas roll-outs.
Crystal Amber held approximately 24.24 per cent. of the enlarged
share capital of FairFX as a result of the Placing, and continues
to provide the Company with a key strategic institutional investor
who can provide insight and advice to the Company, as well as
access to a business network to help accelerate top-line sales
growth.
Current Trading and Outlook
FairFX continues to build on the significant growth seen in
2015, with total turnover for July and August at GBP165 million, up
32 per cent. on the same period last year. Card and international
payments products have delivered excellent returns and the
Corporate card platform is showing outstanding growth, which
accelerated in July and August. The platform has seen an annual
growth rate of 79 per cent., up from 64 per cent. at the end of
H1.
FairFX remains confident about the trading outlook despite
ongoing economic uncertainties in the UK post EU referendum. We
have a pipeline of IT developments, which will add exciting
functionality to our Corporate offering whilst continuing to refine
the retail side of the business. In addition, we are automating and
improving efficiency in our supply chain. This will reduce costs
and improve our efficiency. As an online business, we continue to
focus on making it as simple as possible to become a customer, and
to transact on whatever device the user favours.
The Board of FairFX continues to be confident of meeting market
expectations for the full year.
Contact:
FairFX Group plc
Ian Strafford-Taylor,
CEO +44 (0) 20 7778 9308
Cenkos Securities plc
Max Hartley/Callum Davidson +44 (0) 20 7397 8925
Yellow Jersey PR
Charles Goodwin
Aidan Stanley +44 (0) 7747 788 221
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Notes Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
Ended Ended
30 June 30 June 31 December
2016 2015 2015
GBP GBP GBP
Gross value of
currency
transactions
sold 4 344,295,239 312,038,968 626,827,807
Gross value of
currency
transactions
purchased (339,705,605) (308,403,066) (619,387,847)
Revenue on
currency
transactions 4,589,634 3,635,902 7,439,960
Direct costs (1,048,672) (920,263) (2,412,073)
Gross profit 3,540,962 2,715,639 5,027,887
Administrative
expenses (4,428,780) (4,777,828) (8,423,285)
Loss before tax
and from
operations (887,818) (2,062,189) (3,395,398)
Tax expense 5 - - -
Loss for the
period /
year (887,818) (2,062,189) (3,395,398)
Loss per share
Basic 6 (0.99)p (2.93)p (4.76)p
Diluted 6 (0.99)p (2.93)p (4.76)p
All amounts relate to continuing activities.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
at at at
30 June 30 June 31 December
16 15 15
GBP GBP GBP
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and
equipment 78,236 101,748 80,754
78,236 101,748 80,754
Current assets
Inventories 198,165 226,086 95,094
Trade and other
receivables 4,073,750 13,696,585 1,965,003
Derivative financial
assets 489,365 - 115,711
Cash and cash
equivalents 9,750,640 6,134,058 3,615,056
14,511,920 20,056,729 5,790,864
TOTAL ASSETS 14,590,156 20,158,477 5,871,618
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Equity attributable
to Equity holders
Share capital 1,031,160 704,758 768,660
Share premium 10,174,274 3,522,752 5,313,780
Share based payment
reserve 667,421 603,004 667,421
Merger reserve 5,416,083 5,416,083 5,416,083
Retained deficit (12,345,310) (10,124,283) (11,457,492)
Total Equity 4,943,628 122,314 708,452
Current liabilities
Borrowings - 334,882 -
Trade and other payables 9,253,566 19,701,281 4,463,925
Derivatives and
financial
liabilities 392,962 - 699,241
9,646,528 20,036,163 5,163,166
TOTAL EQUITY AND
LIABILITIES 14,590,156 20,158,477 5,871,618
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
Share Total
Based Equity
Payment
Share Share Retained Merger Attributable
Premium De cit Reserve to Shareholders
Capital
GBP GBP GBP GBP GBP GBP
Balance as at
1 January 2015 704,758 3,522,752 279,136 (8,062,094) 5,416,083 1,860,635
Loss for the
period - - - (2,062,189) - (2,062,189)
Share based
payment charge - - 323,868 - - 323,868
Balance as at
30 June 2015 704,758 3,522,752 603,004 (10,124,283) 5,416,083 122,314
Balance as at
1 January 2015 704,758 3,522,752 279,136 (8,062,094) 5,416,083 1,860,635
Loss for the
year - - - (3,395,398) - (3,395,398)
Shares issued
in the year 63,902 1,791,028 - - - 1,854,930
Share based
payment charge - - 388,285 - - 388,285
Balance as at
31 December
2015 768,660 5,313,780 667,421 (11,457,492) 5,416,083 708,452
Loss for the
period - - - (887,818) - (887,818)
Shares issued
in the year 262,500 4,860,494 - - - 5,122,994
Balance as at
30 June 2016 1,031,160 10,174,274 667,421 (12,345,310) 5,416,083 4,943,628
The following describes the nature and purpose of each reserve
within owners' equity:
Share capital Amount subscribed for shares at nominal
value.
Share premium Amount subscribed for shares in excess
of nominal value less costs directly
attributable to the Initial Public
Offer of the company's share.
Share based Fair value of share options granted
payment to both directors and employees.
Retained deficit Cumulative profit and losses are
attributable to equity shareholders.
Merger reserve Arising on reverse acquisition from
group reorganisation.
Under the principles of reverse acquisition accounting, the
group is presented as if FAIRFX Group Plc had always owned the
FAIRFX (UK) Limited group. The comparative and current period
consolidated reserves of the group are adjusted to reflect the
statutory share capital and merger reserve of FAIRFX Group Plc as
if it had always existed.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months
ended ended Year ended
30 June 30 June 31 December
2016 2015 2015
GBP GBP GBP
Loss for the period / year (887,818) (2,062,189) (3,395,398)
Cash flows from operating
activities
Adjustments for:
Depreciation 24,500 29,951 55,165
Share based payment charge - 323,868 388,285
(Increase) in trade and
other receivables (2,108,746) (5,797,484) (327,825)
(Increase) in derivative
financial assets (373,654) - (68,570)
(Decrease) in borrowings - - (334,882)
Increase in trade and other
payables 4,789,641 9,638,652 616,078
(Decrease) / increase in
derivative financial liabilities (306,279) - 699,241
Decrease / (increase) in
inventories (103,072) (64,937) 66,055
Net cash generated / (used)
from / (by) operating activities 1,034,572 2,067,861 (2,301,851)
Cash flows from investing
activities
Acquisition of property,
plant and equipment (21,982) (18,940) (23,160)
Net cash used in investing
activities (21,982) (18,940) (23,160)
Cash flows from financing
activities
Proceeds from issuance
of ordinary shares 5,250,000 - 1,980,971
Costs directly attributable
to share issuance (127,006) - (126,041)
Net cash from financing
activities 5,122,994 - 1,854,930
Net increase / (decrease)
in cash and cash equivalents 6,135,584 2,048,921 (470,081)
Cash and cash equivalents
at the beginning of the
period / year 3,615,056 4,085,137 4,085,137
Cash and cash equivalents
at the end of the period
/ year 9,750,640 6,134,058 3,615,056
Included in cash and cash equivalents at 30 June 2016 was
GBP6.0m of customer trading funds (30 June 2015: GBP5.3 million, 31
December 2015: GBP2.9 million).
Notes to the unaudited consolidated interim report for the six
months ending 30 June 2016
1. Basis of preparation and accounting policies
The interim nancial statements have been prepared in accordance
with the AIM rules and the basis of accounting policies set out in
the accounts of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2015. The
consolidated interim nancial statements have been prepared using
recognition and measurement principles of IFRS as adopted for use
in the European Union. The IASB has issued a number of IFRS and
IFRIC amendments or interpretations since the last annual report
was published. It is not expected that any of these will have a
material impact on the Group and therefore accounting policies
applied are consistent with those disclosed in the annual nancial
statements for the year ended 31 December 2015.
The interim nancial statements are unaudited and were approved
by the Board of Directors for issue on 28 September 2016. The
information set out herein is abbreviated and does not constitute
statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the
Companies Act 2006. These interim consolidated nancial statements
do not include all disclosures which would be required in a
complete set of nancial statements and should be read in
conjunction with the 2015 Annual Report. The results for the year
ended 31 December 2015 are in abbreviated form and have been
extracted from the published nancial statements of the Group. There
were audited and reported upon without quali cation by KPMG LLP and
did not contain a statement under Section 498 (2) or (3) of the
Companies Act 2006.
The Group has not applied IAS 34 "Interim Financial Reporting"
(which is not mandatory for UK Groups) in the preparation of this
interim report.
The Company is a limited liability company incorporated and
domiciled in England and Wales and whose shares are quoted on AIM,
a market operated by The London Stock Exchange. The Group nancial
statements are presented in pounds Sterling, which is the Group's
presentational currency.
2. Basis of consolidation
The consolidated nancial statements incorporate the nancial
statements of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings. The
company did not undertake any transactions prior to 30 June
2014.
On 5 August 2014, FAIRFX Group plc listed its shares on AIM, a
market operated by The London Stock Exchange. In preparation for
the Initial Public O ering ("IPO") the Group was restructured. The
restructure impacted a number of the prior year and comparative
primary nancial statements and notes. The e ect of this
reorganisation was to insert one new company into the Group, a new
ultimate holding company, FAIRFX Group plc.
FAIRFX Group Plc acquired the entire share capital of FAIRFX
(UK) Limited (previously named FAIRFX Group Limited) on 22 July
2014 through a share for share exchange. For the consolidated
financial statements of the Group, prepared under IFRS, the
principles of reverse acquisition under IFRS 3 "Business
Combinations" have been applied. The steps to restructure the group
had the effect of FAIRFX Group Plc being inserted above FAIRFX (UK)
Limited. The holders of the share capital of FAIRFX (UK) Limited
were issued fifty shares in FAIRFX Group Plc for one share held in
FAIRFX (UK) Limited.
By applying the principles of reverse acquisition accounting,
the Group is presented as if FAIRFX Group plc had always owned and
controlled the FAIRFX group. Comparatives have also been prepared
on this basis. Accordingly, the assets and liabilities of FAIRFX
Group plc have been recognised at their historical carrying
amounts, the results for the periods prior to the date the Company
legally obtained control have been recognised and the nancial
information and cash ows re ect those of the "former" FAIRFX (UK)
Limited group.
3. Going concern basis
The nancial statements have been prepared on a going concern
basis. In determining the appropriate basis of preparation of the
interim statements, the Directors are required to consider whether
the Group can continue in operational existence for the foreseeable
future. The Directors are of the opinion that the Group and Company
have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for
the foreseeable future and feel it is appropriate to adopt the
going concern basis in the preparation of the interim
statements.
4. Segmental analysis
The revenue for the group is generated through the provision of
foreign currency services and this is the sole operating segment of
the group. The revenue is wholly derived from within the UK.
5. Taxation
There is no charge for current or deferred tax due to the
availability of tax losses. Deferred tax assets are recognised for
tax losses carried forward to the extent that the realisation of
the related tax benefit through future taxable profits is
considered more likely than not. The decision to recognise any
asset will be taken at such point recovery is reasonably certain,
when the group returns to profitability.
6. Loss per share
The loss per ordinary share is based on a loss attributable to
equity shareholders of the parent company.
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended
30 June 2016 30 June 2015 31 December
GBP GBP 2015
GBP
Earnings:
Loss for the
purposes of
basic and diluted
loss per share
(LPS) being
the net loss
attributable
to the owners
of the Company (887,818) (2,062,189) (3,395,398)
Number of shares:
Weighted average
number of Ordinary
shares for
the purpose
of basic LPS 89,991,039 70,475,810 71,316,169
The calculation of diluted earnings per share has been based on
the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders and a weighted
average number of shares outstanding, after adjustments for the
effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.
7. Dividends
The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend.
8. Share capital and merger reserve
As at As at As at
30 June 2016 30 June 2015 31 December 2015
Number GBP Number GBP Number GBP
Allotted,
issued and
fully paid
Ordinary
shares of
1p each 103,116,039 1,031,160 70,475,810 704,758 76,866,039 768,660
Under the principles of reverse acquisition accounting, the
group is presented as if FAIRFX Group Plc had always owned the
FAIRFX (UK) Limited group. The comparative and current period
consolidated reserves of the group are adjusted to reflect the
statutory share capital and merger reserve of FAIRFX Group Plc as
if it had always existed.
Since 30 June 2015, the company has made the following share
issues:
Gross Nominal
Price value Value Costs
Date of No Shares per of shares of shares of share Share
Issue Issued share issued issued issues Premium
13 November 6,390,229 GBP0.31 GBP1,980,971 GBP6,390 GBP126,041 GBP1,791,028
2015
29 March 26,250,000 GBP0.20 GBP5,250,000 GBP262,500 GBP127,006 GBP4,860,494
2016
Total 32,640,229 GBP7,230,971 GBP268,890 GBP253,047 GBP6,651,522
=========== ============= =========== =========== =============
9. Events after the reporting date
There are no events to report since the reporting date.
10. Interim announcement
The interim report was approved by the Board of Director for
issue on 27 September 2016. A copy will be posted on the Investor
section of the Company's website at www.fairfx.com.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
IR AKODQCBKDPCB
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