REG - Orchard Funding Grp - Half-year Report <Origin Href="QuoteRef">ORCH.L</Origin>
RNS Number : 9459AOrchard Funding Group PLC30 March 2017Orchard Funding Group PLC
("Orchard Funding Group" or the "Company" or the "Group")
Half Yearly Results
For the 6 months ended 31 January 2017
Orchard Funding Group, the finance group which specialises in insurance premium finance and the professions funding market, is pleased to announce its unaudited results for the six months ended 31 January 2017.
Highlights
The Group lent 31.1 million for the six months to 31 January 2017; on a like for like basis, an extra 7.5 million of lending and a 31.7% improvement on the six months to 31 January 2016;
Group turnover has increased by 29.2% from 1.6 million in the six months to January 2016 to 2.1 million in the six months to 31 January 2017;
Group profit before tax was 0.8 million, up by 15.5% on the six months to 31 January 2016;
Barclays Bank plc has increased the amount of funding available to the Group from 10 million to 15 million during the period since 31 January 2016.
The Board is recommending an interim dividend of 1 pence per share. This reflects its decision to adopt a policy of giving greater weight to the final dividend.
Ravi Takhar, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, stated:
"The benefits of raising capital from our flotation are just starting to show in our numbers. We are lending more and making more profits for the benefit of all our stakeholders. Our improved capital base has also enabled us to increase our leverage, which is still at very conservative levels. We are confident that we will continue to increase our lending going forward and will be able to fund that growth with our existing capital base and existing leverage. Our capital base and historic track record has also significantly improved our ability to raise further leverage in the future. It's a great time to be in our business and we are all very excited about the future."
For further information, please contact:
Orchard Funding Group PLC +44 (0)1582 635 507
Ravi Takhar, Chief Executive Officer
finnCap Limited (Nomad and Broker) +44 (0)20 7220 0579
Jonny Franklin-Adams (Corporate Finance)
Emily Watts (Corporate Finance)
For Investor Relations please go to: www.orchardfundinggroupplc.com
Chairman's statement
This has proved a very satisfactory period for Orchard Funding Group, posting an increase in revenue of 29.2% and an increase in profit before tax of 15.5%, all the while keeping operational costs well under control. Overall lending continues to be strong and our new business pipeline remains robust and healthy.
The insurance premium finance market is expected to grow from around 8.5bn annually currently to circa 11.6bn by 2019. Orchard has but a very small proportion of this market and therefore has considerable scope to grow, as evidenced by the growth in lending in the period under review of 31.7% compared to the same period last year. Currently, we have over 100 partnerships with insurance brokers and it is our intention to increase this further over the coming years, but always in a measured and controlled fashion.
Lending to the professions continues to grow, and more and more professional businesses are seeking our help with their working capital requirements. We have relationships with about 450 professional firms and lending in this area has grown over 7.7% compared to the same period last year.
During the second half of 2016, I am happy to say we successfully launched Orchard Lending Club, the first peer-to-peer lender in the insurance premium finance market.
There remains stiff competition, especially in the professions finance market, but we continue to grow and develop whilst maintaining healthy margins on the business we write.
Investment in staff and software continues and we have recently moved to larger premises in Luton more suited to our needs and providing ample scope for the foreseeable future.
Our debt line from Barclays has been increased to 15m and the Board continues to examine other potentially suitable sources of finance for the Group.
The Board is pleased with the progress made by the group in the period under review, and feels confident that the business will continue to expand the number and quality of loans written while delivering results satisfying all stakeholders in the business.
David A Clark
Chairman
29 March 2017
Chief Financial Officer's summary
The figures for the six month period ended 31 January 2017 indicate that we have continued to grow from the baseline laid down in our first full year as a plc group. This should lead to sustainable growth in revenues and profitability and therefore shareholder value.
Gross revenue is 29.2% up compared with the equivalent six month period in 2016 and this is reflected in a 15.5% increase in profit before tax. The investment made in additional staff, software and associated marketing and other costs, have begun to bear fruit.
The launch of Orchard Lending Club has given the Group supplementary liquidity, albeit still small at this stage. Together with the additional finance which has been made available by Barclays Bank, this has meant that we have been able to grow our lending.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
KPIs for the Group revolve around good quality lending, evidenced by a sound underwriting process and multiple layers of credit protection. Income and profits flow from this. There are two core areas - insurance premium funding and funding for professionals. Insurance premium funding is subdivided between broker finance companies and direct lending. At present the level of direct lending (although growing) does not warrant it being treated as a core area. The Board does, however, continue to monitor activity in direct lending.
31 January 2017
31 January 2016
000s
%
000s
%
Lending
Broker finance companies
20,598
66.2%
16,455
69.6%
Direct insurance
3,693
11.9%
845
3.6%
Professions funding
6,822
21.9%
6,329
26.8%
Total lending
31,113
100.0%
23,629
100.0%
Loan book
Broker finance companies
16,049
61.8%
13,458
66.8%
Direct insurance
3,167
12.2%
756
3.8%
Professions funding
6,773
26.0%
5,921
29.4%
Total loan book
25,989
100.0%
20,135
100.0%
Group income
Broker finance companies
1,429
67.4%
1,062
64.8%
Direct insurance
197
9.3%
87
5.3%
Professions funding
493
23.3%
491
29.9%
Total income
2,119
100.0%
1,640
100.0%
Costs have also risen over the period, again in line with expectations and our increased income.
31 January 2017
31 January 2016
000s
%
000s
%
Group costs
Broker finance companies
725
55.5%
492
52.6%
Professions funding
319
24.4%
200
21.4%
Central costs
263
20.1%
244
26.0%
Total costs
1,307
100.0%
936
100.0%
Group contribution to parent overheads*
Broker finance companies
705
65.6%
569
60.1%
Direct insurance
196
18.2%
87
9.2%
Professions funding
174
16.2%
291
30.7%
Total contribution to parent overheads
1,075
100.0%
947
100.0%
* This consists of subsidiaries' profits and excludes the parent company costs.
66.2% of the Group's lending is to broker finance companies. It is still the largest part of the business so, as might be expected, broker finance companies account for the largest proportion of income and profits.
Direct insurance lending has risen substantially. We see this as becoming a larger part of the business in future.
We currently have a facility with Barclays Bank plc of 15 million of which approximately 79% was in use at 31 January 2017 (10 million and 87% respectively at 31 January 2016). With this additional availability of bank funding, together with our own net current assets of 12.63 million at 31 January 2017 (12.18 million - 31 January 2016), the Group is well set for continued growth.
The Board is pleased to declare an interim dividend of 1 pence per share to be paid on 30 June 2017 to shareholders on the register on 23 June 2017.
Liam McShane
Chief Financial Officer
29 March 2017
Consolidated income statement
6 months ended 31 January 2017
6 months ended 31 January 2016
Year ended 31 July 2016
Notes
Continuing operations
Revenue
2
2,119,449
1,639,910
3,468,864
Finance costs
2
(146,990)
(110,183)
(238,079)
Other operational costs
2
(38,775)
(38,350)
(76,025)
Gross profit
1,933,684
1,491,377
3,154,760
Administrative expenses
2
(1,121,100)
(788,068)
(1,884,030)
Operating profit before income tax
812,584
703,309
1,270,730
Income tax expense
3
(172,450)
(137,150)
(266,653)
Profit for the period
640,134
566,159
1,004,077
Other comprehensive income
-
-
-
Total comprehensive income for the period
attributable to the owners of the parent
640,134
566,159
1,004,077
Earnings per share attributable to the owners of the parent during the period (pence)
Basic and diluted
4
3.00
2.65
4.70
Consolidated statement of financial position
At 31 January 2017
At 31 January 2016
At 31 July 2016
Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
85,055
23,731
95,058
Intangible assets
39,226
-
43,873
124,281
23,731
138,931
Current assets
Trade and other receivables
26,192,653
20,237,991
22,003,868
Tax receivable
-
-
-
Cash and cash equivalents:
Bank balances and cash in hand
1,439,981
2,282,929
1,390,098
Bank overdrafts
-
(18,162)
-
27,632,634
22,502,758
23,393,966
Total assets
27,756,915
22,526,489
23,532,897
Equity and liabilities
Equity attributable to the owners of the parent
Called up share capital
213,542
213,542
213,542
Share premium
8,691,910
8,691,910
8,691,910
Merger reserve
890,725
890,725
890,725
Retained earnings
2,885,557
2,407,557
2,545,449
Total equity
12,681,734
12,203,734
12,341,626
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
60,951
-
27,318
Deferred tax
8,925
590
10,078
69,876
590
37,396
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
2,503,625
1,202,763
1,657,030
Borrowings
12,103,712
8,695,845
9,207,927
Tax payable
397,968
423,557
288,918
15,005,305
10,322,165
11,153,875
Total liabilities
15,075,181
10,322,755
11,191,271
Total equity and liabilities
27,756,915
22,526,489
23,532,897
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Called up
Share
Retained
Share
Merger
Total
capital
earnings
premium
reserve
Equity
Balance at 1 August 2015
213,542
1,841,398
8,691,910
890,725
11,637,575
Changes in equity
Total comprehensive income
-
566,159
-
-
566,159
Transactions with owners:
Dividends paid
-
-
-
-
-
Balance at 31January2016
213,542
2,407,557
8,691,910
890,725
12,203,734
Changes in equity
Total comprehensive income
-
437,918
-
-
437,918
Transactions with owners:
Dividends paid
-
(300,026)
-
-
(300,026)
Balance at 31 July 2016
213,542
2,545,449
8,691,910
890,725
12,341,626
Changes in equity
Total comprehensive income
-
640,134
-
-
640,134
Transactions with owners:
Dividends paid
-
(300,026)
-
-
(300,026)
Balance at 31January 2017
213,542
2,885,557
8,691,910
890,725
12,681,734
The merger reserve arose through the formation of the group on 23 June 2015 using the consolidation method which treats the merged companies as if they had been combined throughout the current and comparative accounting periods. The accounting principles for these combinations gave rise to a merger reserve in the consolidated statement of financial position, being the difference between the nominal value of new shares issued by the Company for the acquisition of the shares of the subsidiaries and each subsidiary's own share capital.
The share premium account arose on the issue of shares on the IPO on 1 July 2015 at a premium of 95p per share. Costs directly attributable to the issue of shares have been deducted from the account.
Consolidated statement of cash flows
6 months ended 31 January 2017
6 months ended 31 January 2016
Year ended 31 July 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Profit before income tax
812,584
703,309
1,270,730
Adjustment for depreciation and amortisation
19,236
4,709
20,520
Hire purchase interest
1,342
-
-
833,162
708,018
1,291,250
Increase in trade and other receivables
(4,188,785)
(2,322,994)
(4,088,870)
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables
846,595
(633,145)
(178,878)
(2,509,028)
(2,248,121)
(2,976,498)
Income tax (paid)/received
(64,552)
1,411
(253,245)
Net cash absorbed by operating activities
(2,573,580)
(2,246,710)
(3,229,743)
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchases of property, plant and equipment
(510)
(24,014)
(61,924)
Expenditure on software development
(4,077)
-
(50,949)
Net cash absorbed by investing activities
(4,587)
(24,014)
(112,873)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid
(300,026)
-
(300,026)
Net proceeds from borrowings
2,934,134
1,680,690
2,185,099
Borrowings repaid
(6,058)
-
(7,160)
Net cash generated by financing activities
2,628,050
1,680,690
1,877,913
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
49,883
(590,034)
(1,464,703)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
1,390,098
2,854,801
2,854,801
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of period
1,439,981
2,264,767
1,390,098
Notes to the financial statements
1. General information
Orchard Funding Group PLC ("the Company") and its subsidiaries (together "the group") provide funding and funding support systems to insurance brokers and professional firms through the trading subsidiaries. The group operates in the United Kingdom.
The Company is a public Company listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange, incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of its registered office is 721 Capability Green, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 3LU.
The condensed consolidated interim financial information for the six months ended 31 January 2017 has been prepared in accordance with the presentation, recognition and measurement requirements of applicable International Financial Reporting Standards adopted by the European Union ('IFRS') except that the Group has not applied IAS 34, Interim Financial Reporting, which is not mandatory for UK Groups listed on AIM, in the preparation of the condensed consolidated interim financial information.
The financial information does not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 July 2016 which are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and International Reporting Interpretations Committee pronouncements as adopted by the European Union.
The accounting policies used in the preparation of condensed consolidated interim financial information for the six months ended 31 January 2017 are in accordance with the presentation, recognition and measurement criteria of IFRS and are consistent with those which are expected to be adopted in the annual statutory financial statements for the year ending 31 July 2017.
A number of IFRSs and Interpretations have been endorsed by the EU that will apply for the first time in the period to 31 July 2017 and, although they have been adopted by the Group, none of them has had a material impact on the Group's financial statements.
The Group's 2016 annual report provides full details of significant judgements and estimates used in the application of the Group's accounting policies. There have been no significant changes to these judgements and estimates during the period.
The financial information included in this document is unaudited and does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The comparative figures for the financial year ended 31 July 2016 are the Group's statutory accounts for that financial year. Those accounts have been reported on by the Company's auditor and delivered to the registrar of companies. The report of the auditor was (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report, and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.
2. Segmental reporting
The group operates wholly within the United Kingdom, therefore there is no meaningful information that could be given on a geographical basis. It does have, however, two discrete operating segments - insurance premium funding and professional fee funding.
The Board assesses the performance of each sector based on operating profit (before tax and exceptional items, but after interest which is a cost of sale). The relative sales, operating costs and operating profit are shown below.
6 months ended 31 January 2017
Total
Central
Insurance premium funding
Professional fee funding
Sales
2,119,449
-
1,625,958
493,491
Interest payable
(146,990)
-
(143,091)
(3,899)
Other operational costs
(38,775)
(38,775)
-
Administrative expenses
(1,121,100)
(262,712)
(542,940)
(315,448)
Operating profit/(loss) before tax
812,584
(262,712)
901,152
174,144
6 months ended 31 January 2016
Total
Central
Insurance premium funding
Professional fee funding
Sales
1,639,910
-
1,148,890
491,020
Interest payable
(110,183)
-
(110,183)
-
Other operational costs
(38,350)
-
(38,350)
-
Administrative expenses
(788,068)
(244,245)
(343,853)
(199,970)
Operating profit/(loss) before tax
703,309
(244,245)
656,504
291,050
Year ended 31 July 2016
Total
Central
Insurance premium funding
Professional fee funding
Sales
3,468,864
-
2,259,577
1,209,287
Interest payable
(238,079)
-
(238,079)
-
Operational costs and administrative expenses
(1,960,055)
(514,161)
(961,771)
(484,123)
Operating profit/(loss) before tax
1,270,730
(514,161)
1,059,727
725,164
3. Taxation
The tax assessed for the period differs from the main corporation tax rates in the UK (20% for both half years and the full year) because of the effect of items disallowed for tax and accelerated capital allowances.
4. Earnings per share
Earnings per share are based on the total comprehensive income shown above, for each relevant period, and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during each period. For all three periods, this was 21,354,167. There are no options or other factors which would dilute these, therefore the fully diluted earnings per share is identical.
This information is provided by RNSThe company news service from the London Stock ExchangeENDIR QKLFLDXFEBBX
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