Hermes Pacific Inv - Final Results
RNS Number : 1974A
Hermes Pacific Investments PLC
28 September 2020
28 September 2020
HERMES PACIFIC INVESTMENTS PLC
(AIM: HPAC)
Final results for the year ended 31 March 2020
Hermes Pacific Investments Plc today reports its financial results for the year ended 31 March 2020.
Chairman's Statement
I am pleased to report the results of Hermes Pacific Investments Plc ("HPAC" or the "Company") for the year ended 31 March 2020. During the year, the Company had no revenues as it does not have any operating business and the Company made a loss of £94,000, which is lower than the loss of £107,000 reported for the previous financial year. We continue our focus to minimise our costs whilst we are looking for opportunities to deploy our cash. At the financial year end the Company had net assets of £3,609,000.
Review of the Company's Activities
The Company is an investing company and has previously made some investments in line with its investing policy in companies involved in financial activities within the emerging market sector. These investments have performed in line with our expectations. We are in a good position from a Balance Sheet perspective and our cash balance as at 31 March 2020 stands at £3,506 million. We have continued to evaluate possible suitable opportunities to deploy our cash resources but have not found any deal that we thought appropriate. Our total comprehensive loss for the year was £133,000 compared to a loss of £119,000 for the previous financial year. The deficit is higher this year compared to last year as there was a loss of £39,000 on investments held by the Company.
The last few years have been filled with Brexit uncertainty. The confusion that has been uppermost in people's minds has cleared up somewhat when the United Kingdom formally left the European Union. There are nonetheless still so many key questions still left unanswered. The United Kingdom is now in a transition period which will end on 31 December 2020. During this period, The United Kingdom is still in the Customs Union and also in the single market with all the applicable European rules still in force. It is anticipated that a deal with the European Union will be reached before the end of the transition period however if there is no agreement on a deal then World Trade Organisation Rules would come into effect. We will continue to monitor closely as this matter does have a significant economic impact.
The Covid-19 pandemic has sent shockwaves throughout the global economy and the uncertainties this has created has impacted investment prospects. Some economies have been affected more severely than others. Within different countries, the virus spread through the population at varying speeds depending on a range of factors such as the cultural and behavioural responses of the community. This pattern has led to substantial variation in the preparedness of countries and their responses to the crisis. Lockdowns were imposed and large parts of the economy were effectively shut down. The worrying aspect is that we still do not have an effective vaccine against Covid 19 and there is fear that countries and economies may be hit by a second wave of infections. Given the uncertainties this creates we will be cautious in any new investments that we make.
The Company continues to seek attractive investment opportunities that will enhance the shareholder value while minimising the downside risks.
Outlook
We have a strong balance sheet and cash resources that place us in a strong position to exploit investment opportunities as they arise.
Haresh Kanabar
Chairman
28 September 2020
| Contacts | |
| Hermes Pacific Investments Plc | www.hermespacificinvestments.com |
| Haresh Kanabar, Non-Executive Chairman | Tel: +44 (0) 207 290 3340 |
| WH Ireland Limited (Nominated Adviser & Broker) | www.whirelandcb.com |
| Mike Coe/ Chris Savidge | Tel: +44 (0) 117 945 3470 |
| Year ended 31 March | Year ended 31 March | ||
| Note | 2020 | 2019 | |
| £'000 | £'000 | ||
| Continuing operations | |||
| Revenue | - | - | |
| Cost of sales | - | - | |
| gross profit | - | - | |
| Other operating income | - | - | |
| Administrative expenses | (113) | (124) | |
| Operating loss | (113) | (124) | |
| Finance income | 19 | 17 | |
| Finance costs | - | - | |
| Loss on ordinary activities before tax | (94) | (107) | |
| Tax expense | - | - | |
| Loss for the year from continuing activities | (94) | (107) | |
| Discontinued operations | |||
| Loss for the year from discontinued operations | - | - | |
| Loss for the year | (94) | (107) | |
| Other comprehensive income Losses arising in the year on investments Total comprehensive loss for the year | (39) (133) | (12) (119) | |
| Basic and diluted loss per share | |||
| From continuing operations | 4 | (4.0)p | (4.6)p |
| As at 31 March | As at 31 March | ||
| 2020 | 2019 | ||
| Notes | £'000 | £'000 | |
| ASSETS | |||
| Non-current assets | |||
| Investments | 123 | 162 | |
| 123 | 162 | ||
| Current assets | |||
| Trade and other receivables | 9 | 1 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 3,506 | 3,596 | |
| 3,515 | 3,597 | ||
| LIABILITIES | |||
| Current liabilities | |||
| Trade and other payables | (29) | (17) | |
| (29) | (17) | ||
| Net current assets | 3,486 | 3,580 | |
| NET ASSETS | 3,609 | 3,742 | |
| SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY | |||
| Issued share capital | 3,576 | 3,576 | |
| Share premium account | 5,781 | 5,781 | |
| Share based payments reserve Fair value reserve | 139 (50) | 139 (11) | |
| Retained earnings | (5,837) | (5,743) | |
| TOTAL EQUITY | 3,609 | 3,742 | |
| Note | Year ended 31 March 2020 | Year ended 31 March 2019 | |
| £'000 | £'000 | ||
| Cash flows from operating activities | (109) | (146) | |
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||
| Acquisition of investments | - | - | |
| Income from disposal of subsidiary undertakings | - | - | |
| Net cash (used in)/from investing activities | - | - | |
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||
| Proceeds of share issues Other operating activities | - 19 | - 17 | |
| Net cash from financing activities | 19 | 17 | |
| (Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | (90) | (129) | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at start of period | 3,596 | 3,725 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | 3,506 | 3,596 | |
| Ordinary share capital | Deferred share capital | Share premium | Share based payments reserve | Retained earnings | Revaluation reserve | Total | |
| £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
| At 1 April 2018 | 2,333 | 1,243 | 5,781 | 139 | (5,636) | 1 | 3,861 |
| Total comprehensive loss/profit for the period | - | - | - | - | (107) | (12) | (119) |
| At 1 April 2019 | 2,333 | 1,243 | 5,781 | 139 | (5,743) | (11) | 3,742 |
| Total comprehensive loss for the period | - | - | - | - | (94) | (39) | (133) |
| At 31 March 2020 | 2,333 | 1,243 | 5,781 | 139 | (5,837) | (50) | 3,609 |
| Hermes Pacific Investments Plc is a company incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The nature of the company's operations and its principal activities are set out in the Directors' Report on page 3. |
| The financial statements comply with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union. At the date of approval of these financial statements, various Standards and Interpretations affecting the Company, which have not been applied in these financial statements, were in issue, but not yet effective (and in some cases had not been adopted by the EU). The Directors have considered these new standards and interpretations and do not expect them to have a material impact on the company. | ||
| Year ended 31 March 2020 | Year ended 31 March 2019 | |||
| £'000 | £'000 | |||
| The operating loss is stated after charging the following, included in administrative expenses: | ||||
| Staff costs | 44 | 44 | ||
| Other admin costs | 69 | 80 | ||
| 113 | 124 | |||
| Year ended 31 March 2020 | Year ended 31 March 2019 | |||
| Basic | ||||
| Loss from continuing activities (£'000) | (94) | (107) | ||
| (94) | (107) | |||
| Number of shares | 2,333,295 | 2,333,295 | ||
| Basic loss per share (p) | ||||
| From continuing operations | (4.0)p | (4.6)p | ||
| (4.0)p | (4.6)p | |||