Half Yearly Report

RNS Number : 3650U
FDM Group (Holdings) plc
29 July 2015
 



29 July 2015

FDM Group (Holdings) plc

Interim Results

 

FDM Group (Holdings) plc, ("the Group", "FDM", or "the Company"), an international professional services provider focussing principally on Information Technology ("IT"), today announces its Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2015.

 

Financial highlights


30 June 2015

30 June 2014

% change

Revenue

£74.6m

£56.6m

32%

Mountie Revenue

£55.4m

£41.2m

34%

Group profit before tax

£13.1m

£5.1m

157%

Adjusted1 Group profit before tax

£13.4m

£10.4m

29%

Basic earnings per share

9.2p

2.4p

283%

Adjusted1 basic earnings per share

9.3p

7.5p

24%

Net cash position at period end

£13.6m

£5.4m

152%

Cashflow generated from operations

£14.6m

£9.9m

47%

Adjusted1 cashflow generated from operations

£14.6m

£11.0m

33%

Adjusted1 cash conversion

109.2%

105.5%

4%

Interim dividend per share declared

8.0p

nil

-

 

Operational highlights

·      Mounties assigned to client sites at the commencement of week 26 of the current financial year was 1,831 (2014 week 26: 1,319)2; (2014 week 52: 1,539)

·      Total headcount assigned to client sites at week 26 was 2,176 (2014: 1,616)2; (2014 week 52: 1,845)

·      Mountie utilisation rate for the six months to 30 June 2015 was 97.8% (2014: 97.8%)

·      Further successful geographic expansion, including strong growth in Mounties on client sites in EMEA, North America  and APAC

·      Continued investment in training academies, with our Leeds Academy having opened in June 2015 and new locations identified in Glasgow and Toronto

·      Industry awards received during the period included:

-       The JobCrowd - Top 100 Companies For Graduates To Work For 2015/16

-       The JobCrowd - Top IT Services & Consulting Companies To Work For 2015/16

-       Information Age Women in IT Awards - Editor's Choice 2015

-       USA Military Times - Best for Vets Employer 2015

-       USA CivilianJobs.com - Most Valuable Employer (MVE) for Military 2015  

1 The adjusted Group profit before tax, adjusted cashflow generated from operations and adjusted cash conversion are calculated before: exceptional items and share option plan expenses (including associated taxes). The adjusted basic earnings per share is calculated before the impact of: exceptional items and share option plan expenses (including associated taxes).

2 Week 26 in 2015 commenced on 22 June 2015 (2014: week 26 commenced on 23 June 2014).



 

Rod Flavell, CEO, commented:

"The first half of 2015 has seen a strong performance from the Group with buoyant markets, significant levels of client demand across all operating locations and Mountie deployment on client sites continuing to reach new highs.

In the six month period from 1 January 2015 we have grown Mounties on site by 19% (39% over the last year) and increased joiners to our training academies (i.e. future Mounties) by 28%.

We continue to seek additional locations and expansion opportunities for the Group in each of our current operating locations. In June 2015 we opened our Leeds Academy, which has more than doubled the capacity of the Manchester based Academy that it replaced. We have also identified replacement sites in Toronto and Glasgow which will enable us to upscale our Academies and expand our service offerings in these locations.

We are pleased with the Group's financial performance for the six months to 30 June 2015 and are confident that the Group is well placed to continue to deliver good growth."

 

For further information please contact:

FDM Group (Holdings) plc

Rod Flavell - CEO

Mike McLaren - CFO

020 7067 0000 (today)

0203 056 8240 (thereafter)

Weber Shandwick (financial PR)

Nick Oborne / Tom Jenkins

020 7067 0000

 

About FDM

FDM Group (Holdings) plc ("the Company") and its subsidiaries, (together "the Group" or "FDM") is an international professional services provider focusing principally on Information Technology ("IT").

The Group's main business activities involve recruiting, training and placing its own permanent IT and business consultants (known as "Mounties") on client sites across a range of technical and business disciplines including Development, Testing, Project Management Office ("PMO"), Data and Operational Analysis, Business Analysis, Business Intelligence and Production Support. The Group also supplies contractors to customers, in order to supplement its own employed consultants' skill sets or to provide greater experience where required.

With a large number of blue chip clients across its operational territories, the Group has training academies and sales operations in dedicated facilities located in London, Leeds, Glasgow, New York, Toronto and Frankfurt. The Group also has a sales office in Hong Kong and operates in Singapore, South Africa, mainland China, Ireland, France, Switzerland and Luxembourg. FDM has established partnerships and relationships with key universities in order to continue creating and inspiring exciting careers.

FDM is a strong advocate of diversity in the workplace. The Group's workforce is made up of around 60 nationalities. The Group encourages and supports the recruitment of women into the IT industry, promoting their advancement through the "FDM Women in IT" initiative. The Group also actively recruits ex-Forces personnel in both the UK and USA.



 

Interim Management Review

FDM's strategy is to deliver sustainable growth and advancement on a consistent basis. This requires that all activities and investments are customer led and deliver sustained and measurable improvements and returns for all stakeholders including customers, employees and shareholders.

The Group's strategy is to increase the number of Mounties on site delivering professional and IT services to our customers through:

Establishing new training academies and investing in operational capacity and new service areas;

Expanding our geographic presence across the territories in which we operate;

Increasing the number of Mounties on site across our existing customer base and growing the number of new customers;

Investing in the development, growth and progression of our people; and

·      Being agile and responsive to shifting technology trends and customer demands.

Group results

FDM delivered a strong operating performance in the period with Group revenues increasing by 31.8% to £74.6 million (2014: £56.6 million). Adjusted operating profit increased by 26.2% to £13.5 million (2014: £10.7 million). Operating profit for the Group was £13.2 million (2014: £5.4 million).

In 2015 there is a charge of £0.2 million relating to the accounting for the Group's new share option plan and associated taxes. The share option plan charge has been included within administrative expenses (2014: £nil). In 2015 there were no exceptional costs (2014: exceptional costs related to the Initial Public Offering ("IPO") of the Company of £4.9 million and an exceptional share-based payment expense relating to a one off award of shares to Directors of £0.4 million).

Adjusted basic earnings per share was 9.3 pence (2014: 7.5 pence) whilst basic and diluted earnings per share was 9.2 pence (2014: 2.4 pence).

Total headcount at week 26 2015 was 2,176 assigned to client sites (2014: 1,616 assigned to client sites). Of this total 1,831 were Mounties (2014: 1,319) and 345 were contractors (2014: 297). This represents a 34.7% increase in the total headcount assigned to client sites and an increase of 38.8% in the number of Mounties assigned to client sites.

Mountie revenues for the six months to 30 June 2015 were 34.5% higher at £55.4 million (2014: £41.2 million). Within this total and reflecting the planned geographic expansion of the Group's customer base, Mountie revenues in the UK and Ireland increased by 18.3% to £34.9 million (2014: £29.5 million), in North America Mountie revenues increased by 77.9% to £13.7 million (2014: £7.7 million), in Europe, Middle East and Africa, excluding UK and Ireland ("EMEA"), revenues increased by 59.4% to £5.1 million (2014: £3.2 million) and in Asia Pacific ("APAC") revenues doubled to £1.6 million (2014: £0.8 million).

The relative movement in Mountie and contractor headcount, and related revenues, reflect the Group's intention to increase Mountie revenues, which is driven by growth in the placement of Mounties to existing and new clients in both current and new service offerings. Adjusted operating profit margins of 18.0% (2014: 18.9%) are slightly lower in the first six months of 2015 as a result of increased operating costs from June 2014 associated with becoming a listed company and continued investment in our operations.

Segmental review

UK and Ireland

The UK and Ireland operations grew to 1,174 Mounties deployed on client sites at week 26 2015, an increase of 23.6% over week 26 2014 of 950. Total revenue generated for the six months to 30 June 2015 was up by 21.6% to £51.2 million (2014: £42.1 million). Operating profit before exceptional items for the six months to 30 June 2015 increased by 9.3% to £10.6 million (2014: £9.7 million).

Demand from our UK customers has been strong throughout the period. As the UK is the test bed for new service areas designed to broaden our sector, client and potential Mountie reach, we have augmented our proposition with the introduction of our newest service area, Business Analysis, which from launch this year has grown to 45 Mounties on site and the Group intends to replicate this in other FDM locations in due course.

In June 2015 we relocated from Manchester to a larger Academy and sales office in Leeds, in the heart of the local financial district. Moving to a bigger space provides capacity for FDM to recruit and train additional high-calibre graduates and ex-Forces personnel. This move will also provide an opportunity for FDM to work more closely with our university partners in the area, while creating new partnerships and developing existing relationships with companies in the region.

North America

Our North American operations, centred in New York in the USA and Toronto in Canada, delivered a very strong performance in the six months to 30 June 2015, growing Mounties on client sites by 77.1% from the previous June. Mounties deployed on client sites at week 26 2015 totalled 425 (2014 week 26: 240). Combined North American revenue increased by 76.3% to £16.4 million for the six months to 30 June 2015 (2014: £9.3 million) and operating profit was £2.3 million (2014: £0.9 million). In the USA we placed Mounties in four new states including Virginia and Maryland, whilst in Canada we now have the five largest banks as clients. The North America management team was strengthened in this period through a number of key hires to support its ongoing growth.

EMEA

Our EMEA operations performed well in a market made more complex by the differing interpretations by clients of the evolving labour leasing legislation in Germany. The growth of our EMEA business is likely to be less linear whilst our clients adapt to these changes. The focus of the EMEA business is to continue to grow the Mountie model in both Germany and Switzerland. EMEA grew Mountie numbers by 73.8% with 146 Mounties deployed on client sites at week 26 2015 against 84 at week 26 2014.

EMEA revenues increased by 25.6% to £5.4 million (2014: £4.3 million) and operating profit increased to £0.3 million from £0.1 million.

APAC

Our APAC business is based in Hong Kong and also supports the Group's operations in Singapore and China.  It performed well during the period, growing Mounties deployed on client sites by 91.1% to 86 at week 26 2015 against 45 in week 26 2014. As this business invests, the Group is looking to open an Academy in Singapore in 2016 and the hiring of additional sales and recruitment staff is continuing. Operating profit for the six months to 30 June 2015 was £0.1 million (2014: £0.1 million), with revenues at £1.6 million (2014: £0.8 million).

Exceptional costs

There were no exceptional costs in the six months to 30 June 2015. In the six months to 30 June 2014, exceptional costs related to the IPO of the Company were £4.9 million with an exceptional share-based payment expense of £0.4 million.

Net finance expense

The net finance expense relates principally to non-utilisation charges on the undrawn element of the Group's revolving credit facility and fees arising from the Group's working capital facility (which expired in February 2015).

Taxation

The tax charge of £3.3 million represents the effective tax charge on the Group profit before taxation at the Group's effective tax rate of 24.9% (2014: 24.3% excluding the impact of exceptional items). 

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share for the period was 9.2 pence (2014: 2.4 pence). Adjusted basic earnings per share1 was 9.3 pence per share (2014: 7.5 pence). There is no difference between basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share.

Statement of financial position and net funds

As at 30 June 2015 the Group had net cash of £13.6 million (2014: £5.4 million). The Group has a revolving credit facility of £20.0 million available until August 2018; the facility was undrawn at 30 June 2015. The committed facilities are in place to support the Group's financing needs and provide headroom against forecast requirements.

Dividend

An interim dividend of 8.0 pence per ordinary share (2014: nil pence) was declared by the Directors on 28 July 2015 and will be payable on 25 September 2015 to holders of record on 21 August 2015. The Board continues to follow a progressive dividend policy, while allowing the Group to retain sufficient capital to fund ongoing operating requirements and to invest in long-term growth.

Related party transactions

Details of related party transactions are included in note 13 to the condensed interim financial statements.

Summary and outlook

We are pleased with the Group's financial performance for the six months to 30 June 2015 and are confident that the Group is well placed to continue to deliver good growth.

Principal risks facing the business

The Group faces a number of risks and uncertainties which could have a material impact upon its long-term performance. The principal risks and uncertainties faced by the Group are set out in the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014, and are summarised as follows:

·      Prolonged economic downturn in the Group's key markets and sectors;

·      Concentration exposure in the banking and financial services sector;

·      Ability of the Group to balance supply and demand of Mounties;

·      Ability of the Senior Management team to exercise required oversight over growing UK and overseas businesses;

·      Ability to recruit, manage and retain high quality candidates working for FDM;

·      Ability of the business to effectively upscale;

·      Ability of the Group to develop new service offerings in line with developments of new IT solutions and customer requirements;

·      Compliance with international tax, legal, employment and other business regulations; and

·      Growth of the Group's cash balances beyond its foreseeable requirements.

Further explanation of the risks, and how the Group seeks to mitigate them, can be found on pages 17 to 20 of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014, which is available at www.fdmgroup.com.

1 In the six months to 30 June 2015 adjusted basic earnings per share is before share option plan expenses (including associated taxes). In the six months to 30 June 2014, adjusted basic earnings per share was before the impact of exceptional items related to the IPO and an exceptional share-based payment expense.



 

The Group's Directors routinely monitor all of these risks and uncertainties and appropriate actions are taken where possible to mitigate them. In addition to the above risks, the Directors now consider the following risk to be included in the principal risks to the Group:

·      The threat of cyber attacks on the Group's IT system could lead to a breach of security. Failure to manage this risk and continually update processes could lead to fraud and financial losses, disruption of operations, loss of confidential data and potential reputational damage. This risk is mitigated by reviewing and testing the technological infrastructure and developing systems and processes to prevent and detect a breach of security.

By order of the Board

 

Rod Flavell

(Chief Executive Officer)

Mike McLaren

(Chief Financial Officer)

28 July 2015



 

Condensed Consolidated Income Statement

for the six months ended 30 June 2015

 



Six months to 30 June 2015

Six months

to 30 June

2014

Year ended

31 December 2014



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)


Note

£000

£000

£000






Revenue


74,570

56,572

123,257

Cost of sales


(45,803)

(34,016)

(74,859)



              

              

              

Gross profit


28,767

22,556

48,398



              

              

              

Administrative expenses


(15,531)

(11,860)

(23,530)

Exceptional administrative expenses

7

-

(5,308)

(5,412)






Total administrative expenses


(15,531)

(17,168)

(28,942)



              

              

              

Operating profit


13,236

5,388

19,456



              

              

              

Financial income


7

3

4

Financial expense


(106)

(303)

(490)



              

              

              

Net finance expense


(99)

(300)

(486)



              

              

              

Analysis of profit before income tax

Operating profit before exceptional items


 

13,236

 

10,696

 

24,868

Exceptional items


-

(5,308)

(5,412)

Net finance expense


(99)

(300)

(486)






Profit before income tax


13,137

5,088

18,970

 

Taxation

8

(3,271)

(2,524)

(5,473)



              

              

              

Profit for the period


9,866

2,564

13,497



              

              

              

Earnings per ordinary share







pence

pence

pence

Basic and diluted

10

9.2

2.4

12.7



              

              

              



Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the six months ended 30 June 2015

 



Six months to 30 June 2015

Six months
to 30 June 2014

Year ended  

31 December 2014



(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)



£000

£000

£000






Profit for the period


9,866

2,564

13,497

 

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss:





Exchange differences on retranslation of foreign operations

(excluding tax)


(282)

(263)

124

Tax on items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or loss


-

56

(27)



              

              

              

Total other comprehensive income


(282)

(207)

97



              

              

              

Total comprehensive income recognised for the period


9,584

2,357

13,594



              

              

              






 



 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

as at 30 June 2015










30 June

2015

30 June

2014

31 December

2014




(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)



Note

£000

£000

£000

Non-current assets






Property, plant and equipment



3,414

2,483

2,522

Intangible assets



19,473

19,386

19,429




              

              

              




22,887

21,869

21,951




              

              

              

Current assets






Trade and other receivables



27,545

23,363

25,072

Cash and cash equivalents


11

13,605

8,449

12,287




              

              

              




41,150

31,812

37,359




              

              

              

Total assets



64,037

53,681

59,310




              

              

              

Current liabilities






Trade and other payables



17,315

17,245

14,013

Current income tax liabilities



2,221

2,094

2,515




              

              

              




19,536

19,339

16,528




              

              

              

Non-current liabilities






Borrowings


11

-

3,000

-

Deferred income tax liability



266

34

259




              

              

              




266

3,034

259




              

              

              

Total liabilities



19,802

22,373

16,787




              

              

              

Net assets



44,235

31,308

42,523




              

              

              

Equity attributable to owners of the parent





Share capital


12

1,075

1,127

1,127

Share premium



8,364

8,364

8,364

Capital redemption reserve



52

-

-

Other capital reserves



192

-

-

Translation reserve



(139)

(161)

143

Retained earnings



34,691

21,978

32,889




              

              

              

Total equity



44,235

31,308

42,523




              

              

              

 



 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

for the six months ended 30 June 2015










Six months

to 30 June

2015

Six months

 to 30 June 2014

Year ended  31 December 2014




(Unaudited)

(Unaudited)

(Audited)



Note

£000

£000

£000

Cash flows from operating activities






Group profit before tax for the period



13,137

5,088

18,970

Adjustments for:






Depreciation and amortisation



336

308

643

Financial income



(7)

(3)

(4)

Financial expense



106

303

490

Share-based payments



192

421

421

Increase in trade and other receivables



(2,473)

(2,334)

(4,044)

Increase in trade and other payables



3,294

6,102

2,852




              

              

              

Cash flows generated from operations



14,585

9,885

19,328

Interest received



7

3

4

Income tax paid



(3,557)

(2,595)

(4,898)




              

              

              

Net cash flow from operating activities



11,035

7,293

14,434




              

              

              

Cash flows from investing activities






Acquisition of property, plant and equipment



(1,222)

(283)

(601)

Acquisition of intangible assets



(66)

(6)

(70)




              

              

              

Net cash used in investing activities



(1,288)

(289)

(671)




              

              

              

Cash flows from financing activities






Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares



-

7,902

7,902

Repayment of borrowings


11

-

(12,000)

(15,000)

Finance costs paid



(99)

(278)

(466)

Dividends paid


9

(8,064)

-

-




              

              

              

Net cash used in financing activities



(8,163)

(4,376)

(7,564)




              

              

              

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents



1,584

2,628

6,199

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held



(266)

(189)

78

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period



12,287

6,010

6,010




              

              

              

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period



13,605

8,449

12,287




              

              

              

 

 

 



 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

for the six months ended 30 June 2015


Share

capital

Share

premium

 

 

Treasury

shares

 

Capital redemption reserve

 

Other capital reserves

Translation

reserve

Retained

earnings

Total

equity


£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Unaudited









Balance at 1 January 2015

1,127

8,364

-

-

-

143

32,889

42,523


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

9,866

9,866

Other comprehensive income

for the period

-

-

-

-

-

(282)

-

(282)


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Total comprehensive income

for the period

-

-

-

-

-

(282)

9,866

9,584










Share-based payments

-

-

-

-

192

-

-

192

Purchase of deferred shares

(note 12)

(52)

-

-

52

-

-

-

-

Dividends

-

-

-

-

-

-

(8,064)

(8,064)


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Balance at 30 June 2015

1,075

8,364

-

52

192

(139)

34,691

44,235


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              











Share

capital

Share

premium

 

 

Treasury

shares

 

Capital redemption reserve

 

Other capital reserves

Translation

Reserve

Retained

earnings

Total

equity


£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Unaudited









Balance at 1 January 2014

1,018

543

(22)

-

-

46

19,021

20,606


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

2,564

2,564

Other comprehensive income

for the period

-

-

-

-

-

(207)

-

(207)


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Total comprehensive income

for the period

-

-

-

-

-

(207)

2,564

2,357










Share-based payments

-

-

-

-

421

-

-

421

Transfer to retained earnings

-

-

-

-

(421)

-

421

-

Sale of treasury shares

-

-

22

           -

-

-

-

22

Bonus issue of shares

81

(53)

-

-

-

-

(28)

-

Proceeds from shares issued

Cost of shares issued  

28

-

7,972

(98)

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

8,000

(98)


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Balance at 30 June 2014

1,127

8,364

-

-

-

(161)

21,978

31,308


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              












 

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

for the six months ended 30 June 2015


Share

capital

Share

premium

 

 

Treasury

shares

 

Capital redemption reserve

 

Other capital reserves

Translation

Reserve

Retained

earnings

Total

equity


£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

Audited









Balance at 1 January 2014

1,018

543

(22)

-

-

46

19,021

20,606


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Profit for the year

-

-

-

-

-

-

13,497

13,497

Other comprehensive income for the year

-

-

-

-

-

97

-

97


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Total comprehensive income for the year

-

-

-

-

-

97

13,497

13,594










Share-based payments

-

-

-

-

421

-

-

421

Transfer to retained earnings

-

-

-

-

(421)

-

421

-

Sale of treasury shares

-

-

22

-

-

-

(22)

-

Bonus issue of shares

81

(53)

-

-

-

-

(28)

-

Proceeds from shares issued

28

7,972

-

-

-

-

-

8,000

Cost of shares issued

-

(98)

-

-

-

-

-

(98)


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

Balance at 31 December 2014

1,127

8,364

-

-

-

143

32,889

42,523


              

              

              

              

              

              

              

              

 

 



 

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements

1          General information

The Group is an international professional services provider focusing principally on Information Technology, specialising in the recruitment, training and deployment of its own permanent IT and business consultants.

The Company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in the UK with a Premium Listing on the London Stock Exchange. The Company's registered office is 3rd Floor, The Cottons Centre, Cottons Lane, London SE1 2QG and its registered number is 07078823.

These condensed interim financial statements were approved for issue by the Board of Directors of the Group on 28 July 2015. They have not been audited, but have been subject to an independent review by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, whose independent report is included on pages 21 and 22.

These condensed interim financial statements do not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014 was approved by the Board of Directors of the Group on 10 March 2015 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain any statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

2          Basis of preparation

These condensed interim financial statements for the six months ended 30 June 2015 have been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as adopted by the European Union. These condensed interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014, which has been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union.

The Group's continued and forecast global growth, positive operating cash flow and liquidity position, together with its distinctive business model and infrastructure, enable the Group to manage its business risks. The Group's forecasts and projections show that it will continue to operate with adequate cash resources and within the current working capital facilities. The Group passed all bank covenants tested in the period and forecasts that all covenants will be passed for a period of at least twelve months from the date of signing this interim report.

Having reassessed the principal risks, the Directors considered it appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the interim financial information.

3          Significant accounting policies

These condensed interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies, methods of computation and presentation adopted in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014, except for certain IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting requirements in respect of income tax.

The Directors have considered all new, revised or amended standards and interpretations which are mandatory for the first time for the financial year ending 31 December 2015, and concluded that none have had any significant impact on these interim financial statements. New, revised or amended standards and interpretations that are not yet effective have not been early adopted and are not expected to have any significant impact on the Group.

4          Estimates

When preparing the condensed interim financial statements, management undertakes a number of judgements, estimates and assumptions about recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The actual results may differ from the judgements, estimates and assumptions made by management, and will seldom equal the estimated results.

The judgements, estimates and assumptions applied in the interim financial statements, including the key sources of estimation uncertainty, were the same as those applied in the Group's last annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2014. The only exceptions are:

·     The estimate of the provision for income taxes, which is determined in the interim financial statements using the estimated average annual effective income tax rate applied to the pre-tax income of the interim period; and

·     The share option expense, which is based on the estimated number of options that are expected to vest, the associated taxes thereon and the judgemental inputs to the Black-Scholes model used to estimate fair value at the grant date.

5          Seasonality

The Group is not significantly impacted by seasonality trends. A lower number of working days in the first half of the year is approximately offset by increased annual leave in the second half of the year.

6          Segmental reporting

Management has determined the operating segments based on the operating reports reviewed by the Board of Directors that are used to assess both performance and strategic decisions. Management has identified that the Executive Directors are the chief operating decision maker in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 8 'Operating segments'.

At 30 June 2015, the Board of Directors consider that the Group is organised on a worldwide basis into four core geographical operating segments:

(1)   UK and Ireland;

(2)   North America;

(3)   Europe, Middle East and Africa, excluding UK and Ireland ("EMEA"); and

(4)   Asia Pacific ("APAC").

Each geographical segment is engaged in providing services within a particular economic environment and is subject to risks and returns that are different from those of segments operating in other economic environments.

All segment revenue, profit before taxation, assets and liabilities are attributable to the principal activity of the Group, being an international IT services provider.

During the six month period to 30 June 2015 the measurement methods used to determine operating segments and reported segmental profit or loss has been updated to include all recharges from operating segments and where appropriate central costs. This analysis provides a clearer understanding of the underlying performance in each segment. The comparative numbers have been restated for comparability.



 

Segmental reporting for the six months ended 30 June 2015


UK and

North





Ireland

America

EMEA

APAC

Total


£000

£000

£000

£000

£000







Revenue

51,185

16,352

5,440

1,593

74,570


              

              

              

              

              

Depreciation and amortisation

(246)

(82)

(7)

(1)

(336)







Segment operating profit

10,550

2,276

340

70

13,236

Finance income

7

-

-

-

7

Finance costs

(99)

(2)

(4)

(1)

(106)


              

              

              

              

              

Profit before tax

10,458

2,274

336

69

13,137


              

              

              

              

              

Total assets

50,146

8,968

3,836

1,087

64,037


              

              

              

              

              

Total liabilities

(14,211)

(3,531)

(1,477)

(583)

(19,802)


              

              

              

              

              

Segmental reporting for the six months ended 30 June 2014


UK and

North





Ireland

America

EMEA

APAC

Total


£000

£000

£000

£000

£000







Revenue

42,123

9,342

4,307

800

56,572


              

              

              

              

              

Depreciation and amortisation

(215)

(80)

(12)

(1)

(308)







Operating profit before exceptional items

9,654

902

93

47

10,696

Exceptional expenses

(5,308)

-

-

-

(5,308)


              

              

              

              

              

Segment operating profit

4,346

902

93

47

5,388

Finance income

3

-

-

-

3

Finance costs

(295)

(2)

(6)

-

(303)


              

              

              

              

              

Profit before tax

4,054

900

87

47

5,088


              

              

              

              

              

Total assets

44,452

5,233

3,307

689

53,681


              

              

              

              

              

Total liabilities

(18,578)

(2,774)

(825)

(196)

(22,373)


              

              

              

              

              

 

Segmental reporting for the year ended 31 December 2014


UK and

North





Ireland

America

EMEA

APAC

Total


£000

£000

£000

£000

£000







Revenue

90,313

22,122

8,909

1,913

123,257


              

              

              

              

              

Depreciation and amortisation

(456)

(165)

(20)

(2)

(643)







Operating profit before exceptional items

21,191

3,133

488

56

24,868

Exceptional expenses

(5,339)

(73)

-

-

(5,412)


              

              

              

              

              

Segment operating profit

15,852

3,060

488

56

19,456

Finance income

4

-

-

-

4

Finance costs

(473)

(5)

(11)

(1)

(490)


              

              

              

              

              

Profit before tax

15,383

3,055

477

55

18,970


              

              

              

              

              

Total assets

47,101

7,546

3,676

987

59,310


              

              

              

              

              

Total liabilities

(11,551)

(3,435)

(1,357)

(444)

(16,787)


              

              

              

              

              

Information about major customers

One customer represents 10% or more of the Group's revenues from all four operating segments and is presented as follows:

 


Six months to 
30 June
2015

Six months to
30 June
2014

Year ended 
31 December 2014


£000

£000

£000





Revenue from customer

20,614

12,493

30,252


                

                

                 

7          Exceptional items

The Group incurred no exceptional costs in the six months ended 30 June 2015.

During the six months ended 30 June 2014, the Group incurred exceptional costs of £4,887,000 in respect of its listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange and an exceptional share-based payment expense of £421,000.

8          Taxation

Income tax expense is recognised based on management's estimate of the weighted average annual income tax rate expected for the full financial year. The estimated average annual tax rate used for the six months ended 30 June 2015 is 24.9% (the estimated tax rate for the six months ended 30 June 2014 was 24.3%). In the six months ended 30 June 2014, the taxation charge was higher than the expected annual tax rate due to exceptional administrative expenses of £5,308,000 which were assumed to be disallowable for tax purposes and had the effect of increasing the effective tax rate to 49.6%.

 

9          Dividends

An interim dividend of 8.0 pence per ordinary share (2014: nil pence) was declared by the Directors on 28 July 2015 and will be payable on 25 September 2015 to holders of record on 21 August 2015. An interim dividend of 7.5 pence per ordinary share in respect of the period from admission of the Company's shares to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on 20 June 2014 to 31 December 2014 was paid on 12 June 2015. There were no dividends declared or paid in the six month period ended 30 June 2014.

10        Earnings per ordinary share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period. There is no difference between basic and diluted earnings per share for the year as there are no dilutive shares.




Six months to

30 June

2015

Six months to

   30 June
2014

Year ended
31 December 2014







Profit for the period


£000

9,866

2,564

13,497

Average number of ordinary shares in issue


Number

107,517,506

104,899,452

106,219,238




                       

                       

                      







Earnings per share (ordinary shares)


Pence

   2.4

   12.7




                           

                  

Adjusted basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent company, excluding exceptional items and share option plan expense (including associated taxes), by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period.




Six months to

30 June

2015

Six months to 30 June
2014

Year ended
31 December 2014







Profit for the period (basic earnings)


£000

9,866

2,564

13,497

Exceptional items (net of tax)


£000

-

5,308

5,137

Share option plan expense (including associated taxes) (see note 12)


£000

223

-

-

Tax effect of adjusting items


£000

(62)

-

-




                

                

                 

Adjusted profit for the period


£000

10,027

7,872

18,634




                

                

                 







Average number of ordinary shares in issue

Number


107,517,506

104,899,452

106,219,238




                     

                          

                          







Adjusted earnings per share

Pence


9.3

7.5

17.5




                 

                  

                 



 

11        Analysis of net cash (non-GAAP measure)



30 June

2015

30 June

2014

31 December 2014

Analysis of net cash

 


£000

 

£000

£000

Revolving credit facility


-

(3,000)

-



              

              

              

Total debt


-

(3,000)

-






Add cash and cash equivalents


13,605

8,449

12,287



              

              

              

Net cash


13,605

5,449

12,287

              


              

              

              

Net cash is defined as borrowings less net cash and cash equivalents. The Group had undrawn borrowings at 30 June 2015 of £20,000,000 (2014: £27,000,000).

12        Share capital

Share option plan

On 20 April 2015 the Company granted awards over its ordinary shares under the FDM 2014 Performance Share Plan ("PSP"). The vesting of the awards is subject to the achievement of a performance condition based upon the annual compound growth in the Group's earnings per share over the three year performance period ending 31 December 2017.

The approved PSP includes tax qualifying options under the FDM Company Share Option Plan ("CSOP"), Linked Awards (linked to fund the purchase of the CSOP options) and separate awards under the PSP. The fair value of the share awards was calculated using a Black-Scholes model at the date of the grant. The fair value calculated was £0.56 for each CSOP option and £2.81 for each PSP award (which includes the Linked Awards).

Deferred shares

At the Company's Annual General Meeting held on 30 April 2015, shareholders approved the purchase by the Company of 5,200,392 deferred shares for £1.00; the deferred shares had a nominal value of £0.01 each.

13        Related party transactions

During the six month period ended 30 June 2015 the Company paid £18,000 (six months ended 30 June 2014: £15,000) to Sheila Flavell, Chief Operating Officer, for rent of an apartment used for short-term employee accommodation. The rent payable was at market rate and no balances were outstanding at 30 June 2015 (2014: £nil).

During the six month period ended 30 June 2015 the Company paid £19,000 (six months ended 30 June 2014: £nil) for contractor IT services to Viper Business Solutions Limited, which is a limited company of the daughter of Sheila Flavell.  The IT services performed were at market rate, no balances were outstanding at 30 June 2015 (2014: £nil).

 

The key management personnel comprise the Directors of the Group. The compensation of key management is set out below:

 

 

Six months to

30 June

2015

Six months to

30 June

2014

 

Year ended

31 December 2014

 

£000

 

£000

£000

Short-term employee benefits

1,112

874

1,737

Post-employment benefits

13

11

24

Share-based payments

50

421

421

 

              

              

              

 

1,175

1,306

2,182

 

              

              

              

14        Financial instruments

There are no differences between the fair value of the financial assets and liabilities included within the following categories in the condensed consolidated statement of financial position and their carrying value:

•      Trade and other receivables

•      Cash and cash equivalents

•      Trade and other payables



 

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

The Directors confirm that these condensed interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 "Interim Financial Reporting" as adopted by the European Union, and that the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7 and DTR 4.2.8 of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, namely:

·      An indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and

·      Material related party transactions in the first six months and any material changes in the related party transactions described in the last annual report.

Directors who held office during the period:

Ivan Martin

(Non-Executive Chairman)

Roderick Flavell

(Chief Executive Officer)

Sheila Flavell

(Chief Operating Officer)

Michael McLaren

(Chief Financial Officer)

Andrew Brown

(Group Commercial Director)

Peter Whiting

(Non-Executive Director)

Jonathan Brooks

(Non-Executive Director)

Robin Taylor

(Non-Executive Director)

The Executive Directors and Chairman of FDM were listed in the financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2014 and remained the same in the six months to 30 June 2015.

By order of the Board

 

Rod Flavell

(Chief Executive Officer)

Mike McLaren

(Chief Financial Officer

28 July 2015

 

 



 

 

Independent Review Report to FDM Group (Holdings) plc

Report on the condensed consolidated interim financial statements

Our conclusion

We have reviewed the condensed interim financial statements, defined below, in the interim report of FDM Group (Holdings) plc for the six months ended 30 June 2015. Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed interim financial statements are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 as adopted by the European Union and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

 

This conclusion is to be read in the context of what we say in the remainder of this report.

 

What we have reviewed

The condensed interim financial statements, which are prepared by FDM Group (Holdings) plc, comprise:

 

·      the condensed consolidated statement of financial position as at 30 June 2015;

·      the condensed consolidated income statement and the condensed consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the period then ended;

·      the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the period then ended;

·      the condensed consolidated statement of changes in equity for the period then ended; and

·      the notes to the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

As disclosed in note 2, the financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the full annual financial statements of the Group is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.

The condensed interim financial statements included in the interim report has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim Financial Reporting", as adopted by the European Union and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

What a review of condensed consolidated interim financial statements involves

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 United Kingdom. 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.

 

We have read the other information contained in the interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed interim financial statements.

 

 



 

Responsibilities for the condensed consolidated interim financial statements and the review

Our responsibilities and those of the Directors

The interim report, including the condensed interim financial statements, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

Our responsibility is to express to the Company a conclusion on the condensed interim financial statements in the interim report based on our review. This report, including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the Company for the purpose of complying with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this conclusion, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

 

 

 

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chartered Accountants

London

28 July 2015

 


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