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H&T Group PLC - Surrey, England-based pawnbroker - For the six months ended June 30, pretax profit declines 6.0% to GBP4.7 million from GBP5.0 million a year before, due to Covid-19 trading restrictions and reduced high street footfall.
Revenue drops 7.0% year-on-year to GBP51.9 million from GBP55.8 million, driven mainly by a fall in Retail, due to H&T being unable to offer retail jewellery for sale from January to April, and in Personal Loans, due to a significant reduced in the loan book, albeit in line with company plans.
Raises interim dividend by 60% to 4.0 pence per share from 2.5p a year prior.
"The positive trading momentum seen in the second quarter has continued in the third quarter with further growth in the pledge book to GBP52.2 million as at 31 July 2021. We enter the second half of the financial year with growing confidence," says Chief Executive Chris Gillespie.
Also on Monday, announces the appointment of Diane Giddy as chief financial officer with effect on November 1.
She will be joining from Gauteng, South Africa-based financial services firm, where she was chief finance officer for the London branch for two years since 2019.
Current stock price: 290.50 pence, up 6.4%
Year-to-date change: up 13%
By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com
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