TIDMNAK

RNS Number : 8230R

Nakama Group Plc

10 November 2011

 
 For release   07:00   10 November 2011 
 

Nakama Group plc (AIM: NAK)

Formerly

Highams Systems Services Group plc

("Highams" or "Nakama" or "the Group")

The AIM quoted technology recruitment consultancy, specialising in IT staffing to the financial services sector, and digital technology and interactive internet media staffing to international markets, announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2011.

INTERIM RESULTS

For the six months ended 30 September 2011

Highlights

   --      Revenue grew by 8% to GBP4.78m (2010: GBP4.41m) 
   --      Profit before tax increased substantially by 23% to GBP152,000 (2010: GBP123,000) 
   --      Net fee income (NFI) rose by 15% to GBP888,000 (2010: GBP770,000) 
   --      NFI percentage increased to 18.55% (2010: 17.46%) 
   --      EPS up 22% to 0.22p (2010: 0.18p) 
   --      Activity levels in UK financial services markets held firm 

Ken Ford, Chairman of Nakama, commented:

"We are pleased to report our interim results, which show an increase in revenue of 8% to GBP4.78m (2010: GBP4.41m) on the same period last year, with an increase in net fee income (NFI) and profit before tax.

Activity levels in Highams' core UK Financial Services sector have held firm in spite of economic uncertainty.

For some time we have been looking for an acquisition to enhance the Group's offering and we were delighted to announce the acquisition of Nakama on 13 October 2011 and the change of name to Nakama Group plc. We now move into the second half of the year with a stronger platform on which to continue to develop. Not only will we see the reopening of a London office but furthermore, Nakama's exposure to international markets provides the opportunity to broaden geographical spread, cross sell to an enlarged client base and diversify risk. A copy of the announcement giving full details of the terms of the acquisition is at www.highams.com.

The acquisition of Nakama brings many other potential benefits and brings on board the experienced recruitment specialist, Stefan Ciecierski, who I am delighted to welcome to the Board as CEO. I therefore very much look forward to a new chapter of growth for the enlarged Group".

Enquiries:

 
 Stefan Ciecierski, Chief Executive   Tel: 020 3170 
  Officer                              8202 
 Nakama Group plc 
 
 Mark de Lacy, Managing Director      Tel: 01883 341 
                                       144 
 Nakama Group plc 
 www.highams.com 
 
 Jonathan Wright (Nominated           Tel: 0207 107 
  adviser)                             8000 
 Seymour Pierce Limited 
 
 Tarquin Edwards                      Tel: 07879 458 
                                       364 
 Peckwater PR 
 

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2011

Introduction

We are pleased to report our interim results, which show an increase in revenue of 8% to GBP4.78m (2010: GBP4.41m), on the same period last year, with an increase in net fee income (NFI) and profit before tax.

Activity levels in Highams' core UK Financial Services sector have held firm in spite of economic uncertainty.

Financials

The results for the 6 months to 30 September 2011 do not reflect the acquisition of Nakama which took place after the period end.

We have had a good start to the year: turnover increased to GBP4.78 million (2010: GBP4.41 million), and NFI increased to GBP887,000 (2010: GBP770,000). The operating profit before interest and tax was GBP155,000 (2010: GBP128,000).

A return to future dividend payments is being kept under review by the Board, but following the recent acquisition and on-going integration of the two businesses, the directors are not recommending that the Company does so at the current time.

Recent News

For some time we have been looking for an acquisition to enhance the Group's offering and we were delighted to announce the acquisition of Nakama on 13 October 2011 and the change of name to Nakama Group plc. We now move into the second half of the year with a stronger platform on which to continue to develop. Not only will we see the reopening of a London office but, furthermore, Nakama's exposure to international markets provides the opportunity to broaden geographical spread, cross sell to an enlarged client base and diversify risk. A copy of the announcement giving full details of the terms of the acquisition is at www.highams.com.

Although both Highams and Nakama supply technology, business and professional services personnel, Nakama's focus on the digital technology and interactive media sector is sufficiently distinct from Highams' focus on the financial services industry to provide some diversity of risk and the opportunity of cross-selling to each other's client base, while providing an enlarged database of contractors with a wider range of opportunity. We also expect to experience some operational cost savings from the merger of the two companies.

The acquisition of Nakama brings many other potential benefits and brings on board the experienced recruitment specialist, Stefan Ciecierski, who I am delighted to welcome to the Board as CEO. I therefore very much look forward to a new chapter of growth for the enlarged Group.

Summary and Outlook

We continue to make good progress and we now move into the second half of the year with a stronger platform on which to continue to develop the enlarged Group.

We have, over the past few months, recruited more personnel into the Highams sales team to enhance delivery and I welcome all new joiners to the Group. I am particularly pleased to welcome our new colleagues from Nakama in the UK, Hong Kong and Australia, some 30 people, into the enlarged Group.

Integration of the back office systems will take place over the coming months which should bring operational benefits to the Group as a whole; these benefits should be reflected in the second half of the year to 31 March 2012 and for the full year to 31 March 2013.

Ken Ford

Chairman

10 November 2011

 
 Consolidated statement of 
  comprehensive income 
 for the six months ended                       6 months        6 months       12 months 
  30 September 2011                                   to              to              to 
                                                  30 Sep          30 Sep          31 Mar 
                                                    2011            2010            2011 
                                               Unaudited       Unaudited         Audited 
                                        Note     GBP'000         GBP'000         GBP'000 
 
 Total Revenue                                     4,779           4,409           9,020 
 Cost of sales                                   (3,892)         (3,639)         (7,390) 
 Net fee income                                      887             770           1,630 
 Other administrative costs                        (732)           (642)         (1,317) 
 Operating profit                                    155             128             313 
 
 Finance costs                                       (3)             (5)            (10) 
 Profit on ordinary activities 
  before taxation                                    152             123             303 
 Tax credit                                            -               -             200 
 Profit and total comprehensive 
  income for the period attributable 
  to equity shareholders                             152             123             503 
                                              ==========      ==========      ========== 
 
 
 Basic earnings per share                  2        0.22   p        0.18   p        0.73   p 
 Diluted earnings per share                2        0.21   p        0.17   p        0.71   p 
 
 
 Statement of changes 
  in equity 
 at 30 September 
  2011 
 
                                                          Employee 
                                                             share 
                            Share      Share     Merger    benefit   Currency    Retained     Total 
                          capital    premium    reserve    reserve    Reserve    earnings    equity 
                          GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000    GBP'000     GBP'000   GBP'000 
 
 At 1 April 
  2009                      1,597      1,239         90       (61)          3     (2,805)        63 
 Currency adjustments           -          -          -          -          1           -         1 
 Profit to 31 
  March 2010                    -          -          -          -                    232       232 
----------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------- 
 At 31 March 
  2010                      1,597      1,239         90       (61)          4     (2,573)       296 
 Share based 
  payment credit                                                                        2         2 
 Profit to 31 
  March 2011                    -          -          -          -          -         503       503 
----------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------- 
 At 31 March 
  2011                      1,597      1,239         90       (61)          4     (2,068)       801 
 Profit to 30 
  September 2011                -          -          -          -          -         152       152 
----------------------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ----------  -------- 
 At 30 September 
  2011                      1,597      1,239         90       (61)                (1,916)       953 
 
 
 Consolidated balance 
  sheet 
 as at 30 September 
  2011 
                               6 months    6 months   12 months 
                                     to          to          to 
                                 30 Sep      30 Sep      31 Mar 
                                   2011        2010        2011 
                              Unaudited   Unaudited     Audited 
                                GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000 
 Assets 
 Non-current assets 
 Property, plant 
  and equipment                       4           3           5 
 Deferred tax asset                 301         101         301 
 Total                              305         104         306 
---------------------------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Current assets 
 Trade and other 
  receivables                     1,590       1,255       1,592 
 Cash and cash equivalents          346           -         176 
 Total                            1,936       1,255       1,768 
---------------------------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Total assets                     2,241       1,359       2,074 
---------------------------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 Liabilities 
 Current liabilities 
 Trade and other 
  payables                      (1,288)       (750)     (1,273) 
 Borrowings                           -       (190)           - 
 Total                          (1,288)       (940)     (1,273) 
---------------------------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Net assets/(liabilities)           953         419         801 
---------------------------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 
 Equity 
 Share capital                    1,597       1,597       1,597 
 Share premium account            1,239       1,239       1,239 
 Merger reserve                      90          90          90 
 Employee share benefit 
  trust reserve                    (61)        (61)        (61) 
 Currency reserve                     4           4           4 
 Retained earnings              (1,916)     (2,450)     (2,068) 
 Total equity                       953         419         801 
                             ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
 
 Consolidated Cash Flow 
  Statement 
 as at 30 September 2011 
                                 6 months    6 months                    12 months 
                                       to          to                           to 
                                   30 Sep      30 Sep                       31 Mar 
                                     2011        2010                         2011 
                                Unaudited   Unaudited                      Audited 
                                  GBP'000     GBP'000                      GBP'000 
 
 Operating activities 
 Profit before taxation               152         123                          303 
  Depreciation of tangible 
   assets                               1           4                            8 
  Net finance costs                     3           5                           10 
  Changes in trade and other 
   receivables                          2          36                        (301) 
  Changes in trade and other 
   payables                            15       (126)                          399 
 Net cash used in operating 
  activities                          173          42                          419 
 
 
 Cash flows from investing 
  activities 
 Purchase of property plant 
  and equipment                         -           -                          (6) 
 Net cash used in investing 
  activities                            -           -                          (6) 
                               ----------  ----------  --------------------------- 
 
 
 Financing activities 
 Reduction in borrowings                -        (80)                        (231) 
 Interest paid                        (3)         (5)                         (10) 
                               ----------  ----------  --------------------------- 
 Net cash from financing 
  activities                          (3)        (85)                        (241) 
                               ----------  ----------  --------------------------- 
 
 Net changes in cash and 
  cash equivalents                    170        (43)                          172 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  at beginning of period              176           4                            4 
 
 Cash and cash equivalents 
  at end of period                    346        (39)                          176 
                               ----------  ----------  --------------------------- 
 

Notes to the Interim Report

1. Basis of Preparation

This unaudited consolidated interim financial information has been prepared using the recognition and measurement principles of International Accounting Standards, International Financial Reporting Standards and Interpretations adopted for use in the European Union (collectively EU IFRSs). The principal accounting policies used in preparing the interim results are those that the Group expects to apply in its financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2012 and are unchanged from those disclosed in the Group's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2011

The financial information for the six months ended 30 September 2011 and 30 September 2010 is unreviewed and unaudited and does not constitute the Group's statutory financial statements for those periods. The comparative financial information for the full year ended 31 March 2011 has, however, been derived from the audited statutory financial statements for that period. A copy of those statutory financial statements has been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' report on those accounts was unqualified, did not include references to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report and did not contain a statement under section 498(2)-498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial information in the Interim Report is presented in Sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds (GBP'000) except when otherwise indicated.

2. Earnings per share

 
                                6 months                        6 months                       12 Months 
                                  to 30                           to 30                          to 30 
                                  Sept                            Sept                           March 
                                  2011                            2010                            2011 
                                Unaudited                       Unaudited                       Audited 
                                 Weighted                        Weighted                       Weighted 
                                  average                         average                        average 
                                   number                          number                         number 
                                       of   Profit                     of   Profit                    of   Profit 
                                               per                             per                            per 
                      Profit       shares    share    Profit       shares    share    Profit      shares    share 
                     GBP'000         '000        p   GBP'000         '000        p   GBP'000        '000        p 
 Basic earnings 
  per share              152       68,834     0.22       123       68,834     0.18       503      68,834     0.73 
 Diluted earnings 
  per share              152       72,976     0.21       123       70,992     0.17       503      72,285     0.71 
 

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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