TIDMWTG
RNS Number : 0064K
Watchstone Group PLC
16 September 2016
16 September 2016
Watchstone Group plc
("Watchstone" or the "Company" or the "Group")
Results for the six months ended 30 June 2016
Watchstone (AIM:WTG.L) today announces its results for the six
months ended 30 June 2016.
Financial summary:
-- Underlying* business revenues improved to GBP31.9m (2015: GBP28.8m)
-- Underlying EBITDA loss before capitalisation of development
expenditure GBP6.9m (2015: GBP13.8m)
-- Underlying EBITDA loss after capitalisation of development
expenditure GBP6.7m (2015: GBP10.2m)
-- Total loss before tax GBP8.2m (2015: loss of GBP32.3m)
-- Group net assets GBP130.6m (as at 31 December 2015: GBP137.1m)
-- Group cash at 30 June 2016 of GBP93.8m (GBP89.3m as at 31
August 2016), with a further GBP50.0m in escrow
* Underlying includes ptHealth, Hubio, Ingenie, BAS, Maine
Finance and Central
Operational highlights:
-- Substantial work completed and on-going to simplify the Group
including closure and disposals of loss-making businesses;
underpinned by work to position the Group to deliver shareholder
value from its assets
-- Continued momentum in ptHealth and ingenie
-- ingenie signed its first white label licence with ANWB, The Royal Dutch Touring Club
-- Resolved long standing Navseeker litigation
For further information:
Watchstone Group plc Tel: 03333
448048
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Tulchan Communications Tel: 020
Susanna Voyle 7353 4200
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Peel Hunt LLP, Nominated Adviser and Tel: 020
broker 7418 8900
Dan Webster, Adrian Trimmings, George
Sellar
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Notes to editors:
About Watchstone
Watchstone Group plc is focused on managing the Group's
operating, contingent and cash assets in order to achieve the
maximum value possible, whilst always ensuring good governance.
The Group's businesses offer leading technology solutions and
other services primarily to the insurance, automotive and
healthcare industries. While we have a diverse portfolio, our
operating businesses are unified by a set of shared commercial
principles:
-- We seek to anticipate change and we have the agility to
exploit the dynamism of customer behaviour;
-- We invest in the people and technologies that will drive
innovation and success in our markets;
-- We promote in-depth sector knowledge and experience as the
starting point of value creation; and
-- We strive for efficiency across our businesses through the
optimal allocation of resources and good governance.
The individual businesses and segments in which they operate are
set out below:
-- Hubio was created as a combination of Himex, our UK based
insurance policy and claims technology business, QETS and our
Canadian software and services division, QSI. It provides
integrated solutions to help organisations in the insurance and
automotive sectors increase efficiency, reduce claims, build
customer engagement and enable usage-based personalisation.
-- Healthcare
o ptHealth is a national healthcare company that owns and
operates physical rehabilitation clinics across Canada. From large
cities to small communities, ptHealth takes pride in delivering
quality services in a compassionate and patient-centred atmosphere
that is focused on providing recovery solutions for its
patients.
o InnoCare is a proprietary clinic management software platform
and call centre and customer service operation based in Canada.
InnoCare was a spin out from ptHealth and uses its established
industry expertise to enable clinic owners to transform their
patient's experience and operate more efficient and productive
practices in the growing North American healthcare market.
-- ingenie is an insurance broker focused on helping young
drivers get on the road safely and affordably. Using telematics
technology, ingenie gives its community feedback, advice and
discounts to help them improve their driving skills and stay safe.
ingenie was recently named Telematics Champion of the Year by the
Insurance Times.
-- Other
o BAS is one of the UK's leading energy brokerages providing a
range of energy services to UK companies - including procurement,
energy audit, monitoring and targeting and data sampling.
o Maine Finance is a life insurance broker, selling life,
critical illness and income protection insurance policies direct to
customers and businesses throughout the UK. QuoteSupermarket.com
seeks to help people save money and to find the best quotes from a
wide range of high quality insurance providers.
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
The Board can report continued progress in creating a solid base
for the future and resolving the historic and legacy matters
inherited.
Corporate activity
In the first half of 2016, we have continued our strategy of
divesting of businesses that are more suited to ownership outside
of the Group and, in January 2016 we exited our property services
interests followed in March 2016 by the disposal of Quintica
Holdings Limited ("Quintica"). Both businesses were loss
making.
Further disposals may occur over time if we think this is the
right path to take to create shareholder value.
Restoring confidence
I am pleased to say that the stability continues and we continue
with our work to rebuild the confidence of investors, customers and
suppliers, regulators and colleagues alike. The SFO investigation
into historic accounting issues, that pre-date this management team
and Board, remains on-going and we continue to co-operate fully
with it.
Cash and return of capital
As at 31 August 2016, the Group had cash of GBP89.3m with a
further GBP50.0m in escrow, and no material debt. The GBP50.0m
escrow arose on the sale of the Professional Services Division
("PSD") to Slater & Gordon Limited ("S&G") in May 2015 and
is currently reserved in a joint escrow account pending any
warranty claims ("Warranty Escrow"). The Warranty Escrow is due to
be released following the expiry of the warranty period at the end
of November 2016. As detailed previously, we will look to make a
further return of capital of approximately GBP1 per share if, as
anticipated, the Warranty Escrow is released to us.
As with our previous return of capital, this will require both
the approval of shareholders and Court approval for a further
capital reduction. Once again, the Board will need to ensure the
interests of creditors are adequately safeguarded including in
respect of any contingent liabilities. An appropriate amount will
also be held in reserve for developing and growing our businesses.
If the Warranty Escrow is released as anticipated, then we would
expect to make the return of capital before the end of the first
quarter of 2017.
We remain hopeful of receiving contingent deferred consideration
in respect of the disposal of the PSD and are in close contact with
S&G in respect of this matter. However, S&G, who are
leading the noise-induced hearing loss ("NIHL") claims in respect
of clients, said in their results for the year ended 30 June 2016
released on 30 August 2016 that it was impractical to determine an
estimate of the deferred consideration.
Conclusions
We are now closer to a simplified group and expect the next six
months to clarify a number of additional historic matters.
Operationally, we have some exciting opportunities to create value
in our remaining businesses through a more focussed and realistic
approach and particularly via organic growth and new product
launches. We remain determined to deploy resources and energy to
maximise such potential.
Richard Rose
Non-executive Chairman
GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S UPDATE
In the first half of the year Watchstone has made solid progress
in line with our strategy and expectations. We have enjoyed a
period of stability and operational execution which, given the
history of the Company, has been essential.
We continue to manage issues of the past with determination and
we are working with clarity to develop and grow our businesses. We
continue to resolve legacy corporate and legal matters and in June,
we finally received Court approval in Delaware of the settlement of
litigation relating to our subsidiary, Navseeker, Inc. (which
trades as Evogi in the US).
Our focus remains on the simultaneous aims of moving the Group
into profit and creating the platform to achieve the best possible
value and performance from our businesses. We have continued to
reduce losses ahead of plan and we are now undoubtedly a leaner,
more focused and more efficient organisation. Current trading
remains in line with expectations.
BUSINESS REVIEW
The Group manages its businesses, assets and liabilities via
three key metrics:
-- Revenues - by which we seek to ensure our businesses achieve profitable growth;
-- Earnings - we use underlying earnings (EBITDA) to ensure that
a transparent and fair measure is available to evidence that
profitable growth. We have this year further reassessed the
capability of our business units to capitalise internal development
expenditure. In respect of Hubio, we have determined in line with
accounting standards to expense all such costs until profitable
product and service delivery is expected to be feasible and
probable; and
-- Cash flows- for both developing and more mature businesses
cash generation or consumption is a key metric for this Group.
Underlying Group revenues for the six months to 30 June 2016
were GBP31.9m (2015: GBP28.8m) reflecting growth in each of Hubio,
Healthcare and Ingenie. Underlying EBITDA before capitalisation of
development expenditure (which is a good approximation to cash
earnings) meanwhile stands at a loss of GBP6.9m which, while
unsatisfactory, is a significant improvement over an equivalent
loss of GBP13.8m for the same period last year. All areas of the
Group are showing financial improvements, with the reduced losses
in Hubio reflecting the actions taken. Group cash at 30 June 2016
was GBP93.8m, an overall cash outflow of GBP9.4m during the six
months, reflecting the reduced losses of the business units and the
continuing settlement of historic and exceptional liabilities.
Details of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the
Group were set out on pages 18 and 19 of the 2015 Report and
Accounts, a copy of which is available on our website
(www.watchstonegroup.com). The principal risks and uncertainties
identified in the 2015 Report and Accounts, and the policies and
procedures for minimising these risks and uncertainties, remain
unchanged and each of them has the potential to affect the Group's
results during the remainder of 2016.
Taking each of our businesses in turn:
1. Healthcare Services - ptHealth
ptHealth is the largest and longest established of our
businesses and operates the third largest physiotherapy and
rehabilitation clinic network in Canada treating over 5,000
patients a day. ptHealth's revenue of GBP13.6m in H1 2016 increased
by GBP0.7m on H1 2015 and this was achieved from fewer corporate
owned clinics. Underlying EBITDA before capitalisation of
development expenditure and central costs allocation saw a
turnaround from a loss of GBP0.4m to a profit of GBP0.4m.
ptHealth has established a presence in the Canadian market via
its 83 owned clinics (where it employs the people) and further
generates income from providing services to some 159 independent
network clinics. This latter activity is enabled by ptHealth's
managed services offering which includes our proprietary clinic
management software as well as digital marketing for lead
generation and other services.
I outlined our strategy to fully exploit the shareholder value
possibilities in this business in the 2015 Accounts and progress
continues on:
Owned clinic business
Key improvements noted include average revenue per clinic, which
improved by 9% comparing H1 2016 to H1 2015. In addition,
assessment and treatment numbers have increased by 13% and 5%
respectively during the same period. The two additional insurance
contracts referred to in the 2015 Accounts are providing c.210 new
assessments per month with potential to generate an additional
1,800 treatments every month.
Clinic management services - InnoCare
InnoCare was successfully launched as an innovative spin out
from ptHealth in April 2016, with the objective of creating a
company to supply SaaS, cloud-based clinic management software as
well as business process outsourcing products to the North American
healthcare market.
2. Hubio
Hubio's H1 2016 revenue was GBP8.9m which is GBP0.8m above H1
2015. Underlying EBITDA before capitalisation of development
expenditure and central costs allocation benefited from expense
reduction and the losses were cut from GBP6.7m to GBP3.6m.
The number of active devices as at end of July 2016 was steady
at 38,009 which, as we have commented previously, is
unsatisfactory.
Since the update in the 2015 Accounts, sustained and tightly
managed effort has gone into sharpening Hubio's value proposition
and target markets.
In line with our target, HubioFleet will launch this month.
Using our proven telematics tracking platform, we have developed a
compelling user interface and go to market approach based on
competitive pricing and we will target small to medium size fleets
initially in the UK prior to the move to other markets. The fleet
market is proven but with substantial opportunities for growth. It
is a market with a number of well-established players, so execution
is key and we know that the competition is strong. This telematics
market gives Hubio the opportunity for rapid business development
and growth and we will have a good initial sense of progress by the
start of 2017.
We continue to develop our connected car proposition in UBI and
Automotive in a measured and appropriate manner ensuring that we
are well placed to take advantage of the anticipated growth in
these markets. To date, in line with the market as a whole, Hubio's
existing contracts have failed to deliver the level of customer
take up our carrier partners originally anticipated. We remain
confident that we have a compelling set of technology elements for
this market and we are in active discussions with a number of
potential partners who share our vision as to what end users want
and how the market will ultimately evolve.
In Enterprise and Professional, Hubio has entered into
partnership with Guidewire Software Inc. in North America, as one
of around 20, "PartnerConnect Solutions" partners. This will enable
our Canadian business to take advantage of additional new business
opportunities over the next 18-24 months and beyond.
We continue to develop the EIS pipeline in all territories and
trading remains in line with expectations.
3. ingenie
ingenie's revenue for H1 2016 was GBP7.0m which is GBP1.8m above
H1 2015. Underlying EBITDA before capitalisation of development
expenditure and central costs allocation also improved from a loss
of GBP1.1m to profits of GBP0.8m for the period.
ingenie's business model is proven and scalable and results have
continued to improve over last year as the table below
highlights:
Metric H1 2016 H1 2015 % change
------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------
Gross written premium ("GWP") GBP42.1m GBP33.5m +26%
------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------
Policies written 21,313 17,896 +19%
------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------
Policies in force (at period
end) 42,747 37,634 +14%
------------------------------- --------- --------- ---------
As detailed in the 2015 Accounts, our technology has been used
to create a white label proposition which can be licensed to
multiple third party brands/insurers who wish to create their own
telematics based offering.
In June 2016, we signed a 5-year licence agreement with ANWB,
The Royal Dutch Touring Club that takes a substantial step towards
improving road safety in the Netherlands. Developed with its
insurance subsidiary, Unigarant, ANWB's Safe Driving Scheme will
reward safer drivers of all ages with much more affordable
insurance with discounts of up to 30%.
ingenie will provide its scoring, analytics, process design and
telematics technology expertise, whilst Unigarant will provide all
the insurance administration for ANWB's insurance brand. The target
now is to replicate this model with strong partners in other
territories.
After appropriate evaluation and following a number of strategic
initiatives, ingenie Canada, was closed for new business in June
2016.
4. Other
Business Advisory Service ("BAS")
BAS, our energy switching broker for corporate customers, had
revenues for H1 2016 of GBP1.7m, an increase of 57% on the same
period in 2015. It's Industrial & Corporate Group signed its
first public sector customer, Vertas Group providing services to
Suffolk County Council. Three other corporate customers have been
secured with a growing pipeline for new business.
Maine Finance and quotesupermarket.com
Maine distributes a range of financial services products,
including life insurance and pensions, through the QSM site. Having
already reported an exit from Maine's consumer activities in the
2015 Accounts, we continued to evaluate its remaining SME business
and its prospects and concluded that we should close this loss
making business completely. We continue to seek ways to maximise
the value of QSM.
OUTLOOK
We continue to focus on operational execution and business
improvement within our principles of strong governance, careful
cash management and prudent investment.
The remainder of 2016 will be an important period for the Group.
We have a clear program of actions and deliverables for each of our
operating companies and will update shareholders in due course.
I thank our staff for their continued hard work and our
shareholders for their support.
Indro Mukerjee
Group Chief Executive Officer
INDEPENT REVIEW REPORT TO WATCHSTONE GROUP PLC
Introduction
We have been engaged by the company to review the consolidated
set of financial statements in the half-yearly report for the six
months ended 30 June 2016 which comprises Condensed Consolidated
Income Statement, Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial
Position, Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and the
related explanatory notes. We have read the other information
contained in the half-yearly report and considered whether it
contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies
with the information in the condensed set of financial
statements.
This report is made solely to the company in accordance with the
terms of our engagement. Our review has been undertaken so that we
might state to the company those matters we are required to state
to it in this report and for no other purpose. To the fullest
extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility
to anyone other than the company for our review work, for this
report, or for the conclusions we have reached.
Directors' responsibilities
The half-yearly report is the responsibility of, and has been
approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for
preparing the half-yearly report in accordance with the AIM
Rules.
The annual financial statements of the group are prepared in
accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU. The condensed set of
financial statements included in this half-yearly report has been
prepared in accordance with the recognition and measurement
requirements of IFRSs as adopted by the EU.
Our responsibility
Our responsibility is to express to the company a conclusion on
the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly report
based on our review.
Scope of review
We conducted our review in accordance with International
Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410 Review of
Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor
of the Entity issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the
UK. A review of interim financial information consists of making
enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and
accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review
procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit
conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing
(UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain
assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters
that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not
express an audit opinion.
Conclusion
Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that
causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements
in the half-yearly report for the six months ended 30 June 2016 is
not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the
recognition and measurement requirements of IFRSs as adopted by the
EU and the AIM Rules.
Tudor Aw
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP
Chartered Accountants
15 Canada Square
London, E14 5GL
15 September 2016
Condensed Consolidated Income Statement
for the period ended 30 June 2016
Six months ended Six months ended
30 June 2016 30 June 2015
2016 2016 2016 2015 2015 2015
Underlying Non-underlying Total Underlying Non-underlying Total
Note GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Revenue 4 31,915 - 31,915 28,784 352 29,136
Cost of sales (17,124) - (17,124) (18,677) (274) (18,951)
Gross Profit 14,791 - 14,791 10,107 78 10,185
Administrative
expenses 5 (22,881) (869) (23,750) (23,711) (21,152) (44,863)
Other income - 186 186 - 2,848 2,848
Group operating
loss (8,090) (683) (8,773) (13,604) (18,226) (31,830)
Finance income 960 - 960 336 - 336
Finance expense (415) - (415) (838) - (838)
Loss before
taxation (7,545) (683) (8,228) (14,106) (18,226) (32,332)
Taxation 193 - 193 2,286 (27) 2,259
Loss after
taxation
for the period
from continuing
operations (7,352) (683) (8,035) (11,820) (18,253) (30,073)
Net gain
on disposal
of discontinued
operations 9 - 323 323 - 485,857 485,857
Loss for
the period
from discontinued
operations 9 - (7) (7) - (41,231) (41,231)
(Loss)/profit
after taxation
for the period (7,352) (367) (7,719) (11,820) 426,373 414,553
Attributable
to:
Equity holders
of the parent (7,303) (367) (7,670) (11,848) 426,373 414,525
Non-controlling
interests (49) - (49) 28 - 28
(7,352) (367) (7,719) (11,820) 426,373 414,553
-------------------- ----- ----------- --------------- --------- ----------- --------------- ---------
(Loss)/Earnings
per share
(pence):
Basic (31.9) (33.5) (51.7) 1,832.5
Diluted (31.9) (33.5) (51.7) 1,832.5
-------------------- ----- ----------- --------------- --------- ----------- --------------- ---------
Loss per
share from
continuing
activities
(pence):
Basic (34.9) (133.1)
Diluted (34.9) (133.1)
-------------------- ----- ----------- --------------- --------- ----------- --------------- ---------
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
for the period ended 31 December 2015
Six months Six months
ended ended
30 June 30 June
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
(Loss)/profit after taxation (7,719) 414,553
Items that may be reclassified
in the Consolidated Income Statement
Exchange differences on translation
of foreign operations 764 (300)
Total comprehensive (loss)/income
for the period (6,955) 414,253
---------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent (6,906) 414,225
Non-controlling interests (49) 28
From (loss)/profit for the period (6,955) 414,253
----------------------------------- -------- --------
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
as at 30 June 2016
At 30 At 31
June December
2016 2015
Note GBP'000 GBP'000
Non-current assets
Goodwill 29,556 28,377
Other intangible assets 6,980 7,539
Property, plant and equipment 8,040 7,440
Interests in associates - 86
44,576 43,442
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Current assets
Inventories 858 871
Trade and other receivables 7 62,818 66,169
Corporation tax assets 1,315 8,165
Cash 93,848 103,200
158,839 178,405
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Assets of disposal group
classified as held for
sale - 3,382
Total current assets 158,839 181,787
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Total assets 203,415 225,229
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Current liabilities
Cumulative redeemable preference
shares (503) (427)
Borrowings (150) (154)
Trade and other payables 8 (19,457) (32,343)
Deferred income (10,380) (9,324)
Obligations under finance
leases (133) (144)
Provisions (34,883) (36,704)
(65,506) (79,096)
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Liabilities of disposal
group classified as held
for sale - (3,534)
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Total current liabilities (65,506) (82,630)
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Non-current liabilities
Deferred income (330) -
Cumulative redeemable preference
shares (5,970) (4,816)
Obligations under finance
leases (17) (64)
Provisions (857) (306)
Deferred tax liabilities (107) (304)
(7,281) (5,490)
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Total liabilities (72,787) (88,120)
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Net assets 130,628 137,109
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Equity
Share capital 11 4,604 4,596
Other reserves 147,755 146,626
Retained earnings (22,392) (14,722)
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Equity attributable to
equity holders of the parent 129,967 136,500
Non-controlling interests 661 609
Total equity 130,628 137,109
---------------------------------- ----- --------- ----------
Company Registration Number: 05542221
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the period ended 30 June 2016
Note Six Six
months months
ended ended
30 June 30 June
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash outflows from operations
before exceptional and non-underlying
items, net finance expense and
tax 12 (8,626) (50,293)
Non-underlying cash outflows
excluding discontinued operations (732) (6,616)
Exceptional cash outflows (9,487) 1,691
Cash used in operations before
net finance expense and tax (18,845) (55,218)
Corporation tax received/(paid) 6,847 (83)
Net cash used by operating activities (11,998) (55,301)
---------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant
and equipment (2,661) (3,247)
Purchase of intangible fixed
assets (188) (3,902)
Proceeds on disposal of property,
plant and equipment - 3,875
Disposal of subsidiaries net
of cash foregone 4,013 578,920
Acquisition of subsidiaries
net of cash acquired - 352
Disposal of associated undertakings 86 7,069
Net cash generated by investing
activities 1,250 583,067
---------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Cash flows from financing activities
Net finance income/(expense) 807 (903)
Issue of share capital 8 -
Finance lease repayments (58) (1,829)
Additional secured loans - 766
Repayment of secured loans - (30,329)
Sale of shares treated as held
in treasury - 2,746
Repayment of unsecured loans - (191)
Net cash generated from/(used
by) financing activities 757 (29,740)
---------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Net (decrease)/increase in cash
and cash equivalents (9,991) 498,026
Cash and cash equivalents at
the beginning of the period 103,839 50,482
Exchange losses on cash and
cash equivalents - (137)
Cash and cash equivalents at
the end of the period 93,848 548,371
---------------------------------------- ----- --------- ---------
Notes to the Interim Statements
1. Preparation of the condensed consolidated financial information
Basis of preparation
The interim financial statements for the six months ended 30
June 2016 have been prepared in accordance with the AIM Rules and
the recognition and measurement requirements of IFRSs as adopted by
the EU. The interim financial information should be read in
conjunction with the Group's Annual Report and Financial Statements
for the year ended 31 December 2015, which has been prepared in
accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU.
The comparative figures for the financial year ended 31 December
2015 are not the company's statutory accounts for that financial
year. Those accounts have been reported on by the company's auditor
and delivered to the registrar of companies. The report of the
auditor was qualified in respect of a limitation in the scope of
their work and contains statements under section 498 (2) and (3) of
the Companies Act 2006, concerning the keeping of adequate books
and records and the provision of information and explanations that
the auditor considered necessary for the purpose of their
audit.
The Group's business activities together with the factors that
are likely to affect its future developments, performance and
position are set out in the Chairman's Statement and Group Chief
Executive's Update. The interim financial statements were approved
by the Board of Directors on 15 September 2016.
Going Concern
The Group has significantly reduced its working capital
requirements through the disposal of a number of non-core, loss
making businesses. The Group holds significant cash reserves and no
material debt. The Group has concluded that its cash reserves
together with ongoing operating cash flows will be sufficient to
fund the ongoing operations of the Group's businesses together with
any future development needs of those businesses.
On this basis, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that
the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational
existence for the foreseeable future. The Directors have not
identified any material uncertainties that would cast significant
doubt on the ability of the Group to continue as a going concern.
As such, the Directors continue to adopt the Going Concern basis of
accounting in the preparation of the Financial Statements.
Statement of Directors' responsibilities
The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge, this
condensed set of consolidated financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with the AIM Rules.
Significant Accounting Policies
The accounting policies applied by the Group in these interim
consolidated financial statements are the same as those applied by
the Group in its consolidated financial statements for the year
ended 31 December 2015, except for the adoption of new standards
and interpretations as of 1 January 2016, which did not have any
impact on the accounting policies, financial position or
performance of the Group, as noted below:
-- Annual Improvements to IFRSs - 2010-2012 Cycle
-- Annual Improvements to IFRSs - 2011-2013 Cycle
The Group has not early adopted any other standard,
interpretation or amendment that has been issued but is not yet
effective.
2. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation
uncertainty
In the process of applying the Group's accounting policies,
management has made a number of judgements, and the preparation of
financial statements requires the use of estimates and assumptions
that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the
date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of
revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Although these
estimates are based on management's best knowledge of the amount,
event or actions, actual results ultimately may differ from those
estimates.
The key management judgements together with assumptions
concerning the future and other key sources of estimation
uncertainty at 30 June 2016 that have a significant risk of causing
a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and
liabilities during the current financial year are discussed
below.
Recognition of revenue
Revenues are recognised in-line with the delivery and receipt of
services to and for our customers. Each revenue type is considered
separately and revenue is recognised when the customer has received
the service, the amount of revenue be reliably measured and
conversion of the revenue in to cash or other economic benefit can
be assured. These considerations are applied to both ongoing core
service activities and one off contracts that are entered into.
Intangible assets
The Directors last reviewed the carrying value of intangible
assets, comprising goodwill and other intangible assets, as at 31
December 2015 and the key elements of this review are contained in
Notes 15 and 16 to the Group's Annual Report and Financial
Statements for the year ended 31 December 2015. No indications of
possible additional impairment have been identified as at 30 June
2016.
Identification of discontinued operations
The Group classifies the results of component business as
discontinued where they are considered to relate to a separate
major line of business or geographical area and have also either
been disposed of, or are classified as held for sale.
Consideration receivable for the Professional Services
Division
GBP55,000,000 of the PSD sale consideration was placed in
temporary escrow accounts, GBP50,000,000 of this remains
outstanding at 30 June 2016 and the Company has had to determine
how much will be released. Total consideration for the sale of the
PSD also includes deferred, contingent cash consideration and the
Company has had to determine the fair value of this contingent
consideration.
Provisions
The Group is aware of a number of legal and regulatory matters
which, by their nature, are subject to significant judgement and
uncertainty. All such matters are periodically assessed with the
assistance of external professional advisers, where appropriate, to
determine the likelihood of the Group incurring a liability and to
evaluate the extent to which a reliable estimate of any liability
can be made. However, the likely cost to the Group of the Serious
Fraud Office ("SFO") investigation and any group litigation which
may potentially be brought against the Group is subject to a number
of significant uncertainties and these cannot currently be
estimated reliably. Accordingly, no provision has been made in
respect of these matters.
Deferred tax in connection with the continuing business
operations
Other taxable losses have arisen during the year ended 31
December 2015 and the six months ended 30 June 2016 which have the
potential to give rise to a deferred tax asset. This asset has not
been recognised due to the extent of the continuing business losses
incurred in the six months ended 30 June 2016 including head office
costs, and the developing nature of the continuing businesses such
that the expectation of profitability at sufficient quantum was not
sufficiently certain within a reasonable timeframe.
Classification of underlying and non-underlying results
Management is required to exercise its judgement in the
classification of certain items as exceptional and outside of the
Group's underlying results. The determination of whether an item
should be separately disclosed as an exceptional item or other
adjustments requires judgement on its nature and incidence, as well
as whether it provides clarity on the Group's underlying trading
performance. In exercising this judgement, Management take
appropriate regard of IAS 1 "Presentation of financial statements"
as well as guidance issued by the European Securities and Markets
Authority on the reporting of non-underlying results.
3. Key performance indicators
Six months Six months
ended ended
30 June 30 June
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
Revenue:
Hubio 8,917 8,059
Ingenie 7,025 5,217
Healthcare services 13,553 12,944
Other 2,420 2,564
Total underlying revenue 31,915 28,784
------------------------------------- ----------- ------------
Underlying gross profit
margin 46.3% 35.1%
------------------------------------- ----------- ------------
Underlying EBITDA before
capitalisation of development
expenditure (6,924) (13,831)
------------------------------------- ----------- ------------
Underlying group operating
loss (8,090) (13,604)
------------------------------------- ----------- ------------
Underlying basic earnings
(pence per share) from continuing
operations (31.9) (51.7)
------------------------------------- ----------- ------------
30 June 31 December
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
Cash (continuing businesses) 93,848 103,200
------------------------------------- ----------- ------------
* Depreciation added back above when calculating Underlying
EBITDA from continuing operations excludes depreciation on
telematics devices of GBP1,571,000 (2015: GBP1,340,000) which is
included within cost of sales.
4. Segmental reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the
internal reporting provided to the Chief Operating Decision-maker
and represent four divisions supported by a Group cost centre
(denoted as Central below). The principal activities of each
segment are as follows. Hubio: a provider of telematics and
insurance technology solutions. Ingenie: Telematics based insurance
broking. Healthcare Services: A Canadian based physiotherapy
network. "Other" includes Business Advisory Service Limited
("BAS"), an energy brokerage and Maine Finance Limited ("Maine
Finance"), a life insurance broker.
Within the results of the discontinued operation are the PSD,
disposed of to Slater and Gordon UK (1) Limited ("S&G") in May
2015, and Quintica Holdings Limited ("Quintica") and Property
Services.
Segment information about these businesses is presented below.
The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as
the Group's accounting policies described in note 1.
Intra-segmental transactions have been eliminated in analysis
below.
Healthcare
Hubio Ingenie services Other Central Total
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000
Six months ended
30 June 2015
Revenue 8,059 5,217 12,944 2,564 - 28,784
Cost of sales (5,049) (3,885) (7,228) (2,515) - (18,677)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Gross profit 3,010 1,332 5,716 49 - 10,107
Administrative
expenses excluding
depreciation
and amortisation* (9,698) (2,384) (6,067) (1,265) (4,524) (23,938)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Underlying EBITDA
before central
cost allocation
and capitalisation
of development
expenditure (6,688) (1,052) (351) (1,216) (4,524) (13,831)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Allocation of
central costs (583) (72) (84) (290) 1,029 -
Underlying EBITDA
before capitalisation
of development
expenditure (7,271) (1,124) (435) (1,506) (3,495) (13,831)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Capitalisation
of development
expenditure 3,101 237 263 - - 3,601
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Underlying EBITDA
after capitalisation
of development
expenditure (4,170) (887) (172) (1,506) (3,495) (10,230)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Depreciation
and amortisation* (3,374)
Underlying group
operating loss (13,604)
Net finance expense (502)
Underlying group
loss before tax (14,106)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Non-underlying
adjustments (18,226)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Total group loss
before tax from
continuing operations (32,332)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Six months ended
30 June 2016
Revenue 8,917 7,025 13,553 2,420 - 31,915
Cost of sales (4,254) (3,787) (7,227) (1,856) - (17,124)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Gross profit 4,663 3,238 6,326 564 - 14,791
Administrative
expenses excluding
depreciation
and amortisation* (8,297) (2,456) (5,879) (1,083) (4,000) (21,715)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Underlying EBITDA
before central
cost allocation
and capitalisation
of development
expenditure (3,634) 782 447 (519) (4,000) (6,924)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Allocation of
central costs (1,035) (291) (189) (190) 1,705 -
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Underlying EBITDA
before capitalisation
of development
expenditure (4,669) 491 258 (709) (2,295) (6,924)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Capitalisation
of development
expenditure - 78 110 - - 188
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Underlying EBITDA
after capitalisation
of development
expenditure (4,669) 569 368 (709) (2,295) (6,736)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Depreciation
and amortisation* (1,354)
Underlying group
operating loss (8,090)
Net finance income 545
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Underlying group
loss before tax (7,545)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Non-underlying
adjustments (683)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
Total group loss
before tax from
continuing operations (8,228)
------------------------ -------- -------- ----------- -------- -------- ---------
* Depreciation added back above when calculating Underlying
EBITDA from continuing operations excludes depreciation on
telematics devices of GBP1,571,000 (2015: GBP1,340,000) which is
included within cost of sales.
5. Non-underlying administrative expenses
Six months Six months
ended 30 ended
June 30 June
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
Exceptional items:
* Corporate restructuring - 5,799
* Business restructuring (333) 21
* Legal and regulatory (1,594) (3,046)
* Impairments of non-cash assets - 4,571
Total exceptional items (1,927) 7,345
----------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Other adjustments:
* Share based payments 481 6,776
* Amortisation of acquired intangibles 1,365 4,350
* Other non-underlying administrative expenses 950 2,681
----------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Total other adjustments 2,796 13,807
----------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Total non-underlying administrative
expenses 869 21,152
----------------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
Business restructuring includes costs in relation to the
creation of Hubio and the revised structure of the group and is
stated after taking in to account the release of unused provisions
and accruals of GBP1,574,000 (2015: nil)
The legal and regulatory credit of GBP1,594,000 for the period
ended 30 June 2016 are stated after taking into account the release
of unused provisions and accruals of GBP2,046,000 (2015:
GBP1,288,000), which were created in previous periods.
Other non-underlying administrative expenses relate principally
to central costs associated with discontinued operations and other
costs associated with closure of Ingenie's Canadian operations.
6. Other income
Six months Six months
ended 30 ended
June 30 June
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
Rental Income 186 -
Net gain on disposal of 360
GlobalNet - 2,848
186 2,848
----------------------------- ----------- -----------
7. Trade and other receivables
30 June 31 December
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
Trade receivables (net of impairment
provision) 7,475 6,477
Monies held in Escrow 50,076 55,049
Other receivables 2,901 2,405
Prepayments 1,944 1,930
Accrued income 422 308
62,818 66,169
-------------------------------------- -------- ------------
8. Trade and other payables
30 June 31 December
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
Current liabilities
Trade payables 4,049 5,488
Payroll and other taxes including
social security 835 3,695
Accruals 10,220 15,921
Other liabilities 4,353 7,239
19,457 32,343
----------------------------------- -------- ------------
9. Disposals
BE Insulated (UK) Limited and Carbon Reduction Company
The sale of the BE Initial Limited (formerly BE Insulated (UK)
Limited, "BEI") and BE Insulated Limited (formerly Carbon Reduction
Company, "CRC) completed on 7 January 2016 for a nominal
consideration of GBP1 to The BE Smart Group Limited (a company
owned by Ben Williams, a statutory director of BEI and CRC) ("BEI
Agreement"). Following the completion of the BEI Agreement, the
Group ceased to operate directly in the property and maintenance
services sector.
The results of these businesses have therefore been disclosed as
discontinued activities on the face of the Condensed Consolidated
Income Statement and related notes. Amounts in the Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position relating to these
businesses are classified as held for sale at 31 December 2015.
IFRS 5 requires the disposal group to be measured at the lower
of its carrying value and its fair value less costs to sell.
Accordingly, as at 31 December 2015, the carrying value of these
businesses was written down to realisable value and a goodwill
impairment charge of GBP4.2 million was recognised in the
discontinued activities in the year ended 31 December 2015. The
subsequent profit arising on sale in the period ended 30 June 2016
is as follows:
30 June
2016
GBP'000
Sales proceeds -
Net liabilities at disposal 302
Expenses and other costs of sale (55)
Profit arising on sale 247
----------------------------------- --------
Quintica Holdings Limited
On 4 March 2016, the Group disposed of the entire issued share
capital of Quintica Holdings Limited to Quintica International
Holdings Inc ("QIH") for approximately GBP1.35 million (the
"Quintica Agreement"). In addition, the Company will be entitled to
additional consideration in the event that Quintica is disposed of
(in whole or part) by QIH in the year following completion of the
transaction.
The results of this business has therefore been disclosed as
discontinued activities on the face of the Condensed Consolidated
Income Statement and related notes. Amounts in the Condensed
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position relating to this
business are classified as held for sale at 31 December 2015.
IFRS 5 requires the disposal group to be measured at the lower
of its carrying value and its fair value less costs to sell.
Accordingly, as at 31 December 2015, the carrying value of this
business was written down to realisable value and a goodwill
impairment charge of GBP4.2 million was recognised in the
discontinued activities in the year ended 31 December 2015.
The subsequent profit arising on sale in the period ended 31
June 2016 is as follows:
30 June
2016
GBP'000
Sales proceeds 1,376
Net assets at disposal (1,259)
Expenses and other costs of sale (41)
Profit arising on sale 76
----------------------------------- --------
2015 Disposal of the Professional Services Division ("PSD")
On 29 May 2015, the Group disposed of the PSD (i.e. its
interests in its legal, claims management and health service
businesses) to Slater and Gordon UK (1) Limited for a total
consideration of GBP644,867,000, of which GBP55,000,000 was
retained in escrow, together with further contingent cash
consideration payable in respect of the future settlement of its
clients' noise induced hearing loss ("NIHL") cases.
Of the GBP55,000,000 held in escrow, GBP5,000,000 related to a
completion mechanism, of which GBP3,805,000 was received in the six
months ended 30 June 2016. The remaining GBP50,000,000 is reserved
in a joint escrow account for any warranty claims. The Company has
not been made aware of any claims or potential claims and therefore
anticipates that the remaining GBP50,000,000 will be released in
November 2016.
Given the inherent uncertainties of the NIHL business line, the
parties could not agree on an appropriate valuation at completion
and so the agreement provides that the Group will receive 50% of
the net after tax receipts (after allowing for administrative
costs) collected on the NIHL cases outstanding at completion.
Approximately 53,000 NIHL cases were active and transferred at
completion. Such amounts will be determined on a six monthly basis
commencing on 31 December 2015. The process will continue until 30
June 2017 when a terminal value projection of expected receipts
will be agreed. If no agreement is reached, the process will
continue with payments every six months until the earlier of the
date when a terminal value is agreed or 31 December 2018. Based on
an assessment of the costs that S&G will need to incur to
pursue the NIHL cases and the potential outcome of the NIHL cases,
the fair value of the contingent consideration has been determined
as GBPnil.
Other
In February 2016 the Group disposed of its interest in its
associate, Ferneham Health Limited for GBP86,000 consideration.
10. Contingent liabilities
The Group routinely enters into a range of contractual
arrangements in the ordinary course of business which can give rise
to claims or potential litigation against Group companies. It is
the Group's policy to make specific provisions at the Statement of
Financial Position date for all liabilities which, in the opinion
of the Directors, are expected to result in a significant loss.
On 5 August 2015, the SFO informed the Group that it had opened
an investigation, which relates to past business and accounting
practices at the Group. The Group is co-operating fully with the
SFO investigation, at this stage, the timing of completion of the
SFO investigation and its conclusions cannot be anticipated.
Therefore, having taken external advice, no liability has been
recognised at the balance sheet date as it is not possible to
reliably estimate a provision (if any) in respect of this
matter.
On 14 December 2015, the Company received a letter of claim from
a law firm ("Claimant Firm") acting for 342 claimants commencing an
action against the Company under the Financial Services and Markets
Act 2000 ("Letter of Claim"). Despite the Company's endeavours in
correspondence with the Claimant Firm, the Company is yet not in a
position to verify the assertions in the Letter of Claim which,
inter alia, details the expected value of the potential claims
against the Company to be approximately GBP9.4 million. However,
having taken external advice, no liability has been recognised at
the balance sheet date as it is not possible to reliably estimate a
provision (if any) in respect of this matter.
11. Share capital
30 June 2016 31 December 2015
Number Nominal Number Nominal
value value
000's GBP'000 000's GBP'000
Issued and fully
paid shares: 45,926 4,593 45,851 4,585
Issued and not fully
paid 112 11 112 11
At the end of the
period 46,038 4,604 45,963 4,596
---------------------- ------------ ------------ -------- ---------
On 18 June 2014, the Company issued 16,899,321 ordinary shares
of 1 pence to TMC (Southern) Ltd ("TMC"). The shares remain unpaid
as at the statement of financial position date. It is the intention
of the Group to seek the forfeiture of the shares in accordance
with the Articles of Association of the Company. In the event that
the shares are forfeited, then it is intended that the shares will
be cancelled and no further amounts will be receivable from
TMC.
12. Cash flow from operating activities
Six months Six months
ended ended
30 June 30 June
2016 2015
GBP'000 GBP'000
(Loss)/profit after tax (7,719) 414,553
Tax (193) (898)
Finance expense 421 493
Finance income (960) (336)
Operating loss (8,451) 413,812
Adjustments for:
Non underlying cash out flows excluding
discontinued operations 10,219 4,925
Share-based payments 463 13,911
Depreciation of property, plant
and equipment 2,038 1,279
Amortisation of intangible assets 2,235 8,494
Impairment of goodwill - 4,571
Loss on disposal of plant, property 643 -
and equipment
Profit on disposal of interests
in subsidiary undertakings and operations
(note 9) (323) (488,705)
Operating cash flows before movements
in working capital and provisions 6,824 (41,713)
Decrease in inventories 13 114
Increase in trade and other receivables (2,060) (26,978)
(Decrease)/increase in trade and
other payables (13,403) 18,284
Cash outflows from operations before
exceptional and non-underlying items,
net finance expense and tax (8,626) (50,293)
--------------------------------------------- ----------- -----------
13. Post balance sheet events
In August 2016 the Group ceased trading in its loss making
subsidiary Maine Finance.
Officers and Advisors
Directors
Richard Rose - Non-Executive Chairman
Indro Mukerjee - Chief Executive Officer
Mark Williams - Chief Financial Officer
David Currie - Non Executive
Tony Illsley - Non Executive
The Rt Hon Lord Howard of Lympne - Senior Non Executive
David Young - Non Executive
Company Secretary
Stefan Borson
Registered Office
1 Barnes Wallis Road, Segensworth East
Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 5UA
Bankers
Royal Bank of Scotland Plc
Abbey Gardens
4 Abbey Street
Reading, RG1 3BA
Broker and Nominated Advisor
Peel Hunt LLP
Moor House
120 London Wall
London, EC2Y 5ET
Auditor
KPMG LLP
15 Canada Square
London, E14 5GL
Solicitors
Dorsey & Whitney
199 Bishopsgate
London, EC2M 3UT
Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
Exchange House
Primrose Street
London, EC2A 2EG
Registrars
Capita Asset Services
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent, BR3 4TU
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
IR FMGMLGKLGVZZ
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