Impax Asset Management Regulatory News (IPX)

31 May 2006 07:01

Impax Group PLC31 May 2006 31 May 2006 Impax Group plc Interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2006 Impax Group plc, which provides specialised asset management services within theenvironmental markets sector, today announces its interim results for the sixmonths ended 31 March 2006. Highlights • Funds under management are now £335m • The Group has generated a modest profit before tax of £8,000 • Bridgewell Securities Limited has been appointed sole Broker and Nomad Commenting on the results, Keith Falconer, Chairman said: "There have been two main drivers to our success. The first is the increasingattractiveness of the environmental sector, as the fundamentals strengthen,earnings and multiples rise, and large companies implement new business plansand deploy capital. Second, against this backdrop, our investment team has beenable to sustain its strong performance. Our activities are seen as a means ofharnessing one of the most attractive growth sectors of the global economy. Unusually for a group of our size, we have expertise in quoted equities, privateequity and venture capital. Using our specialist knowledge, we are quicklybuilding scaleable products in these areas and our non-quoted activities giveshareholders some protection from the volatility of global markets. Corporate finance has become a very small part of our business, but we areincreasingly using this expertise to help us grow our fund managementactivities, particularly as we commit more capital to non-quoted opportunities. Prospects By concentrating our efforts on fund management we have simplified our businessmodel and now have an exciting opportunity to grow the business and create valuefor shareholders. The key will be to maintain performance, scale up existingfunds and add new products within our area of specialisation." For further information please contact: Keith Falconer 020 7434 1122Ian SimmImpax Group plc Impax Group plc Chairman's Statement At the time of the final results in December 2005, I suggested that theconsiderable potential for Impax was beginning to be realised. As I write thisinterim review, I remain comfortable with that view and can report that theupward trend in funds under management has continued. Since the end of November2005, funds under management have grown 46% from £229m to £335m at 26 May 2006.This has been achieved by the strong performance of our various funds and by newfunds raised. Although there are always concerns that the equity markets maysuffer from corrections, we have a healthy pipeline of new business prospectsand are actively considering ways to grow the business with the launch of newproducts. I am delighted to be able to report a profit before tax for the firsttime for many years. Whilst very modest, it is a very different story from wherewe were a couple of years ago. There have been two main drivers to our success. The first is the increasingattractiveness of the environmental sector, as the fundamentals strengthen,earnings and multiples rise, and large companies implement new business plansand deploy capital. Second, against this backdrop, our investment team has beenable to sustain its strong performance. Our activities are seen as a means ofharnessing one of the most attractive growth sectors of the global economy, withinvestment opportunities around the globe in quoted and private companies. Giventhe complexity of these markets, many institutions are happy to sub-contracttheir exposure to this area. Unusually for a group of our size, we have expertise in quoted equities, privateequity and venture capital. Using our specialist knowledge we are quicklybuilding scaleable products in these areas and our non-quoted activities giveshareholders some protection from the volatility of global markets. Corporate finance has become a very small part of our business, but we areincreasingly using this expertise to help us grow our fund managementactivities, particularly as we commit more capital to non-quoted opportunities. Results for the period The interim results show significantly higher turnover compared with this periodlast year and I am delighted to report that we have made significant headwaytowards profitability. Our continuing challenge is to grow assets undermanagement whilst controlling costs and maintaining our funds' strongperformance record. Turnover for the six months to 31 March 2006 was £1,528,000 (2005: £951,000).The net result for the period was a small profit of £8,000 (2005: a loss of£250,000) and this was after a £141,000 (2005: £141,000) charge for theamortisation of goodwill, an accrual of £163,000 for the Employee Benefit Trust(2005: Nil) and a profit of £58,000 (2005: Nil) arising from the mark-to-marketrevaluation of a listed investment at 31 March 2006. Asset Management Impax Asset Management ("IAM") was able to expand significantly its funds undermanagement during the period, and is well positioned for the launch of newproducts. Revenue for the interim period was £1,447,000 (2005: £530,000). By 31March 2006, IAM managed or advised seven funds with total assets of £309m (2005:£94m). By 26 May 2006, this has risen further to £335m. The team again achieved strong performance. In the twelve months ended 31 March2006, the net asset value ("NAV") of the largest fund, Impax EnvironmentalMarkets plc ("IEM"), rose 46.9% while the MSCI World Index grew by 26.3%. IEM'sshare price has remained at a premium to NAV for most of this period and, inresponse to investor demand, the trust issued an additional 12 million newshares between January and March. Other funds investing in quoted equities have grown significantly. ImpaxEnvironmental Markets (Ireland), the open-ended "sister fund" of IEM, grew netassets from £26.5m at November 2005 to £40.9m by 31 March 2006 and to £46.1m by26 May 2006, while the Amsterdam-listed ASN Milieufonds, a fund managed by IAM,grew from €28.5m to €72.4m over the same period. As I reported six months ago, Impax New Energy Investors LP, our fund investingin projects in the renewable energy and related sectors, has been seeking newadditional investors. On 15 May 2006, we reported that this fund had achieved asecond closing, taking capital commitments from €60m to €97m. Fund raising willcontinue, with the aim of reaching the target size of €125m. Meanwhile, theinvestment team is working hard on a substantial flow of potential investmentopportunities. With over 80 institutional investors in our funds, we are well positioned toexpand the business further. In addition to scaling up our existing funds, weexpect to be able to announce initiatives to develop and launch new products inthe coming months. Corporate Finance Impax Capital's results are inevitably reliant on success fees. There were notransactions closed in the first half, but agreed deals are moving through thepipeline and we anticipate that the income for the year will be weighted infavour of the second half. Convertible Unsecured Loan Stock The Loan Stock has a final date for conversion in July this year, and it islikely that most holders will choose to convert their holding into ordinaryshares. This would significantly improve the Group's balance sheet by convertingborrowings into Shareholders' Equity. It would also reduce the interest burdenon the Group. Nominated Adviser and Broker I am pleased to report that we have appointed Bridgewell Securities Limited("Bridgewell") as nominated adviser and broker to the Group. They will help togive us wider exposure than we have previously enjoyed and provide further scopefor distribution of our funds. Bridgewell's compensation has been structured toalign its interests closely with shareholders. For the next 12 months they willreceive an option over 500,000 shares in the Group, exercisable at 20p within 3years. Subsequently, if they remain as nominated adviser and broker to theGroup, they will receive an additional option over such number of ordinaryshares, where the exercise price is equal to the average closing share priceduring the four weeks prior to 30th May 2007, which, when multiplied by theexercise price equates to £100,000. Vesting conditions apply to both options. Prospects By concentrating our efforts on fund management, we have simplified our businessmodel significantly and now have an exciting opportunity to grow the businessand create value for shareholders. The key will be to maintain performance,scale up existing funds and add new products within our area of specialisation.As the Group moves into profitability, we harbour ambitions to pay dividendswhen the Board considers that the reserves of the Company and the financialposition of the Group enable it to do so. We are grateful to our shareholders for their support and I hope to be in aposition to update you with news of favourable developments over the rest of theyear. J Keith R Falconer31 May 2006 Impax Group plcConsolidated Profit & Loss Account for the six months ended 31 March 2006 ----------------------------------------------- Notes Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 31 Mar 06 31 Mar 05 30 Sept 05 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 1,528 951 1,725 Operating expensesGoodwillamortisation (141) (141) (283)Employee BenefitTrust charge (163) - (154)Revaluation ofinvestments 58 - 22Write backimpairment ofinvestment - - 165Other operatingexpenses (1,259) (1,035) (2,132) ------- -------- -------- (1,505) (1,176) (2,382) Operating profit/(loss)Continuingoperations 23 (225) (657) Profit on disposalof investment - - 129 ------- -------- -------- 23 (225) (528) Net interestpayable (15) (25) (65) ------- -------- -------- Profit/(loss) onordinary activitiesbefore taxation 8 (250) (593)Taxation - - - ------- -------- -------- Profit/(loss)attributable to theGroup 8 (250) (593) ======= ======== ======== ======= ======== ======== Basic profit/(loss)per share 3 0.02p (0.67)p (1.56)pFully dilutedprofit/(loss) pershare 3 0.01p (0.27)p (0.65)pAdjustedprofit/(loss) pershare 3 0.68p (0.09)p (0.75)p ======= ======== ======== Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses Profit/(loss) forthe period 8 (250) (593)Currencytranslationdifferences 23 (106) 47 ------- -------- -------- Total recognisedprofits/(losses) 31 (356) (546) ======= ======== ======== ======== All disclosures relate only to continuing operations. Impax Group plcConsolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2006 ---- ----------------- --- ---- -------- --------- --- ------------- Notes As at As at As at 31 Mar 06 31 Mar 05 30 Sept 05 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible fixed assets 1,488 1,771 1,629 Tangible fixed assets 28 11 13 ------- -------- -------- 1,516 1,782 1,642 ------- -------- -------- Current assets Debtors due after one year 1,890 2,078 2,042 Debtors due within one year 1,013 813 1,284 Investments 138 - 80 Cash at bank and in hand 1,379 839 863 ------- -------- -------- 4,420 3,730 4,269 Creditors - amounts falling duewithin one year (444) (311) (636) ------- -------- -------- Net current assets 3,976 3,419 3,633 Total assets less currentliabilities 5,492 5,201 5,275 Creditors -amountsfalling dueafter morethan one year (2,229) (2,279) (2,302) -------- -------- ------- Total netassets 3,263 2,922 2,973 ======= ======== ======== Capital and reserves Called up share capital 5 8,995 8,892 8,974 Share premium 5 834 759 759 Exchange equalisation reserve 5 (691) (867) (714) Treasury Shares 5 (73) - (73) Other reserve 5 394 - 231 Profit and loss account 5 (6,196) (5,862) (6,204) -------- -------- ------- Equityshareholders'funds 3,263 2,922 2,973 ======= ======== ======== Impax Group plcConsolidated Cash Flow Statement for the six months ended 31 March 2006 ----------------------------------------------- Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 31 Mar 06 31 Mar 05 30 Sept 05 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Cash inflow/(outflow) fromoperating activities 506 (200) (486) Returns on investments and servicing of financeInterest received 59 67 131Interest paid (51) (61) (149) Capital expenditure and financial investmentPurchase of tangible fixedassets (21) - (5)Proceeds from sale ofinvestments - - 236Proceeds from sale of fixedassets - 84 - FinancingIssue of share capital - - 86 ------- -------- -------- Increase/(decrease) in cashin the period 493 (110) (187) ======= ======== ======== Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Increase/(decrease) in cashin the period 493 (110) (187)Non cash transaction - convertible loan stock - converted 96 - 1 - convertible loan stock - issue costs amortised (23) (23) (47)Translation differences 23 (53) 47 ======= ======== ======== Movement in net debt in theperiod 589 (186) (186)Net debt at beginning ofperiod (1,439) (1,253) (1,253) ------- -------- -------- Net debt at end of period (850) (1,439) (1,439) ======= ======== ======== Impax Group plcConsolidated Cash Flow Statement for the six months ended 31 March 2006 ----------------------------------------------- Reconciliation of operating profit/(loss) to net cash flow from operatingactivities Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 31 Mar 06 31 Mar 05 30 Sept 05 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating profit/(loss) 23 (225) (657)Write back impairment ofunlisted investment - - (165)Revaluation of investments (58) - (22)Depreciation charges 6 4 8Amortisation of goodwill 141 141 283Employee Benefit Trustcharge 163 - 154Decrease/(increase) indebtors 422 7 (246)(Decrease)/increase increditors (191) (127) 159 ------- -------- -------- ------- -------- --------Net cash flow fromoperating activities 506 (200) (486) ======= ======== ======== ------- -------- -------- Impax Group plcNotes to the Interim Accounts for the six months ended 31 March 2006 ----------------------------------------------- 1 The financial information set out in this report does not constitute full accounts for the purposes of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The interim accounts for the six months ended 31 March 2006 and 31 March 2005 are unaudited. The comparative figures for the financial year ended 30 September 2005 are not the Company's statutory accounts for the financial year but are abridged from those accounts which have been reported on by the Company's auditors, whose report was unqualified. The interim accounts have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the annual financial statements of the Group for the year ended 30 September 2005 except for the adoption and impact of FRS21, FRS22, and FRS25. The interim accounts were approved by the Directors on 25 May 2006. FRS21: Post balance sheet events This standard has had no impact on the disclosures presented. FRS22: Earnings per share This standard has had no impact on the calculation of earnings per share. FRS25: Financial Instruments: Disclosure and presentation Whilst the Group does have convertible unsecured loan stock that would be affected by the implementation of this standard's requirements, the effect is not considered material to warrant disclosure. The Group expects the convertible unsecured loan stock to convert before the next financial year end at which time there will be no disclosure issues. 2 Amounts denominated in US Dollars have been converted at the closing rate on 31 March 2006 of £1 to $1.74 (31 March 2005: $1.87; 30 September 2005: $1.76). The results of the US subsidiary undertaking have been translated on a monthly basis at the average rate ruling during each month. 3 The figures for basic profit per share are based on the profit attributable to the Group of £8,000 (31 March 2005: loss - £250,000; 30 September 2005: loss - £593,000) and on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period ended 31 March 2006: 45,960,882 (31 March 2005: 37,498,367; 30 September 2005: 38,065,022). The figures for fully diluted profit per share include the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue and, in addition, shares that would arise from a 100% conversion of the convertible unsecured loan stock which would give a total of 97,589,338 shares at 31 March 2006 (31 March 2005: 91,249,097; 30 September 2005: 91,808,954). In order to show results from operating activities on a comparable basis, an adjusted loss per share has been calculated which excludes goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and EBT charge from the results. 4 The Directors do not propose an interim dividend. Impax Group plc Notes to the Interim Accounts for the six months ended 31 March 2006 ----------------------------------------------- 5 Reconciliation of movements in capital and reserves Share capital Share premium reserve £'000 £'000 As at 1 October 2005 8,974 759 Conversion of Loan Stock 21 75 ------ ------ As at 31 March 2006 8,995 834 ====== ====== Exchange Treasury Other Profit and equalisation shares reserve loss account reserve £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 As at 1 October 2005 (714) (73) 231 (6,204) Profit/(loss) for the period - - - 8 Exchange differences on 23 - - - consolidation Employee Benefit Trust charge - - 163 - ------ ------ ------ ------ As at 31 March 2006 (691) (73) 394 (6,196) ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== ====== Copies of this interim statement will be sent to shareholders and are available free of charge from the Company's registered office, Broughton House, 6 - 8 Sackville Street, London W1S 3DG. Copies are also available from our website www.impax.co.uk. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange