Hansard Regulatory News (HSD)

19 Nov 2007 07:00

Hansard Global plc19 November 2007 Hansard Global plc ("Hansard" or the "Company") Interim Management Statement Hansard Global plc ("Hansard" or "the Group"), the specialist long-term savingsprovider, announces continued strong progress and issues its first interimmanagement statement in advance of its Annual General Meeting being held latertoday. Highlights •New business results, as measured by APE on a constant currency basis, for the four months ended 31 October 2007 show substantial growth over the same period last year up 30.4% to £11.2m •Margins have been maintained at levels consistent with prior periods •Assets under Administration at 31 October 2007 rose 8.2% over the period since 30 June 2007 to £1.22billion •Overall performance of the Group during the period has been in line with expectations •The financial position of the Group remains very strong •The transfer of shares in the Group from Polar Cap Limited to individual shareholders was completed on 30 October 2007 Leonard Polonsky, Chief Executive of Hansard Global, commented: "We are pleased with the performance of the Group in the first four months ofthis financial year, which has been in line with expectations. Continued strongnew business flows for the period to 31 October 2007 have built on theperformance of the previous financial year. Assets under administration alsorose 8% despite the volatility in capital markets over the period. Growth inintermediary activity, particularly in the Far East, Scandinavia and LatinAmerica, continues in line with our forecast levels. We are confident that theoutlook for continued new business growth remains positive for the Group." Strong New Business Flows The Group has achieved continued strong new business flows at consistentmargins. New business premiums on an APE basis1 in sterling terms1 during the four monthsto 31 October 2007 totalled £11.2 m. This represents an increase of 30.4% overthe £8.6 m APE in the equivalent period in the previous financial year,calculated on a constant currency basis. This reflects continued strong newbusiness flows, particularly in the Far East, Scandinavia and Latin America.Steady growth has been achieved in Regular premium flows and the flow of Singlepremium business reflects a number of cases that were not issued in Q4 of thelast financial year. The continued strengthening of sterling against the US Dollar has the effect ofdepressing a proportion of our new business figures, as approximately 50% of newbusiness in the period was received in US Dollars. The presentation of thesefigures on a constant currency basis provides an appropriate representation ofthe activities of the intermediaries who introduce business to the Group. New business flows using the Group's internal metric, 'Compensation Credit',which measures the relative value of each piece of new business, totalled £5.5mfor the four months to 31 October 2007 compared with £4.4m (on an actualcurrency basis) in the comparative period of the last financial year, anincrease of 25.9%. Up to 30 September 2007, new business margins were approximately 8.1% on thePresent Value of New Business Premiums basis, consistent with prior periods.These margins are well above industry average, principally due to the Group'scontinued focus on value and the maintenance of the margin. Growth in Assets under Administration and Liquid Assets The value of Assets under Administration as at 31 October 2007, at £1.22 bn, hasrisen by 8.2% since 30 June 2007. Despite the volatility in capital markets andfurther weakening of US dollar against Sterling, asset values have continued togrow, reflecting positive cash flows. Since 31 October 2006, Assets underAdministration grew by 26.8%. Since year-end, cash and cash equivalents have increased from £70.8m to £77.2m,reflecting the strong liquidity of our business model. Subject to shareholderapproval at the AGM, a total of £15.1m will be paid in dividends on 23 November2007. The total dividend comprises 6p per share being the final dividend for theyear ended 30 June 2007 being paid in line with the stated dividend policy ofthe Group, plus 5p per share being a special dividend in recognition of theCompany's strong cash position and cash accretive model. Polar Cap Limited The transfer of shares in the Group from Polar Cap Limited to individualshareholders was achieved on 30 October 2007. There have been no changes to theunderlying beneficial interests in the Company, although as a result of thetransfer, Dr Polonsky's direct holding in the Company increased to 43.2% and thedirect holding of the Polonsky Foundation has increased to 9.9%. There was nochange to the number of shares in existence. Results for the half-year Results for the half-year ending 31 December 2007 will be announced on 28February 2008. For further information Hansard GlobalLeonard Polonsky, Chief Executive 01624 688000Gordon Marr, Director 01624 688000 Bell Pottinger 020 7861 3232Ben WoodfordDaniel de Belder NEW BUSINESS RESULTS FOR THE FOUR MONTH PERIOD ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2007 1. APE on a Constant Currency Basis Unaudited Four months ended 31 October 2007 2006 Change £m £m %New Business Premiums (APE)(1)(2)Single 5.3 3.6 47.9%Regular 5.9 17.6% ---------- ----------- ---------- 11.2 8.6 30.4% ---------- ----------- ---------- New Business Premiums (APE)(1)(2)(3)EU and EEA 4.1 3.2 28.7%Rest of World 7.1 5.4 31.4% ---------- ----------- ---------- 11.2 8.6 30.4% ---------- ----------- ---------- 2. APE on an Actual Exchange Rate basis Unaudited Four months ended 31 October 2007 2006 Change £m £m %New Business Premiums (APE)(1)Single 5.3 3.6 47.9%Regular 5.9 5.3 10.7% ---------- ----------- ---------- 11.2 8.9 25.8% ---------- ----------- ---------- New Business Premiums (APE)(1)(3)EU and EEA 4.1 3.1 30.6%Rest of World 7.1 5.8 23.3% ---------- ----------- ---------- 11.2 8.9 25.8% ---------- ----------- ---------- ASSETS UNDER ADMINISTRATION AS AT 31 OCTOBER 2007 Unaudited Unaudited As at As at Audited 31 31 As at October October 30 June 2007 2006 Change 2007 £m £m % £m --------- -------- ------- --------Assets under Administration (4) 1,223 964 26.8 1,130 --------- -------- ------- -------- (1) New business from long-term savings is calculated on an APE basis inaccordance with the life assurance industry convention by adding new regularpremiums and one tenth of single premiums. Premiums arising in foreigncurrencies are translated to sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at thetransaction date. (2) APE in the period ended 31 October 2007 is presented in section 1 above ona constant currency basis. Premiums arising in foreign currencies in the periodare translated to sterling at the average rates of exchange applicable to theperiod ended 31 October 2007. The principal exchange rates applied are: £1 =$2.024 and £1 = €1.47. (3) The geographical split of new business premiums is based on the country ofresidence of the policyholder. (4) Assets under Administration are valued at market values at the relevantdate, using closing exchange rates against sterling. The principal exchangerates applied at 31 October 2007 are: £1 = $2.05 and £1 = €1.43 (31 October2006: £1 = $1.90 and £1 = €1.49). Notes to editors: • Hansard Global plc is the holding company of the Hansard Group of companies. The Company was listed on the London Stock Exchange on 18 December 2006. The Group is a specialist long-term savings provider, based in the Isle of Man. • The Group offers a range of flexible and tax-efficient investment products within a life assurance policy wrapper, designed to appeal to affluent, international investors. • The Group utilises a low-cost distribution model by selling policies exclusively through a network of financial services intermediaries, independent financial advisers and the retail operations of certain financial institutions (collectively "Intermediaries"), who provide access to their clients in more than 170 countries. The Group's distribution model is supported by an award-winning, multi-language internet platform, and is scaleable. • The principal geographic markets in which the Group currently services Intermediaries and policyholders are the Far East, the Middle East, and South America in the case of Hansard International Limited, and Western Europe in the case of Hansard Europe Limited, the Group's two life assurance companies. • The Group's objective is to grow its business by attracting new business and positioning itself to adapt rapidly to market trends and conditions. The scaleability and flexibility of the Group's operations allow it to enter or develop new geographic markets and exploit growth opportunities within existing markets without the need for significant further investment. Forward-looking statements: This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect tocertain of Hansard Global plc's plans and its current goals and expectationsrelating to future financial condition, performance and results. By their natureforward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate tofuture events and circumstances which are beyond Hansard Global plc's control.As a result, Hansard Global plc's actual future condition, performance andresults may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set out inHansard Global plc's forward-looking statements. Hansard Global plc does notundertake to update forward-looking statements contained in this announcement orany other forward-looking statement it may make. No statement in thisannouncement is intended to be a profit forecast or be relied upon as a guidefor future performance. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange