Interim Results

Walker,Crips,Weddle,Beck PLC 13 November 2003 NEWS RELEASE For immediate release: 13th November 2003 INTERIM RESULTS for six months ended 30th September 2003 Walker, Crips, Weddle, Beck plc ('WCWB'), the fully listed stock and share broker, announces Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2003. • October Llaunch of the CF Walker Crips Equity Income Fundon 31 October has receivedan initial subscriptions of more than£2million. • Turnover increased by 16% to £5.4 million (September 2002: £4.7 million). • CF Walker Crips UK Growth Fund continues with top quartdecile performance in IMA All Companies sector. • More than £15m now under management across the three growing, internally- managed unit trusts. • World economies are currently showing some evidence of recovery underpinned byin particular the recent strong GDP statistics from the USA are encouraging. • Despite prevailing uncertainty, a combination of improving market conditions and a lower cost base puts WCWB back in profit for the six months to 30 September 2003, £493,000, before tax, compared to a loss of £257,000 in the previous comparable periodhalf year. • Interim dividend ofmaintained at 2.25p per share to be paid on 28 November. • Reduction in holding of London Stock Exchange yieldrealises pre-tax gain of £24445,000. • Graham Kennedy,Chairman, said 'A glimmer of evidence of recovery in the private client world with sporadic increases in trading volumesWe are well placed to continue the improvement seen in the first half of our financial year into the second half despite considerable volatility in private client share trading volumes.' For further information please contact: Michael Sunderland, Chief Executive Paul Berthold Rodney Fitzgerald, Finance Director Walker, Crips, Weddle, Beck plc Leadenhall Communications Tel: 020 7253 7502 Tel: 020 7329 7420 Walker Crips Weddle Beck PLC CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2003 I am pleased to report a return to profitability for the first half of the year, driven by an encouraging recovery in overall activity on the London Stock Exchange (LSE). Whilst challenging conditions and some of the uncertainties of the previous financial year remain in place I am confident that, having reduced our cost base, we are well placed to continue the improvement seen in the first half of our financial year into the second half despite considerable volatility in private client share trading volumes. Results for the 6 months to 30 September 2003 show an increase in turnover to £5,425,000 against last year's £4,659,000. When combined with the effects of a continuing fall in costs, this has resulted in a pre-tax profit on ordinary activities of £493,000 compared to a loss of £257,000 for the previous comparable period. The highly successful CF Walker Crips UK Growth Fund has continued its impressive performance and is currently ranked in the top decile of the IMA All Companies sector over 1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years and since launch in February 1999. In order to complement this Fund and the UK Corporate Bond Fund, your company has, at the end of October, launched the new CF Walker Crips Equity Income Fund for which I am pleased to report initial subscription of approximately £2 million. Further expansion of funds under management is confidently expected in the near future with over £15 million currently under management across all three funds. Our commitment to building up fee-based income is bearing fruit, demonstrated by the significant contributions to profitability from the Financial Services and Corporate Finance divisions in a tough environment. We have continued to reduce our holding in the LSE through the sale of a further 125,000 shares realising a gain of £445,000. As this investment was revalued at our previous reporting date a gain of £96,000 is included in the profit on ordinary activities before taxation. The remaining realised pre-tax gain of £348,000 less tax of £104,000 results in £244,000 being transferred from revaluation reserves to the profit and loss account. We are pleased to report that the interim dividend has been maintained at 2.25p per share after a profitable period and also in recognition of the loyalty and support of shareholders in the difficult recent past. The dividend will be paid on 28 November 2003 to those shareholders on the register at the close of business on 21 November 2003 . World economies are currently showing some evidence of recovery, in particular the recent strong GDP statistics from the USA are encouraging. Your Board is confident of capitalising on sustained market interest and anticipates delivering a creditable set of results for the full financial year. G.N. Kennedy CVO Chairman 13 November 2003 Interim unaudited consolidated profit and loss account For the six months ended 30 September 2003 Continuing Operations Continuing Operations Continuing Operations 6 months Ended 6 months Ended Year Ended 30 September 2003 30 September 2002 31 March 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover Existing operations 5,425 4,659 8,940 Acquisitions - - 84 5,425 4,659 9,024 Commission payable (1,671) (1,271) (2,584) Gross profit 3,754 3,388 6,441 Operating expenses (3,357) (3,529) (6,856) Operating expenses - amortisation of (76) (63) (128) goodwill Operating expenses - exceptional items - (53) (70) Total operating (3,433) (3,645) (7,054) expenses Operating 321 (257) (613) profit/(loss) Net investment 76 72 135 income Profit/(loss) on disposal of fixed asset 96 (72) (140) investments Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities 493 (257) (618) before taxation Tax (charge)/credit on profit/(loss) on (136) 52 145 ordinary activities Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities 357 (205) (473) after taxation Dividends paid and (237) (230) (457) proposed Retained 120 (435) (930) profit/(loss) for the period Realised gain on sale of revalued 244 363 604 investment Repurchase of - - (129) ordinary shares Retained profit 2,228 2,683 2,683 brought forward Retained profit 2,592 2,611 2,228 carried forward Earnings/(loss) per - basic 3.5p (2.0p) (4.6p) share - diluted 3.3p (2.0p) (4.6p) Weighted average number of shares in issue - basic 10,094,517 10,238,654 10,203,654 - diluted 10,559,068 10,766,710 10,995,888 Dividends 2.25p 2.25p 4.5p paid and proposed Interim unaudited consolidated balance sheet As at 30 September 2003 As at 30 Sep 2003 As at 30 Sep 2002 As at 31 Mar 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed Assets Goodwill 2,353 2,390 2,342 Tangible 367 614 444 Investments 1,350 2,034 1,469 4,070 5,038 4,255 Current assets Debtors 49,410 28,789 31,322 Cash at bank and in hand 2,984 2,925 3,395 52,394 31,714 34,717 Creditors: amounts falling due within one (47,594) (27,221) (30,443) year Net current assets 4,800 4,493 4,274 Net assets 8,870 9,531 8,529 Capital and reserves Called-up share capital 2,027 2,048 2,018 Shares to be issued 620 609 552 Share premium account 1,233 1,212 1,214 Profit and loss account 2,592 2,611 2,228 Revaluation reserve 1,275 1,959 1,394 Other reserves 1,123 1,092 1,123 Shareholders' funds 8,870 9,531 8,529 6 months Ended 6 months Ended Year Ended 30 September 2003 30 September 2002 31 March 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash (outflow) from operating activities (699) (812) (223) Returns on investments and servicing of 76 72 135 finance Taxation 5 29 (13) Capital expenditure and financial investment 354 444 671 Acquisition of subsidiary - - (10) Equity dividends paid (226) (410) (640) Cash (outflow) before management of liquid resources and financing (490) (677) (80) Management of liquid 450 1,350 650 resources Financing 28 - (126) (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (12) 673 444 Notes to the interim unaudited financial statements (1) This interim statement has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the most recent set of annual financial statements. (2) 2002 and 2003 half-year figures are unaudited. The accounts for the year to 31 March 2003 are abridged and non-statutory. Full accounts for that year, on which the auditors of the company made an unqualified report, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. A copy of these statements is available at the company's registered office at Sophia House, 76/80 City Road, London EC1Y 2EQ or on the website www.wcwb.co.uk. A copy has been posted to all shareholders. (3) The following restatements have been made to the profit and loss account for the six months ended 30 September 2002, the balance sheet as at 30 September 2002, and the profit and loss account for the year ended 31 March: The profit and loss account for the six months ended 30 September 2002 has been restated by £5,000 to show additional amortisation of goodwill, on a basis consistent with the treatment adopted in the 31 March 2003 audited accounts.This restatement reflects a revision in the calculation that does not constitute a change in Accounting Policy. The balance sheet as at the 30 September 2002 has been restated to show the share premium of £1,010,000 on the issue of 1,000,000 shares in consideration of the acquisition of Keith, Bayley, Rogers and Co. Limited in the balance of the other reserve. This treatment is consistent with the basis adopted in the 31 March 2003 audited accounts. The profit and loss account for the year ended 31 March 2003 has been restated to reduce turnover and commission payable equally by an amount of £64,000, being an overstatement arising from services provided by third parties previously treated as external agents. (4) Additional consideration in shares of up to £3,000,000 in value based upon notional share prices of £1.50 to £2.00 may be payable depending on the results of the business purchased over the four-year period ending 25 April 2003. Based on information currently available, the directors estimate that the fair value of this additional consideration is £620,000 calculated using the share price on 2 November 2001. (5) The company owns 375,000 ordinary shares in the London Stock Exchange plc (LSE), which have been included on the balance sheet at their fair value of £1,297,500 (March 2003: 500,000 at £1,393,750). During the period, the company disposed of 125,000 shares, realising a pre-tax gain of £445,000, of which £244,000 after tax (£348,000 pre-tax less tax of £104,000), being the gain attributable to the period up to 31 March 2003, has been transferred from revaluation reserves to the profit and loss account. The format of the profit and loss account has been expanded to show this transfer and the movement in retained earnings. (6) Reconciliation of Shareholders' Funds £'000 Balance at 31 March 2003 8,529 Profit for the period 357 Gain on disposal of LSE 244 shares Dividends paid and proposed (237) Revaluation (119) Shares to be issued 68 Exercise of options over 28 ordinary shares of 20p Balance at 30 September 2003 8,870 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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