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PTY Partway Group Plc

0.875
-0.025 (-2.78%)
19 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Partway Group Plc LSE:PTY London Ordinary Share GB00B1235860 ORD 2P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  -0.025 -2.78% 0.875 0.85 0.90 0.90 0.875 0.90 76,945 14:20:14
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Computer Related Svcs, Nec 41.6M -1.72M -0.0166 -0.52 896.76k

Parity Group PLC Unaduited financial report (3260B)

20/09/2018 7:00am

UK Regulatory


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TIDMPTY

RNS Number : 3260B

Parity Group PLC

20 September 2018

Parity Group PLC

Unaudited Financial Report for the six months ended 30 June 2018

Parity Group plc ("Parity", or the "Group"), the UK information technology services group, announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2018.

Parity operates through two divisions, Parity Consultancy Services ("Consultancy Services"), which provides niche technology and data solutions and Parity Professionals, which specialises in the sourcing of professional staff ("Professionals").

Financial Headlines:

Encouraging progress with over 30% growth in Consultancy Services revenues

-- Group revenues(1) of GBP43.2m (H1 2017: GBP42.9m)

-- Consultancy Services revenue up by 30.8% to GBP5.1m (H1 2017: GBP3.9m)

-- Professionals revenue(2) up by 2.2% to GBP41.6m (H1 2017: GBP40.7m) despite a strong Q1 2017 comparative, prior to IR35 implementation

-- Operating profit(1) up 12.0% to GBP1.03m (H1 2017: GBP0.92m)

-- Improved operating margin to 2.4% (H1 2017: 2.1%) with growth in Consultancy Services revenues and robust cost management enabling sustained, measured investment

o Consultancy Services' contribution(3) up by 12.7% to GBP0.62m (H1 2017: GBP0.55m); now represents 35.2% of total segmental contribution(3) (H1 2017: 32.5%)

o Professionals' contribution(3) up by 0.9% to GBP1.14m (H1 2017: GBP1.13m)

-- Profit before tax(1) increased by 25% to GBP0.85m (H1 2017: GBP0.68m)

-- Basic earnings per share 0.74p (H1 2017: 0.62p)

-- Net debt of GBP1.9m (GBP1.6m at 31 December 2017, GBP2.3m at 30 June 2017) due to the working capital requirement associated with the growth in contractor volumes in the Professionals division

(1) On a Continuing Operations basis

(2) Including inter-segment revenues

(3) Before group costs, depreciation and amortisation, and share based payments

Strategic and Operational Headlines:

-- Invested to develop Consultancy Services' growth through the appointment of a Managing Director with extensive data experience and recruitment of personnel to improve our sales and marketing capability

-- New frameworks in our target markets, including:

o Crown Commercial Service G-Cloud 10 framework

o Northern Ireland Water Agency Temporary Staff and Permanent Recruitment framework

o Ordnance Survey framework for Recruitment Services (permanent, temporary, contingent and fixed term)

o NEST (National Employment Savings Trust) Recruitment Services framework

o Award of the Primark managed service for IT recruitment announced in March 2018

o Since the period end we have also successfully tendered for the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy 2 framework for consultancy and project delivery into the Public Sector

-- Enduring customer relationships which provide a high level of repeat business, including significant contract extensions for Consultancy Services with BAT and ESFA

-- 38 new clients across the business, with the majority (23 of the 38) in the Private Sector

-- Exit from loss-making, non-core activity Inition marked the final major milestone in shifting the Group to a more focussed, aligned and profitable business

-- Inter-segment revenues have more than doubled to GBP3.50m (H1 2017: GBP1.73m) demonstrating the synergies from joint account management and the increased use of contractors for Consultancy Services managed projects

John Conoley, Chairman of Parity Group, said:

"It is pleasing to see the sustained progress that the Group is making; delivering growth at a revenue and profit level whilst having also rationalised, rebalanced and invested to support future growth in line with its exciting strategic objectives.

"Parity's consulting business is well positioned to continue broadening its client base, as clients increasingly look for a solution which combines a deep understanding of analytics and underlying technologies with the ability to deploy up to date experts in the fast-evolving data capture and management field. As a result, we have targeted further investment in senior experienced operational management, and sales and marketing to drive continued growth.

"We have also successfully exited the last of the legacy operations from the previous strategy, leaving the business leaner and stronger. The Group is demonstrating the synergies achievable by aligning the consulting and recruitment functions, and further developing its strong client relationships through delivering broader capabilities. We expect that our proposition will benefit further from the increased focus on data analysis and data management enabled by the new expertise which we have now appointed to help drive the next stage of growth.

"The improving financial results to date and the Group's pipeline of opportunities underwrite the Board's confidence in the Group's longer-term growth prospects. Whilst we are experiencing a short-term client-side delay on one large contract, the rest of the Group is performing in line with Board expectations. Without any further delays, we expect a stronger second half, in line with the Group's traditional seasonality, and to deliver on current expectations for the year as a whole. Our investment in the Group continues to drive revenue and profit growth, supporting cash flow improvement and generating further shareholder value."

For further information, contact:

   Parity Group PLC                             http://www.parity.net/ 
   Alan Rommel, CEO                                  0208 543 5353 

Roger Antony, GFD

   WH Ireland Limited                         http://www.whirelandcb.com/ 
   Mike Coe / Ed Allsopp                           +44 (0) 117 945 3470 
   MHP Communications                      http://www.mhpc.com/ 
   Katie Hunt / Kelsey Traynor                  +44 (0)203 128 8100 

About Parity:

Parity Group enables people led, technology driven change

Parity drives business value and digital transformation through consultancy, technology and people solutions. It helps customers transform the way they deliver their services to improve speed, efficiency and effectiveness. Its distinctive, integrated offering combines:

-- the consulting business which has secured large ongoing contracts at higher margins and is now focussed on high growth services in fast-moving fields which are a challenge for clients to keep abreast of; and

-- the recruitment business which provides access to high-calibre and hard-to-find expertise direct to clients and for Parity managed projects.

Parity Consultancy Services

Helping clients to make the best use of technology to inform better decision making

This division is focussed on successful project delivery driven by senior industry-experienced consultants who can take a client's data and deliver the analysis required to achieve clear business goals. They also work closely with clients to diagnose and clarify specific strategic data requirements to guide development of data strategy. Parity's consultants, supported by world-leading associates, advise on every aspect of data management and deliver data solutions which generate competitive advantage by closing the gap between information and insight, enabling more effective decision making which enable organisations to transform their performance.

Parity Professionals

Helping clients to recruit the best people to deliver real benefit to your business

Parity Professionals provides niche temporary and permanent recruitment of professional and technical staff both direct to our client base, and where required, to our Consultancy division which delivers technology solutions and manages projects. This ensures end clients have both the capacity and capability to transform organisational performance in high growth and rapidly evolving markets.

Group

By aligning both divisions, Parity provides an attractive combination of trusted consultancy advice with access to the best delivery expertise. When necessary, we supplement our industry and technology specialists with access to the broader contractor market through Parity Professionals. Parity's approach is both client-centric and highly responsive, fulfilling client needs with our internal expertise and best practice approach supplemented with niche contract expertise. We are able to reduce risk and get results for our clients whilst ensuring flexibility, speed to scale up for new opportunities, and cost-effective delivery.

www.parity.net

www.parityprofessionals.co.uk

www.parityconsultancyservices.co.uk

Introduction

Further to our trading update announced on 18 July, we remain encouraged by the robust first half performance with a further period of revenue and profit growth in both business divisions. Parity is maintaining sustained organic growth at the top line whilst continuing to invest across the business with faster growth observed in its Consultancy Services division which is in line with our strategic goal of targeting the high growth data solutions markets.

We have successfully undertaken the necessary steps to restructure and rebalance the business, exiting from legacy and non-profitable operations to focus on building upon our core strengths, where we can align our capabilities to deliver more effectively to our clients and thereby be more efficient. The Group has again delivered like-for-like growth in both divisions at both revenue and profit levels, managing organic growth through measured, self-funded investment whilst maintaining strong working capital controls which in turn protects us from potential interest rate increases. We are reassured by the growing evidence of the cross-sell and up-sell opportunity presented by closer alignment of the businesses and the synergies that this demonstrates. Our pension liabilities have reduced and our repayment schedule is both affordable and is built into our outlook. This will enable further organic investment to drive customer led profitable growth.

Results

Group revenues for the period grew by 1% to GBP43.2m in comparison to H1 2017, reflecting recovery against a strong Q1 2017 before the implementation of IR35 reforms which significantly reduced contractor volumes in our largest market, the Public Sector.

The continued improvement in the business mix supported growth in operating profit from continuing operations for the first half of 12% to GBP1.03m from GBP0.92m in the equivalent period last year. Group overheads increased slightly to GBP0.59m (H1 2017: GBP0.57m), mainly due to necessary additional compliance and advisor costs in relation to matters such as the new GDPR legislation.

The relatively small cash outflow from operating activities of GBP0.24m is mainly as a result of the growth in contractor volumes in the Professionals division and the associated working capital requirement. Debtor days at 30 June 2018 increased slightly to 20 days (18 days at 31 December 2017, excluding Inition). The increase reflects the change in business mix with an increase in the proportion of turnover from the Private Sector. As a result, net debt was GBP1.9m (GBP2.3m as at 30 June 2017), up from GBP1.6m as at 31 December 2017.

The defined benefit pension scheme is currently in the process of a revised actuarial valuation as at 5 April 2018 and we expect to provide an update in our 2018 Annual Report and Accounts. The accounting valuation disclosed in this Interim Report has decreased as a result of an increase in the applicable discount rate.

Overall, the continued improvement in the Group's financial performance vindicates our strategy of rebalancing the business towards the higher margin Consultancy Services, which represented 35% of Group contribution from 12% of external revenues in the period (an increase from 9% of revenues H1 2017).

Discontinued Operations

We sold the Inition business to Digital Communication Group Limited on 20 April 2018. The Inition business was sub-scale and considered non-core due to its lack of synergy with the Group's strategy. The trading loss of the Inition business for H1 2018 up until the date of disposal is included under 'Discontinued Operations' in the Income Statement, together with the loss on disposal.

Dividend

In line with our previous statements on dividends, we are not declaring a dividend at this time, with funds being retained to continue to support our investment in growth but we look forward to restoring a dividend in the medium term. As the Group has continued to deliver an improving performance, the Board is now taking advice on the steps required to put in place sufficient distributable reserves to enable the payment of a dividend at the appropriate time.

Parity Consultancy Services Division - 35% of Group contribution (H1 2017: 33%)

Parity Consultancy Services develops, implements and supports technology solutions for our clients through three core service offerings:

   --    We provide consultancy support to help clients understand and interpret their data 

-- We work closely with our clients to determine their data needs to help them develop their strategy, and we deliver the data management and analysis toolsets

-- We deliver data projects for our clients using a combination of our expertise, underpinned by the best available skills in the market

Our combination of industry specialism and IT solution expertise provide our clients with the assurance that we understand their needs and can provide the right systems to support them. We are technology agnostic, delivering the most appropriate solution to a client's specific needs, de-risking Parity from over-reliance on specific technologies and isolating ourselves from the volatility in a rapidly evolving solution market. We have the flexibility to provide strategic advice on their IT and systems architecture requirements and provide the niche expertise to deliver their longer-term IT projects without needing to maintain a large bench of available staff, enabling cost savings which allow competitive pricing.

We have invested to build our expertise and capability in the high growth data market. Matthew Bayfield joined the senior management team of Parity Group plc as the Managing Director of Parity Consulting in May 2018 to drive the development of the sales, marketing and consultancy propositions. He is an acknowledged expert in his field, recognised as one of the 50 most influential people in data by DataIQ. Matthew has been on the Group Board for Ogilvy & Mather as their Head of Data for EMEA, as well as founding and leading a number of data strategy, research and insight businesses, taking three to successful commercial exit.

Parity Consultancy Services made solid progress with further growth in divisional revenues on continuing operations of 30.8% to GBP5.1m (H1 2017: GBP3.9m) with an increase in segmental contribution from GBP0.55m to GBP0.62m over the same period. Margins reflect the necessary further investment in sales and senior data expertise, coupled with the faster revenue growth being reliant upon contracted delivery staffing which generates lower margins than internal staff. Nevertheless, Parity staff fee days increased by 18.1% compared to H1 2017, whilst associate fee days increased by 40.3%, underwriting the benefit of rapid scaling enabled by aligning with Parity Professionals, helping to deliver timely, demand-driven support to client projects.

Parity Consultancy Services continued its success with 7 new clients in the period (4 public sector and 3 private sector), two of which were generated by cross-selling in to existing Professionals clients. In addition to the new framework award for G-Cloud 10 in the public sector, the business secured a framework with a further Health client for business intelligence and data related project work. Our key relationships with British American Tobacco, the Ministry of Defence and the Department for Education form a strong foundation, driving additional opportunity and extensions to current projects.

Parity Professionals Division - 65% of Group contribution (H1 2017: 67%)

Parity Professionals provides targeted recruitment of temporary and permanent professionals with the skills required to ensure our clients have both the capacity and the technical capability to deliver their projects. Our clients' success depends on the efficiency and competency of their people and, over the last 45 years, Parity has developed a strong reputation for recruiting the best talent across many industry sectors and locations. Our core strengths are in high growth IT skills relating to Digital, Data and Information Security which also supports the Consultancy Services division, though we have broader capability to support our clients in the provision of interim staff to deliver business change programmes.

Parity Professionals demonstrated a steady recovery from the impact of IR35 which was implemented at the end of Q1 2017, reducing contractor headcount in our largest market, the Public Sector. Divisional revenues improved by 2% from GBP40.7m to GBP41.6m (H1 2017 to H1 2018) with a 1% increase in divisional contribution to GBP1.14m against the same period last year. We have continued to invest in building sales capacity reflected in improving key sales metrics, with an increase of approximately 10% in both requirement volumes and placements, and permanent fees increasing by 16% compared to H1 2017.

The Professionals business opened 33 new client relationships in the first half. The private sector represents over 60% of new clients that were opened in the half; many of these are SMEs in the Digital space. The greater volume is with multiple hires, more typical where we have a strong reputation in the Public Sector which continues to form the backbone of opportunity for the Professionals business. We have successfully won places on a number of new frameworks including Ordnance Survey, NEST (National Employment Savings Trust) and Northern Ireland Water. In addition, Parity Professionals has strengthened the relationship with Scottish Water who have reduced their suppliers from 5 to 2 for their new framework covering the next 5 years. In the private sector, we have been awarded frameworks with a number of housing associations such as the Radian Group, broadened our client base in utilities, and completed the successful migration of contractors from other suppliers as part of the Primark managed service award. These volume opportunities, typically agreed over a 3+ year duration, provide better long-term visibility and aid our internal resource planning.

Parity Professionals continues to work closely with the Consulting Services business, increasing the number of clients where they collaborate to ensure successful supply, increasing inter-segment revenues to GBP3.5m from GBP1.7m in H1 2017, and providing internal permanent recruitment services to support both back-office operations and client delivery.

Our Market

Market reports (Report on Jobs published 8 August 2018 by IHS Markit and the Recruitment and Employment Confederation) indicate that IT and Computing was the most in-demand category for permanent recruitment, and demand continues to build for contract positions against a backdrop of reducing supply of skilled workers. This continues to drive demand for both project delivery and staff augmentation services despite some uncertainty surrounding Brexit and potential interest rate rises. This market activity coupled with our framework success has increased the volume of opportunity whilst retaining our enduring customer relationships as a strong foundation from which to sustain growth.

Current Trading and Future Prospects

The Consultancy Services business has recruited new sales and marketing leadership, with early signs of success targeting data consulting and analysis. So far they have been able to demonstrate clear evidence of positive impact for the client, giving confidence in the approach we are taking to build our service proposition in target markets. In addition to these new and exciting service offerings, we continue to drive our project delivery and managed services projects winning a number of smaller opportunities with both established and new clients. Whilst revenue growth in Consultancy Services has been strong, there remains plenty of opportunity for accelerating growth in the consulting and project delivery service lines as we invest to further develop our propositions.

Within Parity Professionals, our improving sales metrics have driven recovery from the drop in contractor volumes experienced in Q1 2017 which resulted from the change in the IR35 legislation. Nevertheless, recovery has taken longer than we would have anticipated with a sustained higher level of contract worker churn. In response to this we have invested in measured headcount growth to deliver permanent recruitment services, and continued to support sales growth targeting higher demand skillsets. We are encouraged by the impact of the new staff to support revenue growth in our traditionally stronger second half.

Post close, we have successfully tendered for the Crown Commercial Service Management Consultancy 2 framework for consultancy and project delivery into the Public Sector. We have also secured additional new project work with the Department for Education for the Education and Skills Funding Agency. The Professionals division has a growing pipeline of larger framework opportunity for IT recruitment and managed services.

We will continue to invest in senior consulting expertise, sales and marketing, and in permanent delivery headcount as repeat revenues build, driving utilisation and enhancing long-term operating profit. We are confident in our ability to sustain organic growth through controlled investment in capacity and capability, evidenced by the progress made to date and the market opportunities that we have identified. We will also consider opportunities to build this business should the right opportunity arise to accelerate growth.

The improving financial results to date and the Group's pipeline of opportunities underwrite the Board's confidence in the Group's longer-term growth prospects. Whilst we are experiencing a short-term client-side delay on one large contract, the rest of the Group is performing in line with Board expectations. Without any further delays, we expect a stronger second half, in line with the Group's traditional seasonality, and to deliver on current expectations for the year as a whole as our investment in the Group continues to drive revenue and profit growth, supporting cash flow improvement and generating further shareholder value.

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

Pursuant to the requirements of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules the Group provides the following information on its principal risks and uncertainties. The Group considers strategic, operational and financial risks and identifies actions to mitigate those risks. These risk profiles are updated at least annually. The principal risks and uncertainties detailed within the Group's 2017 Annual Report remain applicable for the final six months of this financial year. The Group's 2017 Annual Report is available from the Parity website www.parity.net. The Board has set up a Brexit Working Group to monitor and respond to any emerging risks as and when the implications of Brexit unfold.

Consolidated condensed income statement

For the six months ended 30 June 2018

 
                                                   Six months     Six months           Year 
                                                  to 30.06.18    to 30.06.17    to 31.12.17 
                                                  (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      (Audited) 
                                        Notes         GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
 Continuing operations 
  Revenue                                 2            43,220         42,915         83,815 
 Employee benefit costs                               (3,098)        (3,158)        (5,939) 
 Depreciation and amortisation                          (112)          (143)          (286) 
 All other operating expenses                        (38,984)       (38,695)       (75,534) 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Total operating expenses                            (42,194)       (41,996)       (81,759) 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Operating profit                                       1,026            919          2,056 
 Finance costs                           3              (179)          (235)          (394) 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Profit before tax                                        847            684          1,662 
 Tax (charge)/credit                     4               (88)           (56)            534 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Profit for the period from 
  continuing operations                                   759            628          2,196 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
   Discontinued operations 
   Loss for the period from 
   discontinued operations, 
   net of tax                            5              (388)          (430)        (2,182) 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Profit for the period attributable 
  to owners of the parent                                 371            198             14 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
 Earnings per share - Continuing operations 
 Basic earnings per share                6              0.74p          0.62p          2.15p 
  Diluted earnings per share              6             0.71p          0.59p          2.08p 
 Earnings per share - Continuing and discontinued operations 
 Basic earnings per share                6              0.36p          0.20p          0.01p 
  Diluted earnings per share              6             0.35p          0.18p          0.01p 
------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 

Consolidated condensed statement of comprehensive income

For the six months ended 30 June 2018

 
                                                Six months     Six months           Year 
                                               to 30.06.18    to 30.06.17    to 31.12.17 
                                               (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      (Audited) 
                                                   GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000 
------------------------------------------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Profit for the period                                 371            198             14 
 
 Other comprehensive income: 
 Items that may be reclassified to 
  profit or loss 
 Exchange differences on translation 
  of foreign operations                                  -           (33)           (39) 
 
  Items that will never be reclassified 
  to profit or loss 
 Remeasurement of defined benefit 
  pension scheme                                       124            137            800 
 Deferred taxation on remeasurement 
  of defined benefit pension scheme                   (21)              -          (136) 
------------------------------------------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Other comprehensive income for the 
  period, net of tax                                   103            104            625 
 
   Total comprehensive income for the 
   period                                              474            302            639 
------------------------------------------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
 
 

Consolidated condensed statement of changes in equity

For the six months ended 30 June 2018

Six months to 30 June 2018 (Unaudited)

 
                                                       Share       Capital 
                               Share     Deferred    premium    redemption       Other    Retained 
                             capital       shares    reserve       reserve    reserves    earnings      Total 
                             GBP'000      GBP'000    GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000 
-------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
 At 1 January 2018             2,043            -     33,211        14,319      44,160    (86,544)      7,189 
 Profit for the period             -            -          -             -           -         371        371 
 Other comprehensive 
  income for the period, 
  net of tax                       -            -          -             -           -         103        103 
 Issue of new ordinary 
  shares                          10            -         33             -           -           -         43 
 Share options - value 
  of employee services             -            -          -             -           -          27         27 
 At 30 June 2018               2,053            -     33,244        14,319      44,160    (86,043)      7,733 
-------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

Six months to 30 June 2017 (Unaudited)

 
                                                        Share       Capital 
                                Share     Deferred    premium    redemption       Other    Retained 
                              capital       shares    reserve       reserve    reserves    earnings      Total 
                              GBP'000      GBP'000    GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000 
--------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
 At 1 January 2017              2,037       14,319     33,195             -      44,160    (87,251)      6,460 
 Profit for the period              -            -          -             -           -         198        198 
 Other comprehensive 
  income for the period, 
  net of tax                        -            -          -             -           -         104        104 
 Issue of new ordinary 
  shares                            6            -         16             -           -           -         22 
 Share options - value 
  of employee services              -            -          -             -           -          52         52 
 Cancellation of deferred 
  shares                            -     (14,319)          -        14,319           -           -          - 
 At 30 June 2017                2,043            -     33,211        14,319      44,160    (86,897)      6,836 
--------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

Year to 31 December 2017 (Audited)

 
                                                        Share       Capital 
                                Share     Deferred    premium    redemption       Other    Retained 
                              capital       shares    reserve       reserve    reserves    earnings      Total 
                              GBP'000      GBP'000    GBP'000       GBP'000     GBP'000     GBP'000    GBP'000 
--------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 
 At 1 January 2017              2,037       14,319     33,195             -      44,160    (87,251)      6,460 
 Profit for the year                -            -          -             -           -          14         14 
 Other comprehensive 
  income for the year, 
  net of tax                        -            -          -             -           -         625        625 
 Issue of new ordinary 
  shares                            6            -         16             -           -           -         22 
 Share options - value 
  of employee services              -            -          -             -           -          68         68 
 Cancellation of deferred 
  shares                            -     (14,319)          -        14,319           -           -          - 
 At 31 December 2017            2,043            -     33,211        14,319      44,160    (86,544)      7,189 
--------------------------  ---------  -----------  ---------  ------------  ----------  ----------  --------- 
 

Consolidated condensed statement of financial position

As at 30 June 2018

 
                                                  As at          As at        As at 
                                               30.06.18       30.06.17     31.12.17 
                                            (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)    (Audited) 
                                   Notes        GBP'000        GBP'000      GBP'000 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Assets 
  Non-current assets 
 Goodwill and intangible assets                   4,733          4,932        4,821 
 Property, plant and equipment                       61             68           78 
 Deferred tax assets                                810            411          919 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Total non-current assets                         5,604          5,411        5,818 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Current assets 
 Trade and other receivables                     13,279         12,656       12,033 
 Cash and cash equivalents                        5,461          4,479        4,968 
 Assets classified as held for 
  sale                                                -          2,168          791 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Total current assets                            18,740         19,303       17,792 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Total assets                                    24,344         24,714       23,610 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
   Liabilities 
 Current liabilities 
 Loans and borrowings                           (7,364)        (6,805)      (6,592) 
 Trade and other payables                       (8,324)        (8,943)      (8,349) 
 Liabilities classified as held 
  for sale                                            -          (344)        (395) 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Total current liabilities                     (15,688)       (16,092)     (15,336) 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Loans and borrowings                               (2)           (18)          (8) 
 Provisions                                        (19)           (17)         (18) 
 Retirement benefit liability        7            (902)        (1,751)      (1,059) 
 Total non-current liabilities                    (923)        (1,786)      (1,085) 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Total liabilities                             (16,611)       (17,878)     (16,421) 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Net assets                                       7,733          6,836        7,189 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Shareholders' equity 
 Called up share capital                          2,053          2,043        2,043 
 Share premium account                           33,244         33,211       33,211 
 Capital redemption reserve                      14,319         14,319       14,319 
 Other reserves                                  44,160         44,160       44,160 
 Retained earnings                             (86,043)       (86,897)     (86,544) 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Total shareholders' equity                       7,733          6,836        7,189 
--------------------------------  ------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

Consolidated condensed statement of cash flows

For the six months ended 30 June 2018

 
                                                     Six months     Six months           Year 
                                                    to 30.06.18    to 30.06.17    to 31.12.17 
                                                    (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      (Audited) 
                                          Notes         GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000 
--------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
 Profit for period                                          371            198             14 
 Adjustments for: 
 Finance costs                                              179            235            394 
 Share-based payment expense                                 27             52             68 
 Income tax credit                                         (85)            (8)          (619) 
 Amortisation of intangible 
  assets                                                     99            123            341 
 Depreciation of property, plant 
  and equipment                                              37            114            106 
 Impairment of goodwill                                       -              -          1,165 
 Loss on write down of intangible 
  assets                                                      -              -              3 
 Loss on disposal of discontinued 
  operation                                5                312              -              - 
--------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
                                                            940            714          1,472 
 Working capital movements 
 Decrease in work in progress                                 -              -              3 
 (Increase) / decrease in trade 
  and other receivables                                   (958)          1,882          2,619 
 Decrease in trade and other 
  payables                                                 (96)          (349)          (910) 
 Increase in provisions                                       1              -              1 
 Payments to retirement benefit 
  plan                                                    (125)           (92)          (184) 
--------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Net cash flow (used in) / from 
  operating activities                                    (238)          2,155          3,001 
--------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
 Investing activities 
 Purchase of property, plant 
  and equipment                                            (11)           (50)           (91) 
 Purchase of intangible assets                                -              -            (5) 
 Net proceeds from disposal 
  of subsidiary                            5                 14              -              - 
--------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Net cash from / (used in) investing 
  activities                                                  3           (50)           (96) 
--------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
 Financing activities 
 Net cash from issue of ordinary 
  shares                                                     43             22             22 
 Net proceeds from / (repayment 
  of) finance facility                                      771        (1,817)        (2,032) 
 Interest paid                                             (86)          (103)          (199) 
--------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Net cash from / (used in) financing 
  activities                                                728        (1,898)        (2,209) 
--------------------------------------  -------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
 Net increase in cash and cash 
  equivalents                                               493            207            696 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the 
  beginning of the period                                 4,968          4,272          4,272 
-----------------------------------------------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at the 
  end of the period                                       5,461          4,479          4,968 
-----------------------------------------------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
 

Notes to the interim results

   1              Basis of preparation 

The condensed financial statements comprise the unaudited results for the six months to 30 June 2018 and 30 June 2017 and the audited results for the year ended 31 December 2017. The financial information for the year ended 31 December 2017 does not constitute the full statutory accounts for that period. The Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2017 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The Independent Auditor's Report on the Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2017 was unqualified and did not contain a statement under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The condensed financial statements for the period ended 30 June 2018 have been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and with IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' as adopted by the European Union. The information in these condensed financial statements does not include all the information and disclosures made in the annual financial statements.

Going concern

The directors are satisfied that the Group has sufficient resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these financial statements.

Accounting policies

The condensed financial statements have been prepared in a manner consistent with the accounting policies set out in the Group financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017 and on the basis of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted for use in the EU that the Group expects to be applicable as at 31 December 2018. IFRS are subject to amendment and interpretation by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and there is an ongoing process of review and endorsement by the European Commission.

None of the new standard amendments or interpretations that have become effective in the period has had a material effect on the Group. IFRS 9: Financial Instruments and IFRS 15: Revenue from Contracts with Customers were adopted from 1 January 2018. As stated in the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 31 December 2017 these have not had a material impact on the financial statements.

The Group is reviewing the impact of on the financial statements of the relevant forthcoming standards, including IFRS 16: Leases (effective 1 January 2019). Under IFRS 16 the Group's operating leases will be accounted for as right of use assets, which will be largely offset by equivalent lease liabilities. The assets will be recognised as property, plant and equipment and the lease liability will increase net debt. The impact to profit before tax is not expected to be material.

   2              Segmental information 
 
 Six months to 30 June 2018 (Unaudited) 
                                                                   Parity 
                                      Parity Professionals    Consultancy 
                                                                 Services      Total 
                                                   GBP'000        GBP'000    GBP'000 
 Revenue from external customers                    38,078          5,142     43,220 
 Inter-segment revenue                               3,495              -      3,495 
---------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Segment revenue                                    41,573          5,142     46,715 
 Attributable costs                               (40,437)        (4,524)   (44,961) 
---------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Segmental contribution                              1,136            618      1,754 
 Group costs                                                                   (589) 
 Depreciation and amortisation                                                 (112) 
 Share based payment                                                            (27) 
 Operating profit                                                              1,026 
 Finance costs                                                                 (179) 
---------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Profit before tax (continuing 
  operations)                                                                    847 
---------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 
 
 
 Six months to 30 June 2017 (Unaudited) 
                                                                   Parity 
                                      Parity Professionals    Consultancy 
                                                                 Services      Total 
                                                   GBP'000        GBP'000    GBP'000 
 Revenue from external customers                    38,988          3,927     42,915 
 Inter-segment revenue                               1,725              -      1,725 
---------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Segment revenue                                    40,713          3,927     44,640 
 Attributable costs                               (39,581)        (3,381)   (42,962) 
---------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Segmental contribution                              1,132            546      1,678 
 Group costs                                                                   (566) 
 Depreciation and amortisation                                                 (141) 
 Share based payment                                                            (52) 
 Operating profit                                                                919 
 Finance costs                                                                 (235) 
---------------------------------  -----------------------  ------------- 
 Profit before tax (continuing 
  operations)                                                                    684 
---------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 
 
 
 Year to 31 December 2017 (Audited) 
                                                                      Parity 
                                         Parity Professionals    Consultancy 
                                                                    Services      Total 
                                                      GBP'000        GBP'000    GBP'000 
 Revenue from external customers                       74,272          9,543     83,815 
 Inter-segment revenue                                  5,764              -      5,764 
------------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Segment revenue                                       80,036          9,543     89,579 
 Attributable costs                                  (77,729)        (8,395)   (86,124) 
------------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Segmental contribution                                 2,307          1,148      3,455 
 Group costs                                                                    (1,045) 
 Depreciation and amortisation                                                    (286) 
 Share based payment                                                               (68) 
 Operating profit                                                                 2,056 
 Finance costs                                                                    (394) 
------------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 Profit before tax (continuing 
  operations)                                                                     1,662 
------------------------------------  -----------------------  -------------  --------- 
 
 
   3              Finance costs 
 
                                                Six months     Six months      Year to 
                                                        to             to     31.12.17 
                                                  30.06.18       30.06.17    (Audited) 
                                               (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      GBP'000 
                                                   GBP'000        GBP'000 
-------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Interest expense on financial liabilities              86            102          199 
 Net finance costs in respect of 
  post-retirement benefits                              93            133          195 
 Total finance costs                                   179            235          394 
-------------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

The interest expense on financial liabilities represents interest paid on the Group's asset-based financing facilities.

   4              Taxation 

Continuing operations

 
                                         Six months     Six months      Year to 
                                                 to             to     31.12.17 
                                           30.06.18       30.06.17    (Audited) 
                                        (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      GBP'000 
                                            GBP'000        GBP'000 
------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Recognised in the income statement 
 Current tax charge                               -             58          112 
 Deferred tax charge/(credit)                    88            (2)        (646) 
------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Total tax charge/(credit)                       88             56        (534) 
------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Recognised in other comprehensive 
  income 
 Deferred tax charge                             21              -          136 
------------------------------------  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
   5              Discontinued operations 

In April 2018 the Group sold Inition Limited. As such, Inition's operating result for the current and comparative periods, as well as the loss on disposal of Inition and impairment of goodwill associated with the Inition cash generating unit is presented as discontinued.

The post-tax loss on disposal of Inition Limited was determined as follows:

 
                                           Six months     Six months      Year to 
                                                   to             to     31.12.17 
                                             30.06.18       30.06.17    (Audited) 
                                          (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      GBP'000 
                                              GBP'000        GBP'000 
---------------------------------  ---  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Cash                                             100              -            - 
 Deferred consideration                           100              -            - 
---------------------------------  ---  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Total consideration                              200              -            - 
 
 Cash disposed of                                  86              -            - 
 Net assets disposed of (other 
  than cash) 
 Intangible assets                                 33              -            - 
 Property, plant and equipment                     62              -            - 
 Trade and other receivables                      701              -            - 
 Trade and other payables                       (485)              -            - 
---------------------------------  ---  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Total net assets disposed                        397              -            - 
  of 
 
 Loss on disposal before disposal               (197)              -            - 
  expenses 
 Disposal expenses                              (115)              -            - 
 Post-tax loss on disposal                      (312)              -            - 
  of Inition Limited 
---------------------------------  ---  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 
   5              Discontinued operations (continued) 

The post-tax result of discontinued operations was determined as follows:

 
                                         Six months     Six months      Year to 
                                                 to             to     31.12.17 
                                           30.06.18       30.06.17    (Audited) 
                                        (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      GBP'000 
                                Note        GBP'000        GBP'000 
-----------------------------  -----  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Revenue                                        523          1,340        2,324 
 Expenses                                     (812)        (1,834)      (3,426) 
-----------------------------  -----  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Operating loss                               (289)          (494)      (1,102) 
 Impairment of goodwill                           -              -      (1,165) 
 Debtor insolvency dividend                      40              -            - 
 Taxation credit                                173             64           85 
 Loss on disposal after tax                   (312)              -            - 
-----------------------------  -----  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 Loss for the period, net of 
  tax                                         (388)          (430)      (2,182) 
-----------------------------  -----  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 
 Basic loss per share            6            0.38p          0.42p        2.14p 
 Diluted loss per share          6            0.36p          0.41p        2.07p 
-----------------------------  -----  -------------  -------------  ----------- 
 

The discontinued operations revenue in both 2018 and 2017 related entirely to Inition Limited. The debtor insolvency dividend represents a one-off payment received from the administrators of Atraxis AG and relates to a bad debt previously written off by a former Group subsidiary registered in Switzerland. The discontinued operations tax credit of GBP173,000 for the six months to 30 June 2018 is a research and development tax credit claimed by Inition Limited.

The cash flows related to discontinued operations are as follows:

 
                                                Six months     Six months           Year 
                                               to 30.06.18    to 30.06.17    to 31.12.17 
                                               (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      (Audited) 
                                                   GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000 
 
 Net cash flow from / (used in) operating 
  activities                                            45          (453)          (674) 
 Net cash used in investing activities                 (5)           (34)           (38) 
 Net cash flow for the period                           40          (487)          (712) 
------------------------------------------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 

Net proceeds received upon the disposal of Inition Limited were as follows:

 
                                        Six months     Six months           Year 
                                       to 30.06.18    to 30.06.17    to 31.12.17 
                                       (Unaudited)    (Unaudited)      (Audited) 
                                           GBP'000        GBP'000        GBP'000 
 
 Cash consideration received                   100              -              - 
 Cash disposed of                             (86)              -              - 
 Net proceeds from the disposal of              14              -              - 
  Inition Limited 
----------------------------------  --------------  -------------  ------------- 
 
   6              Earnings per share 

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the basic earnings for the period by the weighted average number of fully paid ordinary shares in issue during the period. Diluted earnings per share is calculated on the same basis as the basic earnings per share with a further adjustment to the weighted average number of fully paid ordinary shares to reflect the effect of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

 
                 Six months to 30.06.2018            Six months to 30.06.2017               Year to 31.12.2017 
                        (Unaudited)                         (Unaudited)                          (Audited) 
----------  ----------------------------------  ----------------------------------  ---------------------------------- 
                         Weighted                            Weighted                            Weighted 
                          average     Earnings                average     Earnings                average     Earnings 
              Earnings     number     / (loss)    Earnings     number     / (loss)                 number     / (loss) 
              / (loss)         of          per    / (loss)         of          per    Earnings         of          per 
               GBP'000     shares        share     GBP'000     shares        share     GBP'000     shares        share 
                            000's        Pence                  000's        Pence                  000's        Pence 
----------  ----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  ---------  ----------- 
 Continuing operations 
 Basic 
  earnings 
  per 
  share            759    102,302         0.74         628    102,051         0.62       2,196    102,087         2.15 
 Effect of 
  dilutive 
  options            -      4,259            -           -      3,878            -           -      3,263            - 
 Diluted 
  earnings 
  per 
  share            759    106,561         0.71         628    105,929         0.59       2,196    105,350         2.08 
 
 Discontinued operations 
 Basic 
  loss per 
  share          (388)    102,302       (0.38)       (430)    102,051       (0.42)     (2,182)    102,087       (2.14) 
 Effect of 
  dilutive 
  options            -      4,259            -           -      3,878            -           -      3,263            - 
 Diluted 
  earnings 
  per 
  share          (388)    106,561       (0.36)       (430)    105,929       (0.41)     (2,182)    105,350       (2.07) 
 
 Continuing and discontinued operations 
 Basic 
  earnings 
  per 
  share            371    102,302         0.36         198    102,051         0.20          14    102,087         0.01 
 Effect of 
  dilutive 
  options            -      4,259            -           -      3,878            -           -      3,263            - 
 Diluted 
  earnings 
  per 
  share            371    106,561         0.35         198    105,929         0.18          14    105,350         0.01 
----------  ----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  ---------  -----------  ----------  ---------  ----------- 
 
 

As at 30 June 2018 the number of ordinary shares in issue was 102,624,020 (30 June 2017 and 31 December 2017: 102,124,020).

   7              Post retirement benefits 

The Group provides employee benefits under various arrangements, including through defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans, the details of which are disclosed in the 2017 Annual Report and Accounts. At the interim balance sheet date, the major assumptions used in assessing the defined benefit pension scheme liability have been reviewed and updated based on a roll-forward of the last formal actuarial valuation, which was carried out as at 5 April 2015.

The following changes in estimate have been applied to the IAS 19 valuation as at 30 June 2018:

 
                                     30.06.18    30.06.17    31.12.17 
                                            %           %           % 
---------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 Rate of increase in pensions in    3.7 - 3.9   3.7 - 3.9   3.7 - 3.9 
  payment 
 Discount rate                            2.7         2.6        2.45 
 Retail price inflation                   3.2         3.3         3.3 
 Consumer price inflation                 2.2         2.3         2.3 
---------------------------------  ----------  ----------  ---------- 
 
   8              Commitments and contingencies 

The Group leases various buildings which operate within all the segments. The leases are non-cancellable operating agreements with varying terms and renewal rights. The Group also has various other non-cancellable operating lease commitments and a small number of assets that are held under finance leases. The finance leases have varying terms and renewal rights.

   9              Related party transactions 

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are therefore not disclosed in this note.

There were no other related party transactions during the period (2017: none).

   10           Post balance sheet events 

There are no post balance sheet events to report.

This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

END

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