Final Results

14th May 2008 07:00



14 May 2008 

First Derivatives plc

(AIM:FDP.L, IEX:GYQ.I)

Preliminary results for the year ended 29th February 2008

The principal activities of First Derivatives plc ("FDP", "First Derivatives" or the "Company") are the provision of a range of support services to the investment banking market and the derivatives technology industry and the provision of its own range of niche banking applications.

Financial Highlights

Turnover £12.7m (2007: £9.3m) +36% Operating profit £5.2m (2007:£2.6m*) +99% Operating margins of 41.2% (2007: 28.2%*)  Pre-tax profit £4.7m (2007: £2.5m*) +86% Earnings per share 23.3p (2007:14.9p*) +56% Net Assets £8.3m (2007: £5.4m*) +53% Final dividend 5.8p per share (2007: 3.6p) +61% Total dividend 8.1p per share (2007: 5.0p) +62%

* figures restated to reflect adoption of IFRS

Business Highlights

David Anderson, Chairman of FDP commented: 

"2007/2008 was the sixth year of continuing growth for the Company and the rate of growth during the last financial year has been exceptional. Our outlook for the year ahead is for trading to continue inline with previous trends and the further strengthening of our balance sheet. First Derivatives has had another successful year and we have continued to grow our operations despite the recent turmoil in the financial markets. The pipeline of business from new and existing customers remains strong and the Directors expect to be able to report further progress in the first half of the year."

For further information please contact:

First Derivatives 028 3025 2242

Brian Conlon

Managing Director

www.firstderivatives.com 

Charles Stanley Securities 020 7149 6000

Nominated Adviser

Russell Cook

Carl Holmes

Goodbody Stockbrokers +353 1 667 0410

Diane Hodgson

Linda Hickey

Stakeholder Communications

Carl Whyte 02890 33 99 49

Lisa Nugent 020 7903 5148

  First Derivatives plc

Chairman's statement

2007/2008 was the sixth year of continuing growth for the Company. I am pleased to report that the pre-tax profit for the year ended 29th February 2008 was £4.7 million compared with £2.5 million in the previous year, an increase of 86%. Turnover for the year was £12.7 million up from £9.3 million, an increase of 36% The 2007 figures have been adjusted to reflect the impact of IFRS which has been adopted with effect from 1st March 2007.

Earnings per share increased by 56% from 14.9p to 23.3p. The Board is recommending a final dividend per share for the year of 5.8p which, together with the interim dividend of 2.3p paid in October 2007, totals 8.1p and is covered approximately 3 times by earnings. This will be paid on 7th July 2008 to those shareholders on the register on 6th June 2008. The shares will be marked ex-dividend on 4th June 2008.

Despite the turmoil across financial markets we have continued to increase our capital markets activities and continue to experience strong levels of demand for our consultants. We are continuing to recruit to satisfy customer requirements.

There have been further substantial sales of Kx products during the financial year to both new and existing customers. The partnership continues to evolve and a number of expansion initiatives are being considered.

In my interim statement I referred to the fact that we had made our first sale of one of our own niche range of software products. Further modest sales have since been made and increased resources are being applied to marketing these products. These sales generate annual recurring licence revenues and can also generate implementation revenues. The Company is now developing an encouraging potential sales pipeline for these products.

The Capital Markets Training Programme introduced in late 2006 has led to significant benefits including continued low staff turnover and more effective deployment of staff with customers. Staff numbers have risen from 89 to the current level of 118. We continue to strengthen the FDP management team and I anticipate that we shall shortly announce the appointment of a Finance Director. As a result of this expansion in staff numbers the Company has recently relocated its head office to larger premises in Newry.

We have also announced today the appointment of Paul Kinney who has joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director. 

FDP has made further acquisitions of residential property during the year, which is used to accommodate staff on assignment in the major financial centres. At the year end the company owned 32 such properties with a book value of £16.8. These properties were valued at 29th February 2008 by Digney Boyds at £19.3 million a surplus of £2.5 million. Again this revaluation has not been incorporated in the financial statements.

Outlook

The Company's rate of growth during the last financial year has been exceptional. It is too early to predict the outcome for the current financial year, however, the pipeline of business from new and existing customers remains strong and the Directors expect to be able to report further progress in the first half of the year.

David Anderson

Chairman

  

Managing Directors Report

Review of activities

First Derivatives provides consulting services to the capital markets and sells software and related services. As with last year we are currently operating at effectively 100% utilisation of staff and plan to increase our headcount further in the coming year. We have a broad customer base and provided services last year to 48 different investment banks and hedge funds. Whilst London and New York continue to remain our primary centre of activities, we have also provided services during the last year to clients in Dublin, San Francisco, Vancouver, Los Angeles, Singapore, Sydney, Munich, Frankfurt, Vienna, Mumbai, Hong Kong, Boston and Stockholm. Due to the long-term and repeat nature of our assignments, we have strong visibility on our revenue for the year ahead..

Consulting division 

First Derivatives provides highly skilled resources to the capital markets in the areas of consulting, support and development services. We have ongoing contracts with nine of the leading global banks, supporting their activities across a range of asset classes including credit, interest rate, foreign exchange and equity cash and derivatives markets. We also have a number of nearshore contracts with other large banks. These nearshore contracts involve providing remote support services from our offices in Newry. 

Software division

As announced previously, First Derivatives is now generating sales from its own proprietary niche software products. We are pleased to report the sale of four of our products to six financial institutions in London and New York. This follows a number of years of intensive R&D where we have applied our domain knowledge and software development expertise in creating leading-edge products. These products are sold on an annual licensing model and additional revenues accrue from implementation services. In the coming year we will be investing heavily in developing further products and accelerating our sales and marketing efforts.

We continue to provide sales and marketing support to Kx Systems on a worldwide basis. Their products are used by some of the world's largest banks and Kx Systems lists organisations such as JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank and Dresdner as users. We derive revenue from sales commission, support contracts, training and consulting. We have a strong commercial relationship with Kx and I anticipate that this will strengthen further during 2008.

Personnel

The Company now employs almost 120 people and our success in retaining staff means that the experience profile of our consultants continues to improve. Our Capital Markets Training Programme, implemented in late 2006 has been a resounding success and has helped to differentiate us from our competition. The majority of our staff who have been with us for two years or more are participating in our employee share option scheme.

Once again I would like to pay tribute to all First Derivatives employees who almost without exception are hard working, talented, flexible and dedicated. Our customer retention rates are evidence of this.

Property Portfolio

As the number of staff working on-site in the major financial centres increases we will continue to buy property in lieu of paying for hotels and rented accommodation. As at the balance sheet date we had purchased 22 properties in the UK and 10 properties in New York financed by cash and term loans. The location of our properties in prime areas of the City of London, the West End and in Manhattan means that we are relatively insulated from trends in the general property markets.

Financial Review

The Company has reported revenues and profits significantly higher than last year. Pre-Tax Profit for the year was £4,716,000 (2007 restated: £2,531,000) on turnover of £12,669,000 (2007: £9,332,000). These results are prepared for the first time under International Financial Reporting Standards. Although the impact is not significant we have restated the 2007 accounts to reflect the adoption of IFRS.

Growth was due largely to increased consultant utilisation and sales/services from software products in which we have an interest in the IP. Our operating margins increased to 41.2% from 28.2%. Our balance sheet is strong with a cash balance largely unchanged at £396,000 and equity shareholders' funds of £8,302,000 (2007 restated; £5,426,000), an increase of 53%. This, and our confidence in our ability to generate cash going forward, enables the Board to recommend a final dividend of 5.8p per share (2007: 3.6p) which means that we will have paid a total dividend of 8.1p (2007: 5.0p) per share for the full year.

Outlook

We are increasing headcount to meet demand from the current and anticipated sales pipeline and to further develop and enhance our product suite. Our outlook for the year ahead is for trading to continue in line with previous trends and the further strengthening of our balance sheet. We now have a spread of activities with our recurring and visible revenue streams insulating us against general industry downturn and our interest in the sale of various software products giving us the benefit of considerable potential upside.

Brian Conlon

Managing Director

  Income statement

Year ended 29th February

	Note	2008		2007
		£'000		£'000
Revenue	2	12,669		9,332
Cost of sales		(6,501)		(6,161)
Gross profit		6,168		3,171
Other operating income		151		147
Administrative expenses		(1,091)		(686)
Operating profit		5,228		2,632
Finance income		210		43
Finance expenses		(722)		(144)
Net financing expenses		(512)		(101)
Profit before taxation		4,716		2,531
Income tax expense		(1,662)		(624)
Profit for the year		3,054		1,907
Earnings per share		Pence		Pence
Basic	4	23.3		14.9
Diluted	4	22.2		14.3

  

Statement of changes in equity

Year ended 29th February 

	Share capital	Share premium	Share option reserve	Available  for sale reserve	Retained earnings	Total equity
	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000
Balance at 1st March 2006	64	910	52	-	2,235	3,261
Profit for the year	-	-	-	-	1,907	1,907
Shares issued	1	110	-	-	-	111
Share based payments	-	-	131	-	34	165
Dividends to equity holders	-	-	-	-	(560)	(560)
Deferred tax on share options outstanding	-	-	352	-	-	352
Fair value increase	-	-	-	190	-	190
Balance at 28th February 2007	65	1,020	535	190	3,616	5,426
Balance at 1st March 2007	65	1,020	535	190	3,616	5,426
Profit for the year	-	-	-	-	3,054	3,054
Shares issued	1	258	-	-	-	259
Share based payments	-	-	259	-	115	374
Dividends to equity holders	-	-	-	-	(769)	(769)
Deferred tax on share options outstanding	-	-	(75)	-	-	(75)
Fair value increase	-	-	-	232	-	232
Disposal of available for sale asset	-	-	-	(199)	-	(199)
Balance at 29th February 2008	66	1,278	719	223	6,016	8,302

  

Balance sheet

Year ended 29th February

		2008		2007
		£'000		£'000
Non current assets
Property, plant and equipment		16,786		8,142
Intangible assets		125		180
Other financial assets		520		421
Deferred tax asset		541		548
Total non current assets		17,972		9,291
Current assets
Trade and other receivables		4,126		2,538
Cash and cash equivalents		396		356
Total current assets		4,522		2,894
Total assets		22,494		12,185
Current liabilities
Interest bearing borrowings		(1,834)		(1,185)
Trade and other payables		(2,453)		(1,535)
Current tax payable		(1.228)		(739)
Employee benefits		(625)		(462)
Total current liabilities		(6,140)		(3,921)
Non-current liabilities
Interest bearing borrowings		(7,965)		(2,838)
Deferred tax liability		(87)		-
Total non-current liabilities		(8,052)		(2,838)
Total liabilities		(14,192)		(6,759)
Net assets		8,302		5,426
Equity
Share capital		66		65
Share premium		1,278		1,020
Share option reserve		719		535
Available for sale reserve		223		190
Retained earnings		6,016		3,616
Total equity		8,302		5,426

  Cash flow statement

Year ended 29th February

	2008		2007
	£'000		£'000
Cashflows from operating activities
Profit before taxation	4,716		2,531
Finance income	(210)		(43)
Finance expense	722		144
Operating profit	5,228		2,632
Depreciation	153		96
Amortisation of intangible assets	180		180
Equity settled share-based payment transactions	259		131
	5,820		3,039
Change in trade and other receivables	(1,588)		(301)
Change in trade and other payables	1,072		494
	5,304		3,232
Corporation tax paid	(1,279)		(456)
Net cash from operating activities	4,025		2,776
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received	11		33
Interest paid	(560)		(134)
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment	(8,797)		(4,977)
Acquisition of other financial assets	-		(120)
Acquisition of intangible assets	(125)		-
Proceeds from sale of available for sale assets	220		-
Net cash used in investing activities	(9,251)		(5,198)
Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of share capital	259		111
Receipt of new long term loan	6,001		2,325
Repayment of borrowings	(225)		(159)
Dividends paid	(769)		(560)
Net cash from financing activities	5,266		1,717
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	40		(705)
Cash and cash equivalents at 1st March 2007	356		1,061
Cash and cash equivalents at 29th February 2008	396		356

  

Notes

1 Basis of Preparation

The preparation of the financial statements in accordance with adopted IFRSs resulted in changes to the accounting policies as compared with the prior period annual financial statements prepared under previous GAAP. The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these financial statements. They also have been applied in preparing an opening adopted IFRSs balance sheet at 1st March 2006 for the purposes of the transition to adopted IFRSs, as required by IFRS 1. The impact of the transition from previous GAAP to adopted IFRSs is explained in note 5.

2 Segment reporting

Business segments

The Company has two major categories of sales revenue which are largely delivered from the same cost base. In addition, the company is subject to similar business risks and benefits in all geographical locations in which the company conducts its business. As such, the Company is deemed to have one business and geographical segment. The Company has disclosed below certain information on its two revenue streams and is revenue by geographical location.

The Company's two revenue streams are separated as follows:

Consultancy division which provides services to capital markets

Software division which develops and has an interest in intellectual property and provides related services.

Revenue by division

	Consultancy  division		Software division		Total
	2008	2007	2008	2007	2008	2007
	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000
Total segment revenue	6,465	4,847	6,204	4,485	12,669	9,332

Revenue by geographical location

	Europe		America		Australasia		Unallocated		Total
	2008	2007	2008	2007	2008	2007	2008	2007	2008	2007
	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000
Revenue from external customers	7,481	5,059	4,479	4,143	709	130	-	-	12,669	9,332

3 Dividends

	2008	2007
	£'000	£'000
Final dividend relating to the prior year	468	381
Interim dividend paid	301	179
	769	560

4 Earnings per ordinary share

Basic

The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of £3,054,000 (2007: £1,907,000). The weighted average number of ordinary shares for the year ended 29th February 2008 and ranking for dividend was 13,088,749 (2007: 12,771,232).

	2008	2007
	Pence	Pence
Basic earnings per share	23.3	14.9

Weighted average number of ordinary shares ('000)

	2008	2007
Issued ordinary shares at beginning of period	12,944	12,715
Effect of share options exercised	145	56
Weighted average number of ordinary shares at end of period	13,089	12,771

Diluted

The calculation of diluted earnings per share is based on the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders of £3,054,000 (2007: £1,907,000). The weighted average number of ordinary shares for the year ended 29th February 2008 and ranking for dividend was 13,761,879 (2007: 13,290,938).

	2008	2007
	Pence	Pence
Diluted earnings per share	22.2	14.3

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted) ('000)

	2008	2007
	Number	Number
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (basic)	13,089	12,771
Effect of share options in issue	673	520
Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted) at end of period	13,762	13,291

The average market value of the company's shares for purposes of calculating the dilutive effect of share options was based on quoted market prices for the period the options were outstanding.

5 Explanation of transition to IFRSs as adopted by the EU

These are the company's first financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU ('EU IFRSs').

The accounting policies have been applied in preparing the financial statements for the financial year ended 29th February 2008, the comparative information for the financial year ended 28th February 2007 and the preparation of an opening EU IFRSs balance sheet at 1st March 2006 (the company's date of transition).

In preparing its opening EU IFRSs balance sheet and comparative information for the financial year ended 28th February 2007, the Company has adjusted amounts reported previously in financial statements prepared in accordance with UK GAAP. 

An explanation of how the transition from UK GAAP to EU IFRSs has affected the company's financial position, financial performance and cash flows is set out in the following tables and the notes that accompany the tables.

Reconciliation of Equity

		Previous GAAP	Effect of transition to adopted IFRSs	Adopted IFRSs	Previous GAAP	Effect of transition to adopted IFRSs	Adopted IFRSs
		1st March 2006			28th February 2007
	Note	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000	£000
Assets
Property, plant and equipment	b	3,238	23	3,261	8,088	54	8,142
Intangible assets		360	-	360	180	-	180
Other financial assets		111	-	111	210	-	210
Available for sale asset	a	90	(90)	-	111	100	211
Deferred tax assets	e	-	149	149	-	548	548
Total non-current assets		3,799	82	3,881	8,589	702	9,291
Trade and other receivables	e	2,251	(21)	2,230	2,562	(24)	2,538
Cash and cash equivalents		1,061	-	1,061	356	-	356
Total current assets		3,312	(21)	3,291	2,918	(24)	2,894
Total assets		7,111	61	7,172	11,507	678	12,185
Liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and  borrowings		140	-	140	1,185	-	1,185
Trade and other payables		1,078	-	1,078	1,535	-	1,535
Corporation tax payable		551	-	551	739	-	739
Employee benefits	c	313	112	425	295	167	462
Provisions		-	-	-	-	-	-
Total current liabilities		2,082	112	2,194	3,754	167	3,921
Liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and  borrowings		1,717	-	1,717	2,838	-	2,838
Total non-current liabilities		1,717	-	1,717	2,838	-	2,838
Total liabilities		3,799	112	3,911	6,592	167	6,759
Net assets		3,312	(51)	3,261	4,915	511	5,426
Equity
Issued capital		64	-	64	65	-	65
Shares option reserve		55	(3)	52	186	349	535
Share premium account		910	-	910	1,020	-	1,020
Retained earnings		2,283	(48)	2,235	3,644	(28)	3,616
Available for sale reserve		-	-	-	-	190	190
Total equity		3,312	(51)	3,261	4,915	511	5,426

Reconciliation of profit for 2007 

		Previous GAAP	Effect of transition to adopted IFRSs	Adopted IFRSs
		£000	£000	£000
		28th February 2007
Revenue		9,332	-	9,332
Cost of sales		(6,137)	(24)	(6,161)
Gross profit		3,195	(24)	3,171
Other operating expenses		147	-	147
Administrative expenses		(686)	-	(686)
Operating profit before financing costs		2,656	(24)	2,632
Financial income		43	-	43
Financial expenses		(144)	-	(144)
Net financing costs		(101)	-	(101)
Profit before tax		2,555	(24)	2,531
Income tax expense		(634)	10	(624)
Profit for the period		1,921	(14)	1,907

	Basic earnings per share (pence)		15.0	(0.1)	14.9
	Diluted earnings per share (pence)		14.4	(0.1)	14.3

The profit for the period ended 28th February 2007 is impacted by some of the adjustments described in the reconciliation of equity and related notes above. The reduction of depreciation on property increased profit by £31,000, the increase in holiday leave accrual reduced profit by £55,000 and the increase in deferred tax asset on share based payments and holiday pay accrual has increased profit for the period by £10,000.

Explanation of material adjustments to the cash flow statement.

There are no material differences between the cash flow statement presented under EU IFRSs and the cash flow statement presented under previous GAAP.

ENDFR AJMBTMMIBTAP

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