Begbies Regulatory News (BEG)

UK corporate health deteriorates 9%, leaving 472,000 businesses in financial distress

While financial distress remains at relative highs, the rate of declining health has slowed

According to Begbies Traynor's Red Flag Alert research for Q2 2018, which monitors the financial health of UK companies, 472,183 businesses were experiencing 'Significant' financial distress at the end of June 2018, up 9% compared to the same stage last year (Q2 2017: 434,492) but down 1% compared to the previous three months of the year (Q1 2018: 477,183).

Following a spate of positive economic updates over recent weeks, the Red Flag Alert data also reveals that levels of financial distress are increasing at a slower rate year on year than during the previous four quarters (Q1 2018: +33%, Q4 2017: +36%, Q3 2017: +27%, Q2 2017: +25%), which could be a tentative sign of returning stability across the economy.

The sectors with the highest number of businesses in distress year on year were Support Services (112,434, up 10%), Construction (60,208, up 4%), Real Estate (42,254, up 19%), Telecoms (31,770, up 9%) and General Retailers (30,574, up 4%). However, on a quarterly basis, levels of 'Significant' distress across these key sectors appear to have stabilised, fluctuating between -2% and +1% compared to the first quarter of 2018.

Regionally, businesses in the South of England continued to see the biggest deterioration in their financial health, with London being the UK's worst performing region, where 'Significant' distress impacted 118,367 companies in the Capital alone (up 17% year on year, but down 1% compared to Q1 2018).

According to the research, 251,495 UK businesses ended the period in a position of negative net worth1, while 109,717 demonstrated a considerable increase in their working capital deficit; both key indicators of financial distress.

Julie Palmer, Partner at Begbies Traynor, said:

"After a significant jump in financial distress during the first quarter of 2018, a period marred by weak consumer confidence, growing political uncertainty and the fallout from the 'Beast from the East', we may now be seeing tentative signs of stability returning to the UK economy in recent months.

"Although the volume of businesses in 'Significant' financial distress remains at relative highs after four consecutive quarters of accelerating distress, the rate of deterioration in UK corporate health has slowed during Q2 2018, supported by recovering business and consumer confidence, higher levels of employment, and continued interest rate stability.

"Looking forward, while there's a chance this positive trend could continue, the outlook for certain industries is looking increasingly uncertain. The problems facing high street retail have been well documented of late, with the recent epidemic of CVAs and store closures being just the tip of the iceberg. However, the UK Automotive sector looks to be most at risk in our view, facing job cuts and a slowdown in production output and investment, as industry pundits question how it will be able to compete with European competitors post Brexit."

Ric Traynor, Executive Chairman of Begbies Traynor, commented:

"With snow grinding thousands of UK businesses to a halt back in March, the return of warmer weather in Q2 and a timely boost from the royal wedding in May helped the UK bounce back to growth in June, as our research and other key economic indicators point to a steadying business environment across the country.

"Stronger growth in the UK's service sector, boosted by increased demand for financial services, combined with a surprise rebound in construction activity in June, which increased at its fastest level in seven months, are both clear bellwethers for a rebounding economy.

"However, with manufacturing growth down on last year, continued inflationary pressure, slowing wage growth and potential rate rises on the horizon, we're not out of the woods yet. There still remains a heightened level of distress among UK businesses and the slight improvement in the second quarter could yet prove to be temporary."

- Ends -

1. 'Negative net worth' occurs when a company's liabilities exceed its assets. The company does not necessarily need to declare bankruptcy if they can service their debt in instalments. These are often referred to as 'zombie' companies.

For further information, contact:

MHP Communications

Katie Hunt / Giles Robinson / Calum MacDougall / Pete Lambie / Florence Mayo

Tel: 0203 128 8570

Email: Begbiescorporate@mhpc.com

About Red Flag Alert

Red Flag Alert has been measuring and reporting corporate financial distress since 2004, and over that time has become an industry benchmark of the underlying health of companies across every sector and region of the UK.

Through its unique algorithm, the Red Flag Alert measures corporate distress signals, drawing on factual legal and financial data from a wide range of relevant sources, including intelligence from the UK's leading insolvency business, Begbies Traynor. Please note that the Red Flag Alert algorithm was refreshed in Q3 2017 to enhance the risk factors analysed in the data. The reported results have been backdated to ensure consistency of comparative data.

The release refers to the numbers of companies experiencing 'Significant' problems, which are those with minor CCJs (of less than £5k) filed against them or which have been identified by Red Flag's proprietary credit risk scoring system which screens companies for a sustained or marked deterioration in key financial ratios and indicators including those measuring working capital, contingent liabilities, retained profits and net worth.

Red Flag Alert is commercially available to all businesses, on an annual subscription basis, to help them better understand risk and exposure and help prepare them for the future. Further information about Red Flag Alert can be found at: www.redflagalert.com

About Begbies Traynor Group

Begbies Traynor Group plc is a leading business recovery, financial advisory and property services consultancy, providing services nationally from a comprehensive network of UK locations through two complementary operating divisions.

Business recovery and financial advisory services

Begbies Traynor is the UK's leading independent business recovery practice, handling the largest number of corporate appointments, principally serving the mid-market and smaller companies.

BTG Advisory is a boutique practice, providing commercial, strategic and partner-led advice, offering the broad range of professional services necessary to provide viable and effective solutions to businesses.

We provide these services to businesses, professional advisors, other stakeholders, investors and financial institutions, working with all the major UK clearing banks.

Corporate Finance

Springboard Corporate Finance, part of BTG Advisory, provides high quality and professional corporate finance advice to dynamic entrepreneurs, management teams and corporates across the UK seeking to sell, buy or raise finance for their business.

Property services

Eddisons is a national firm of chartered surveyors, delivering advisory and transactional services to owners and occupiers of commercial property, investors and financial institutions. The division includes Pugh & Co, the largest regional firm of commercial property auctioneers by number of lots.