23 Apr 2015 07:00
AFH Financial Group PLC
("AFH", or the "Company")
AGM Statement
FUM pass £1.25bn following seven acquisitions since the year end
Recurring Revenue Strong and Gross Margins maintained above 50%
At the Company's Annual General Meeting ("AGM"), to be held at 11:00am today at AFH House, Buntsford Drive, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove B60 4JE, John Wheatley (Chairman of AFH), will update shareholders with the following statement:
"As reported in the audited results released on 16 March 2015, I am pleased to say that the Company's core business has traded in line with trading levels experienced during the second half of 2014. The Board is also pleased to report that recurring revenue continues to remain strong and, during the current year, has contributed an increased percentage of total revenue and that gross margins remain above the 50% level.
In January 2015, the Board announced that Funds under Management ("FUM") had reached £1 billion. Since that date, new funds have been received from clients which, together with the growth in underlying assets and the FUM of recent acquisitions, enables me to report that FUM have now reached £1.25 billion.
In December last year, the Company announced the issue of an unsecured 7.5% 4 year bond, with warrants attached, and in February it was confirmed that £2.14m had been successfully raised from this issue. These funds will be used for general corporate purposes, in particular to help finance the initial cash payments on the Company's target acquisitions during 2015.
Since 31 October 2014, AFH has completed 7 acquisitions of IFA businesses spread throughout England with a combined maximum consideration of £5.3m. AFH's model of deferring approximately 50% of any consideration over a two-year period, based on the performance of the acquired business, has been as applied in each case. In addition the Company made deferred payments, based on trading performance, of £1.1m in respect of acquisitions completed in previous periods.
I am pleased to report that both the Company's balance sheet, and pipeline of prospective acquisitions, remains strong and further selective acquisitions are anticipated during the current financial year. The Directors remain confident that the Group is well positioned to take advantage of market opportunities as they arise."
Enquiries:
AFH Financial Group PLC 01527 577 775
Alan Hudson, Chief Executive Officer
Paul Wright, Chief Financial Officer
www.afhfinancialgroup.com
Allenby Capital Limited 020 3328 5656
(Nominated Adviser and Broker)
Nick Naylor
Chris Crawford
Nick Athanas
Yellow Jersey PR Limited 07768 537 739
Dominic Barretto
Kelsey Traynor