REG - Gateley (Holdings) - COVID-19 and dividend update

Gateley (Holdings)Announcement

24/03/2020 07:00

RNS Number : 2870H
  
Gateley (Holdings) PLC
  
24 March 2020
  
 

24 March 2020 
 
GATELEY (HOLDINGS) PLC
("Gateley", the "Group" or the "Company") 
AIM: GTLY
 
COVID-19 and dividend update
 
Gateley (Holdings) Plc (AIM:GTLY), the legal and professional services group, provides an update to shareholders regarding current and future trading and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. 
 
Gateley is prudently managed for organic and diversified growth, with low levels of debt and a focus on long-term success for its stakeholders. Following a solid first half performance and further diversification by completing four earnings enhancing acquisitions, the improvements in the economic backdrop and Brexit clarity following the general election resulted in growing demand for our services in the second half of the financial year to 30 April 2020. Trading until the end of February was in line with the Board's expectations.  Activity has, understandably, reduced since 1 March 2020, as a result of the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to our clients and to our staff. When the Board has visibility on the impact of the virus on the Company's full year performance, we will provide a further trading update. 
 
The Group remains highly resilient, with a strong client base and a well-balanced and diversified service offering. We have successfully mobilised our staff to work from home in line with all Government guidelines and many parts of the business are currently busy assisting clients with COVID-19 related issues as well as other ongoing matters. The Board has, nevertheless, given careful consideration to the rapidly evolving Government guidance in respect of the COVID-19 pandemic and has concluded that it is presently impossible to predict the Group's likely trading performance in the short-term. The Board is, therefore, taking the prudent step to suspend financial guidance going forward until both the impact and duration of the COVID-19 pandemic becomes clearer. 
 
The Board also believes that it would be prudent and in the best interests of all stakeholders to maximise the Group's short-term liquidity. With this in mind, it has decided to cancel the Group's interim dividend of 2.9 pence per share, which was due for payment on 31 March 2020.  
 
Michael Ward, Gateley Chief Executive Officer, said:
 
"As a Board, we consider these measures to be in the best interests of all our stakeholders. Gateley is a resilient and well-balanced business and our economic and geographically diversified business model is well-placed to withstand difficult economic conditions.  
 
"On behalf of the Board, I thank all of our people for their continued dedication and hard work under these extremely challenging circumstances and for ensuring that our clients continue to receive the outstanding level of service which they have come to expect from Gateley."
 
The information communicated in this announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014. 
 
Enquiries:
 




Gateley (Holdings) Plc


 




Neil Smith, Finance Director


Tel: +44 (0) 121 234 0196




Nick Smith, Acquisitions Director and Head of Investor Relations


Tel +44 (0) 20 7653 1665




Cara Zachariou, Head of Corporate Communications


Tel +44 (0) 121 234 0074




 


 




finnCap - Nominated adviser and broker


Tel +44 (0) 20 7220 0575




Matt Goode / James Thompson (Corporate Finance)


 




Andrew Burdis (ECM)


 




 


 




N+1 Singer - Joint broker 


Tel +44 (0) 20 7496 3000




Peter Steel / Ben Farrow (Corporate Finance)


 




Rachel Hayes (Corporate Broking)


 




 


 




Belvedere Communications Limited - Financial PR


 




Cat Valentine (cvalentine@belvederepr.com)


Mob: +44 (0) 7715 769 078




Keeley Clarke (kclarke@belvederepr.com)


Mob: +44 (0) 7967 816 525




Llew Angus (langus@belevederepr.com)


Mob: +44 (0) 7407 023 147




 


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