Half Yearly Report

RNS Number : 3121T
Personal Group Holdings PLC
27 September 2010
 



Personal Group Holdings Plc

 

                                             Interim statement for the six months to 30 June 2010

 

The board of directors of Personal Group Holdings Plc, specialist providers of employee benefits, insurance and consultancy, are pleased to announce the group's results as follows:

 

Highlights

                       


2010

2009

%


£m

£m






Net insurance premiums written

9.1

8.5

+6.6





Profit before tax

4.6

4.0

+14.9










2010

2009

%


Pence

Pence






Earnings per share (basic & diluted)

11.1

10.2

+8.8





Dividends per share paid in period

8.5

8.3

+2.4

 

 

·      Net insurance premiums written up 6.6% at £9.1m (2009: £8.5m)

·      PBT up 14.9% at £4.6m (2009: £4.0m) following record new business since 2008 and the return to more traditional claims experience

·      EPS at 11.1 pence per share (2009: 10.2 pence per share)

 

 

Nigel Brittle, Group Chief Executive, commented:

 

"Record profits achieved through the first half of 2010 reflect past and continuing record new business performances delivered by our core employee benefits and insurance activity since 2008. The return of our claims experience to traditional levels and the success of cost control measures have also played a part in this performance.

 

Prospects for the second half are promising as we prepare to launch some significant new client benefit programmes and our newer VGIP product offering continues to gather momentum."

 

 

Enquiries:

 

Personal Group Holdings Plc

Nigel Brittle, Group Chief Executive                     Tel: 01908 605000 ext 1926

Ken Rooney, Deputy Chairman

John Barber, Finance Director

 

Cenkos Securities

Stephen Keys                                                    Tel: 0207 397 8900

 

Bankside Consultants

Simon Rothschild                                               Tel: 0207 367 8888



 

Chairman's Statement

 

I am pleased to report another strong performance by the group in the six months period ended 30 June 2010, resulting in the group's best first half year results ever.

 

Group profit before tax (PBT) was £4.6m (2009: £4.0m), an increase of 14.9%.

 

This growth has been generated from the strong platform created by two consecutive years of record new business in our core employee benefits and insurance activities (specifically our personal group hospital plan, convalescence plan and death benefit plan) in 2008 and 2009. This record new business has continued into 2010 with our best ever first six months in terms of new business produced from our core business: total net premiums written for the first half of 2010 increased by 6.6% to £9.1m (2009: £8.5m).

 

This first half performance has been achieved despite the disrupted start to the year caused by the severe weather in January and also despite the fact that we launched 11 new employee benefit programmes to host companies in the first half of 2010 compared to 14 in the same period in 2009. Consequently, the proportion of visits and services provided to existing client companies has been higher in the first half of this year although it is expected that this will be balanced during the second half with some significant new benefit programmes scheduled to be introduced to new client companies.

 

Following last year's first half increases in claims incurred, in the wake of product enhancements made in 2008, this period has seen claims activity returning to the levels traditionally experienced. As a result, claims incurred are down in the first half of 2010 compared to the first six months of 2009. We have also been able to demonstrate good cost control during the period contributing to overall expenses as a percentage of turnover being reduced by 4% compared to the corresponding period last year.

 

As I mentioned in our 2009 Annual Report, we have also been focusing efforts on growing our newer Voluntary Group Income Protection (VGIP) product. We are currently the only provider offering access to this product through worksite consultations. We have boosted our marketing activity and have developed relationships with third party partners to expand our reach into market areas where we have been less active historically - particularly companies with office - based staff in service and administration sectors. In the first half of 2010, while momentum has gathered gradually, we have increased the number of new VGIP programmes launched, and income from this product has increased 100% on the corresponding period in 2009.

 

Feedback from new and prospective clients continues to be positive at a time when many employers are looking closely at their budgetary commitments in relation to benefits they purchase for their staff. Consequently, the voluntary nature of Personal Group's core products together with the salary sacrifice benefits of VGIP are important positive differentiators for the group in this area. Prospects for more new VGIP programmes to be launched during the second half of the year are promising.

 

Our IFA and broker subsidiary Berkeley Morgan Group performed in line with our expectations and continues to make a valuable contribution to our group PBT.

 

Group investment income continues to be adversely affected by the low level of interest rates and was reduced to £0.1m (2009: £0.2m). Our investment properties continue to make a small contribution to our PBT.

 

Apart from a small loan to fund the group's employee share schemes the group has no debt and retains a very strong balance sheet. Equity at 30 June 2010 was £22.5m, which includes net cash balances (including bank deposits classified under IFRS as financial assets) of over £10.8m.

 

Our first dividend of 2010, of 8.5p per share, was paid in March. A second dividend of 4.25p per share was paid today and if the further dividend is paid as expected in December the total for the year will amount to 17.0p per share (2009: 16.6p per share).

 

The group continues to perform strongly in the current uncertain economic climate, and trading remains in line with the directors' expectations. My fellow directors and I thank all those who are associated with this performance.

 

 

Chris Curling

Chairman

24 September 2010


Consolidated income statement

 



6 months

ended 30

June 2010

Unaudited

6 months

ended 30

June 2009

Unaudited

12 months

ended 31

December 2009

Audited  


 Note

£'000

£'000

£'000






Gross premiums written


9,127

8,550

17,550

Change in unearned premiums


(48)

(29)

61



________

        ________

________

Net premiums written


9,079

8,521

17,611

Other income:





  Insurance related


3,314

3,444

6,814

  Non-insurance related


581

738

1,454

  Investment property


159

146

287

Investment income


119

184

238



________

________

________

Revenue


13,252

13,033

26,404



________

      ________

________



 

 

 

Claims incurred


(1,833)

(2,174)

(3,844)

Insurance operating expenses


(3,779)

(3,658)

(7,831)

Impairment of non-financial assets


-

-

(3,000)

Other expenses:





  Insurance related


(2,065)

(2,256)

(4,318)

  Non-insurance related


(857)

(820)

(1,679)

  Investment property


(66)

(54)

(111)

Charitable donations


(40)

(40)

(80)



________

________

________

Expenses


(8,640)

(9,002)

(20,863)



________

________

________






Results of operating activities


4,612

4,031

5,541

Finance costs


(1)

(18)

(20)



________

________

________

Profit before tax


 4,611

4,013

5,521

Tax


(1,307)

(960)

(2,202)



________

________

________

Profit for the period after tax


3,304

3,053

3,319



________

________

________

 

 

The profit for the period after tax is attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc.

 

 

Earnings per share as arising from total and continuing operations


 Pence

Pence

Pence

Basic

4

11.1

10.2

11.1

Diluted

4

11.1

10.2

11.1

 

All operations are considered to be continuing.

 


Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

 



6 months

ended 30

June 2010

Unaudited

6 months

ended 30

June 2009

Unaudited

12 months

ended 31

December 2009

Audited  



£'000

£'000

£'000



Profit for the period




Other comprehensive income


Available for sale financial assets:


  Valuation changes taken to equity


(13)

  Reclassification to profit or loss


 


  Income tax on unrealised valuation changes


  taken to equity


(2)

(4)

(40)



Total comprehensive income for the period




______

______

______



The total comprehensive income for the period is attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc.

 

 

 

Consolidated balance sheet at 30 June 2010

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         


At 30

June 2010

Unaudited

At 30

June 2009

Unaudited

At 31

December 2009

Audited  


Note

£'000

£'000

£'000

ASSETS


Non-current assets

Goodwill


Property, plant and equipment

5

Investment property


Financial assets








Current assets

Trade and other receivables


Cash and cash equivalents








Total assets




________

________

________



 

 


Consolidated balance sheet at 30 June 2010

 



At 30

June 2010

Unaudited

At 30

June 2009

Unaudited

At 31

December 2009

Audited  



£'000

£'000

£'000



EQUITY




Equity attributable to equity holders of


Personal Group Holdings plc


Share capital


Capital redemption reserve


Amounts recognised directly in equity


relating to non-current assets held for sale


(23)

(108)

(15)

Other reserve


(645)

(747)

(714)

Profit and loss account




Total equity




________

________

________

 

 

LIABILITIES




Non-current liabilities


Deferred tax liabilities




Current liabilities


Provisions


Trade and other payables


Current tax liabilities


Borrowings

6











Total liabilities




________

________

________





Total equity and liabilities




________

________

________

 

 


Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 30 June 2010

                                    

Equity attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc

 

 

 

 

Share capital

Capital

redemption

reserve

Non-current assets held for sale

Other reserve

Profit & loss account

Total equity


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000








Balance as at 1 January 2010

1,503

24

(15)

(714)

20,940

21,738


______

____

___

____

________

________

Dividends

-

-

-

-

(2,537)

(2,537)

Employee share-based  compensation

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

18

 

18

Proceeds of AESOP share sales

-

-

-

-

141

141

Cost of AESOP shares sold

-

-

-

205

(205)

-

Cost of AESOP shares purchased

-

-

-

(136)

-

(136)


______

___

___

____

________

________

Transactions with owners

-

-

-

69

(2,583)

(2,514)


______

___

___

____

________

________

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

3,304

3,304

Other comprehensive income







Available for sale financial assets:







  Current period losses

-

-

(13)

-

-

(13)

  Transfer to income statement

-

-

7

-

-

7

  Current tax on unrealised

  valuation changes taken to equity

 

-

 

-

 

(2)

 

-

 

-

 

(2)


______

___

___

____

________

________

Total comprehensive income for

the period

-

-

 

(8)

-

3,304

3,296


______

___

___

____

________

________


 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 30 June 2010

1,503

24

(23)

(645)

21,661

22,520

______

___

___

____

________

________

 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year ended 30 December 2009

 

Equity attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc

 

 

 

 

Share capital

Capital

redemption

reserve

Non-current assets held for sale

Other reserve

Profit & loss account

Total equity


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000








Balance as at 1 January 2009

1,503

24

(118)

(772)

22,522

23,159


______

___

____

____

________

________

Dividends

-

-

-

-

(4,948)

(4,948)

Employee share-based  compensation

-

-

-

-

46

46

Proceeds of AESOP share sales

-

-

-

-

81

81

Cost of AESOP shares sold

-

-

-

80

(80)

-

Cost of AESOP shares purchased

-

-

-

(22)

-

(22)


______

___

____

____

________

________

Transactions with owners

-

-

-

58

(4,901)

(4,843)

______

___

____

____

________

________








Profit for the year

-

-

-

-

3,319

3,319

Other comprehensive income







Available for sale financial assets:







  Current year profits

-

-

         107

-

-

107

  Transfer to income statement

-

-

           36

-

-

36

  Current tax on unrealised valuation

  changes taken to equity

 

-

 

-

 

(40)

 

-

 

-

 

(40)


______

___

____

____

________

________

Total comprehensive income for

 

 

 

 

 

 

the year

-

-

103

-

3,319

3,422


______ 

___

____

____

________

________


 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 31 December 2009

1,503

24

         (15)

(714)

20,940

21,738


______

___

____

____   

________

________








 

 


Consolidated statement of changes in equity for the six months ended 30 June 2009

 

Equity attributable to equity holders of Personal Group Holdings Plc

 

 

 

 

Share capital

Capital

redemption

reserve

Non-current assets held for sale

Other reserve

Profit & loss account

Total equity


£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000








Balance as at 1 January 2009

1,503

24

(118)

(772)

22,522

23,159


______

___

____

____

________

________

Dividends

-

-

-

-

(2,473)

(2,473)

Employee share-based  compensation

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

20

 

20

Proceeds of AESOP share sales

-

-

-

-

39

39

Cost of AESOP shares sold

-

-

-

39

(39)

-

Cost of AESOP shares purchased

-

-

-

(14)

-

(14)


______

___

____

____

________

________

Transactions with owners

-

-

-

25

(2,453)

(2,428)


______

___

____

____

________

________

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

3,053

3,053

Other comprehensive income







Available for sale financial assets:







  Current period profits

-

-

14

-

-

14

  Transfer to income statement

-

-

-

-

-

-

  Current tax on unrealised

  valuation changes taken to equity

 

-

 

-

 

(4)

 

-

 

-

 

(4)


______

___

____

____

________

________

Total comprehensive income for the period

-

-

 

10

-

3,053

3,063


______

___

____

____

________

________


 

 

 

 

 

 

Balance as at 30 June 2009

1,503

24

(108)

(747)

23,122

23,794


______

___

____

____

________

________

 



Consolidated cash flow statement

 



6 months

ended 30

June 2010

Unaudited

6 months

ended 30

June 2009

Unaudited

12 months

ended 31

December 2009

Audited



£'000

£'000

£'000

Operating activities





Profit after tax


3,304

3,053

3,319

Adjustments for:

  Depreciation


229

238

474

  Goodwill impairment

-

-

3,000

  (Profit)/loss on disposal  of property, plant and

  equipment

(12)

1

(7)

  Realised and unrealised net investment (gains)/losses

1

 (25)

61

  Interest received


(83)

(195)

(377)

  Dividends received


(10)

(7)

(16)

  Interest paid


1

23

25

  Share-based payments


18

20

46

  Taxation expense recognised in income statement

1,307

960

2,202

Changes in working capital:





  Trade and other receivables


(278)

167

541

  Trade and other payables


(48)

(30)

(455)

Taxes paid


(1,302)

(899)

(2,015)



______

______

______

Net cash from operating activities


3,127

3,306

6,798



______

______

______

Investing activities


 

 

 

Additions to property, plant and equipment


(292)

(204)

(398)

Additions to investment property


-

(26)

(26)

Proceeds from disposal of property plant and equipment

62

27

71

Purchase of own shares


(136)

(14)

(22)

Proceeds from disposal of own shares


141

39

81

Purchase of financial assets


(97)

(20)

(3,119)

Proceeds from disposal of financial assets


125

3,020

3,119

Interest received


83

195

377

Dividends received


10

7

16



______

______

______

Net cash (used in)/realised from investing activities

(104)

 3,024

99



______

______

______

Financing activities





Proceeds from bank loans


136

14

22

Repayment of bank loans


(160)

(2,061)

(2,124)

Interest paid


(1)

(23)

(25)

Dividends paid


(2,537)

(2,473)

(4,948)



______

______

______

Net cash used in financing activities


(2,562)

(4,543)

(7,075)



______

______

______






Net change in cash and cash equivalents


461

1,787

(178)

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

7,300

7,478

7,478



______

______

______

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

7,761

9,265

7,300



______

______

______

 



Notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

1              General information

 

The principal activities of Personal Group Holdings Plc ('the company') and subsidiaries ('the group') include transacting short-term accident and health insurance and providing employee benefits related business and financial services in the UK.

 

The company is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in England.  The address of its registered office is John Ormond House, 899 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 3XL.

 

The company's shares trade on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange.

 

The condensed consolidated financial statements do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the group

as at and for the year ended 31 December 2009.

 

The financial information for the year ended 31 December 2009 set out in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.  The group's statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2009 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies.  The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

These interim financial statements are unaudited and have not been reviewed by the group's auditors under International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410.

 

These consolidated interim financial statements have been approved for issue by the board of directors on

24 September 2010.

 

2              Accounting policies

 

These June 2010 interim consolidated financial statements of Personal Group Holdings Plc are for the six months ended 30 June 2010.  They have been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting. These financial statements have been prepared on the basis of the recognition and measurement requirements of those IFRS standards and IFRIC interpretations as adopted by the EU, issued and effective or issued and early adopted in respect of periods beginning on or after 1 January 2010.  The principal accounting policies have remained unchanged from the year ended 31 December 2009.

 

3              Segment analysis

 

The group operates two trading operating segments, namely employee benefits insurance and consultancy; and financial services offered by Berkeley Morgan Group Limited (BMG) and its subsidiary undertakings.

 

1)            Employee benefits insurance and consultancy

Personal Assurance Plc (PA), a subsidiary within the group, is an FSA regulated general insurance company and is authorised to transact accident and sickness insurance. It was established in 1984 and has been underwriting business since 1985. In 1997 Personal Group Holdings Plc (PGH) was created and became the ultimate parent undertaking of the group.

 

This operating segment derives the majority of its revenue from the underwriting by PA of insurance policies that have been bought by employees of host companies via bespoke benefit programmes.

 

Insurance related income includes insurance and reinsurance brokerage commission. Insurance brokerage commission includes that derived from voluntary group income protection plan sales.

 

Non-insurance related income includes income derived from the sale of benefit books, consultancy services and property rental income.

 

 

 

 

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

2)            Financial services


The financial services operating segment consists exclusively of revenue generated by BMG and its subsidiary undertakings. BMG was acquired by PGH in January 2005.

Financial services revenue consists mainly of commission generated by financial advisers and commission generated from insurance underwriting agencies.


Employee

benefits

£'000

 

Financial services

£'000

Unallocated

£'000

 

IFRS

adjustments

£'000

Group

£'000


Operating segments


For the 6 months ended 30 June 2010

Revenue






Net premiums written

Other income:

   Insurance related

1,401

   Non-insurance related

581

   Investment property

-

Investment income

118


_______

Total revenue

 

______

______

______

________

Net result for period before tax


_______

______

______

______

________

Segment assets


_______

______

______

______

________

 

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

The revenue and net result generated by each of the group's operating segments are summarised as follows:


Employee

benefits

£'000

Financial services

£'000

Unallocated

£'000

IFRS

adjustments

£'000

Group

£'000

Operating segments


For the year ended 31 December 2009

Revenue






Net premiums written

Other income:

   Insurance related

2,522

   Non-insurance related

1,454

   Investment property

-

Investment income

232


_______

Total revenue

 

______

______

______

________

Net result for year before tax

(3,010)


________

______

______

______

________

Segment assets


________

______

______

______

________

 


Employee

benefits

£'000

Financial services

£'000

Unallocated

£'000

IFRS

adjustments

£'000

Group

£'000

Operating segments


For the period ended 30 June

2009

Revenue






Net premiums written

Other income:

   Insurance related

1,178

   Non-insurance related

738

   Investment property

-

Investment income

180


_______

Total revenue

 

______

______

______

________

Net result for year before tax

(1)


________

______

______

______

________

Segment assets


________

______

______

______

________

 

 

 All income is derived from the UK.

 

The figures shown above for employee benefits and financial services are from the group's management accounts that are not prepared under IFRS. Unallocated amounts relate to the group's investment properties.

 

 

 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

4              Earnings per share and dividends

 

The weighted average numbers of outstanding shares used for basic and diluted earnings per share are as follows:

 


6 months

ended 30

June 2010

6 months

ended 30

June 2009

12 months

ended 31

December 2009





Basic

29,862,662

29,817,366

29,830,021

Diluted

29,868,160

29,829,069

29,845,832

 

During the first six months of 2010, Personal Group Holdings Plc paid dividends of £2,556,000 to its equity shareholders (six months to 30 June 2009: £2,496,000, twelve months to 31 December 2009: £4,991,000). 

This represents a payment of 8.5p per share (six months to 30 June 2009: 8.3p, twelve months to 31 December 2009: 16.6p).            

 

In the statement of changes in equity and the cash flow statement dividends are stated net of amounts paid on treasury shares and unallocated shares held by Personal Group Trustees Limited as follows:

 


6 months ended 30 June 2010

6 months ended 30 June 2009

12 months ended 31 December 2009

6 months ended 30 June 2010

 

6 months ended 30 June 2009

12 months ended 31 December 2009









Pence per share

£'000

£'000

£'000

Equity dividends







Ordinary shares paid in period














March

8.50

4.15

4.15

2,556

1,248

1,248

June

-

4.15

4.15

-

1,248

1.248

September

-

-

4.15

-

-

1,248

December

-

-

4.15

-

-

1,247





______

______

______





2,556

2,496

4,991

Less: amounts paid on own shares




 

(19)

 

(23)

 

(43)


_____

_____

______

______

______

______


8.50

8.30

16.60

2,537

2,473

4,948

 

_____

_____

______

______

______

______

 



Notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

5              Additions and disposals of property, plant and equipment

 

For the six months ended 30 June 2010

 


Freehold land and properties

£'000

Motor vehicles

£'000

Computer

equipment

£'000

Furniture fixtures & fittings

£'000

Total

£'000

Cost






At 1 January 2010

5,478

817

407

2,057

8,759

Additions

-

267

16

10

293

Disposals

-

(178)

-

-

(178)


______

____

____

______

______

At 30 June 2010

5,478

906

423

2,067

8,874


______

____

____

______

______

Depreciation






At 1 January 2010

844

308

378

1,808

3,338

Provided in the period

47

108

23

51

229

Eliminated on disposals

-

(127)

-

-

(127)


______

____

____

______

______

At 30 June 2010

891

289

401

1,859

3,440


______

____

____

______

______







Net book amount at 30 June 2010

4,587

617

22

208

5,434


______

____

____

______

______







Net book amount at 1 January 2010

4,634

509

29

249

5,421


______

____

____

______

______

For the year ended 31 December 2009


Freehold land and properties

£'000

Motor vehicles

£'000

Computer

equipment

£'000

Furniture fixtures & fittings

£'000

Total

£'000

Cost






At 1 January 2009

5,478

621

438

2,051

8,588

Additions

-

380

11

6

397

Disposals

-

(184)

(42)

-

(226)


______

____

____

______

______

At 31 December 2009

5,478

817

407

2,057

8,759


______

____

____

______

______

Depreciation






At 1 January 2009

749

283

385

1,615

3,032

Provided in the year

95

153

33

193

474

Eliminated on disposals

-

(128)

(40)

-

(168)


______

____

____

______

______

At 31 December 2009

844

308

378

1,808

3,338


______

____

____

______

______







Net book amount at 31 December 2009

4,634

509

29

249

5,421


______

____

____

______

______







Net book amount at 1 January 2009

4,729

338

53

436

5,556


______

____

____

______

______



Notes to the consolidated financial statements

 

 

For the six months ended 30 June 2009

 


Freehold land and properties

£'000

Motor vehicles

£'000

Computer

equipment

£'000

Furniture fixtures & fittings

£'000

Total

£'000

Cost






At 1 January 2009

5,478

621

438

2,051

8,588

Additions

-

192

10

3

205

Disposals

-

(65)

-

-

(65)


______

____

____

______

______

At 30 June 2009

5,478

748

448

2,054

8,728


______

____

____

______

______

Depreciation






At 1 January 2009

749

283

385

1,615

3,032

Provided in the period

47

87

40

64

238

Eliminated on disposals

-

(36)

-

-

(36)


______

____

____

______

______

At 30 June 2009

796

334

425

1,679

3,234


______

____

____

______

______







Net book amount at 30 June 2009

4,682

414

23

375

5,494


______

____

____

______

______







Net book amount at 1 January 2009

4,729

338

53

436

5,556


______

____

____

______

______

 

6         Borrowings

 

At 30 June 2010 the borrowings shown in the consolidated balance sheet are in respect of the Personal Group Trustees Limited AESOP bank loan.

 

Financial calendar for the year ending 31 December 2010

 

The company announces the following dates in its financial calendar for the year ending 31 December 2010:

 

·      Preliminary results for the year ending 31 December 2010                                                               -                               March 2011

·      Publication of Report and Accounts for 2010                                                                        -                               March 2011

·      AGM                                                                                                                                                -                               April 2011


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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