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Interim Results

25th Nov 2025 07:00

RNS Number : 8088I
Software Circle PLC
25 November 2025
 

Prior to publication, the information contained within this announcement was deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the UK Market Abuse Regulation. With the publication of this announcement, this information is now considered to be in the public domain.

 

25 November 2025

Software Circle plc

("Software Circle", the "Company" or the "Group")

 

Unaudited Interim Results for the period ended 30 September 2025

 

Financial highlights

Six months to

30 September

2025

Six months to

30 September

2024

Revenue

£10.2m

£8.9m

Operating EBITDA ("oEBITDA")1

£3.1m

£2.3m

Adjusted EBITDA ("aEBITDA")2

£2.3m

£1.5m

Operating Cash Flow Per Share ("OCFPS")3

0.5p

0.2p

Cash flow from operating and other investing activities4

£1.8m

£0.8m

Cash and Cash Equivalents

£4.8m

£12.7m

Earnings Per Share (EPS)

(0.3)p

0.3p

Net debt / (cash)

£7.1m

£(2.4m)

 

1 oEBITDA = EBITDA before impairments, share option charges, exceptional costs, acquisition related costs, central administration costs and the capitalisation of qualifying development costs

aEBITDA = oEBITDA less central administration costs

3 OCFPS = Cash flow from operating and other investing activities divided by the weighted average number of shares

Cash flow from operating and other investing activities = Cash flow from operating activities plus cash flows from investing activities less acquisition of subsidiaries net of cash and payment of deferred consideration

 

● Revenue increased by £1.3m, a 15% increase

● oEBITDA increased by £0.8m, growth of 33%

● aEBITDA increased by £0.8m, growth of 44%

● 4% organic revenue growth achieved across our acquisitions*

● 16% organic oEBITDA growth achieved across our acquisitions*

● On an annualised basis, Operating Return on Capital Deployed ("oROCD") increased to 25%

● OCFPS increased by 150% to 0.5p

 

Operational highlights

● Artificial Intelligence Finance Limited acquired in August 2025.

 

Post period events

● Broker Information Services Limited was acquired in October as our tenth acquisition. Together with AIF, this forms our first platform, a complementary cluster of software businesses serving the same vertical.

● Software Circle is now a group of eleven VMS businesses, with annualised run rate revenues of approximately £24m at an aEBITDA margin of 25%.

 

*Acquired portfolio companies excluding our legacy Nettl Systems business.

 

For further information:

Software Circle plc

Gavin Cockerill (CEO) [email protected]

Allenby Capital Limited (Nominated Adviser and broker) 0203 328 5656

David Hart / Piers Shimwell (Corporate Finance)

Joscelin Pinnington/ Amrit Nahal (Sales and Corporate Broking)

 

Interim Statement

 

During the six-month period ended 30 September 2025, we continued to make strong progress. Our focus remains on building a diversified group of vertical market software (VMS) businesses, each operating autonomously within its niche, while benefiting from shared financial and operational discipline, capital allocation rigour, and the long-term stability of permanent ownership.

 

Our companies develop mission-critical systems, deeply embedded in the day-to-day workflows of their customers. These are not generic tools, they are specialist platforms, built and supported by passionate teams who care deeply about solving the intricate and highly specific problems of their respective markets.

 

Our ambition is to become the UK's leading serial acquirer and operator of such VMS businesses. To achieve this, we believe success depends on three key disciplines:

 

1. Maintaining acquisition discipline - Remaining focused on long-term returns and quality of earnings rather than pace alone.

 

2. Driving improvability - Identifying and implementing improvements using our business systems and shared learnings to enhance the performance of each acquired company consistently over time.

3. Funding growth in an equity-efficient way - Balancing risk, pace, and the impact on Operating Cash Flow Per Share to compound shareholder value sustainably.

 

During the period, we've demonstrated meaningful progress across all three disciplines. We've expanded our portfolio, completing one acquisition within the period and a further acquisition in October, marking our ninth and tenth completed transactions since we began this strategy in 2022.

 

We've built a group that today is home to eleven software business units which operate within the following segments: Graphics and Ecommerce, Property, Health and Social Care Management, Professional and Financial Services, and Education. Together they now deliver, on an annualised run rate basis, £24m of revenue and approximately £8m of oEBITDA. We've deployed £36m to date, rising to £41m when considering deferred consideration and the contingent consideration payable based on current performance levels.

 

We continue to maintain discipline against our M&A guardrails: UK and Irish based VMS targets in clearly defined niches, majority recurring revenues, low churn, diversified customer bases and entry valuations within our aEBITDA range.

 

Having now surpassed our goals at "Gate 4", achieving £5 million of annualised aEBITDA, this should now afford us more financing optionality which will help us fund our journey as we progress toward our next major milestone "Gate 5", achieving £15 million of annualised aEBITDA.

 

We welcomed Artificial Intelligence Finance Limited ("AIF"), known as Online Application ("OA") during the first half of the financial year. They provide services to insurance and mortgage brokers as well as to lenders and insurers via a suite of software products, OA Mortgage, OA Life + CRM, OA Lender and OA Insurer. OA was acquired in August, followed closely by Broker Information Services Limited ("BIS") post period in October. OA and BIS operate within the same sector and together form our first platform. A cluster of complementary businesses within our Professional and Financial Services segment.

 

I'm pleased to report that Group trading continues to align with our internal forecasts. We've continued to drive organic growth within our acquired portfolio and have seen the key metrics of the Group improve again. The performance of our acquired business units remains encouraging, meeting our expectations and reinforcing the strength of our strategic direction.

 

Trading Results and Cash

 

Revenue rose to £10.2m (2024: £8.9m) an increase of 15%. We've driven growth in organic revenue of 4% from the acquired operating units. Overall organic revenue growth continues to be impacted by a decline in the lower margin, non-recurring revenue within our legacy Nettl Systems business, part of our Graphics & Ecommerce revenue segment. Whilst Nettl's pace of decline is slowing, its revenue fell to £2.8m (2024: £3.4m), meaning an overall decline in organic revenue of 4% (2024: 10% decline).

The Group's revenue mix continues to shift towards subscription revenue, with recurring revenues representing 73% of Group revenue (2024: 67%), supporting a further improvement in gross margin quality and earnings resilience.

Gross profit for the Group rose by 24% to £7.8m (2024: £6.3m) and our gross margin percentage increased to 76% (2024: 70%).

 

The addition of Total Drive in March 2025, along with organic earnings growth delivered from the existing portfolio has meant oEBITDA increased by 33% to £3.1m (2024: £2.3m) equating to 30% of revenue (2024: 26%). Our two most recent acquisitions, OA late in the period and BIS post period, will have a more significant impact on our progress in the second half of the year.

Acquisitions contributed £0.6m to the increase in oEBITDA. In addition, despite the overall decline in organic revenue, excluding Nettl, we delivered 16% organic growth in oEBITDA, adding a further £0.2m overall.

Central costs remain broadly consistent at £0.8m (2024: £0.7m). After these Central Costs, our aEBITDA increased by 44% to £2.3m (2024: £1.6m) at an improved aEBITDA margin of 22% of revenue (2024: 18%).

 

Operating loss was £0.8m (2024: profit £1.4m). The £2.2m movement in profitability is due to two key items. First, depreciation and amortisation charges increased to £3.0m (2024: £2.3m) as non-cash amortisation charges related to acquisitions rose to £2.3m (2024: £1.7m). Given the current scale of the Group and our level of acquisition activity, these non-cash charges currently have a more pronounced impact on reported profit, even though they do not affect cash generation. Second, the prior period included the exceptional £1.7m credit received in 2024 as a result of the divestment of the printing.com domain.

 

Looking ahead, as we continue to acquire profitable businesses at a similar pace, we expect the incremental earnings from those acquisitions to outweigh the relatively fixed amortisation charges arising from historical acquisition costs. Because amortisation does not scale in line with revenue or profitability, we anticipate that growing operating profits will progressively dilute its impact, supporting a sustained transition into positive net earnings.

At 30 September 2025, the Group held cash of £4.8m (31 March 2025: £8.6m). Our operating activities generated £2.3m of cash (2024: £1.5m). We've paid £4.5m in respect of acquisitions, funded through existing cash reserves, and paid £1.1m servicing debt. Total debt rose to £11.9m (31 March 2025: £10.8m) with additional deferred and contingent consideration of £2.3m arising with the OA acquisition.

On an annualised basis, our Operating Return on Capital Deployed ("oROCD") increased to 25% and our overall Return on Capital Deployed ("ROCD") to 18%, compared with 24% and 16% respectively reported for the previous full financial year. We calculate Operating and overall ROCD by dividing oEBITDA and aEBITDA respectively over Capital Deployed, being the average of the opening and closing amount of cash paid, including acquisition related expenditure, in respect of investments in subsidiary companies.

 

We've said that maximising Operating Cash Flow Per Share, in the long term, is the number one financial priority for us. This measure is up by 150% to 0.5p (2024: 0.2p).

 

Operating Segments

 

Across the portfolio, we focus relentlessly on the measures that we believe will compound shareholder value over time. We use oEBITDA and aEBITDA to assess operating performance and portfolio efficiency, we track OCFPS as our ultimate lag measure of value creation, and we monitor ROCD/oROCD to ensure our cash returns on deployed capital exceed our thresholds. These continue to guide decision-making across the Group.

 

Our decentralised model continues to do what it is designed to do. Leaders closest to customers make the day-to-day decisions, while we support them with shared playbooks to lift growth, expand margins and reduce churn. As a result, our acquired VMS units continue to track ahead of entry assumptions and are delivering improving returns on capital.

 

Operating Segments - period ended 30 September 2025

£'000

Graphics & Ecommerce

Professional & Financial Services

Health & Social Care

Property

Education

Total Group

License & Subscription revenue

1,671

1,879

1,883

878

1,126

7,437

Product & Service revenue

2,357

263

15

2

120

2,757

Total Segment Revenue

4,028

2,142

1,898

880

1,246

10,194

% Recurring

41%

88%

99%

100%

90%

73%

% Group Revenue

40%

21%

19%

9%

12%

n/a

Segment oEBITDA

472

793

756

394

694

3,109

% Group oEBITDA

15%

26%

24%

13%

22%

n/a

 

 

In the period, we've seen the strongest organic growth in our Education segment, with 17% growth in revenue and 64% growth in oEBITDA, which has been driven by a combination of an increasing new customer count, expanding usage and adoption within our existing customer base, and disciplined cost control.

 

Our Professional and Financial Services segment also fared well, with growth in organic revenue of 7% and 22% in oEBITDA. This was primarily the result of revenue expansion within our existing customer base.

 

In our Health and Social Care segment, we saw a decline in organic revenues of 7% primarily due to an increase in churn. Investment in platform improvements is starting to have a positive impact and we expect to see revenue expansion from this investment in the latter part of the current financial year. Despite a decline in organic revenue, improved efficiency and cost control meant organic oEBITDA in the segment grew by 3%.

 

Our Graphics and Ecommerce segment saw the softest performance. Although licence and subscription revenue was more stable, product revenue, which represents more of the mix than is typical in our portfolio, declined, resulting in a drop in organic revenue of 11%. This, coupled with the increase in Employers National Insurance, led to a decline in oEBITDA of 25%.

 

Our Property segment continued its strong performance, growing revenue organically by 11%. Steady growth in new logos and usage expansion has driven this. We've invested some of this growth into the platform meaning growth in organic oEBITDA was 5%. The result of this is a new modular revenue stream which should have a positive effect in the second half of the year.

Embedding AI Across Our Operating Units

Across the Group, our operating units are increasingly using artificial intelligence in practical, problem-solving ways. We are embedding AI into existing workflows and products where it can create clear value for customers and teams.

Our businesses are using AI to improve response and resolution times in customer support, assist sales teams, and help product and development teams work faster while maintaining quality. In several units, AI tools are now used to extract and summarise information from large documents. This is already reducing the burden on teams when responding to due diligence questionnaires, complex tenders and security assessments, freeing colleagues to focus on higher value work and client relationships.

We are also exploring AI-driven features within our software platforms themselves, for example to highlight insights from customer data, automate routine checks or guide users through complex workflows. These initiatives are at different stages of maturity across the Group, and we are sharing learnings between operating units so that proven approaches can be adopted quickly elsewhere.

To support this, we have established an internal AI community, bringing together AI champions, product leaders and developers from across the Group to share tools, patterns and governance practices. Our focus remains on using AI safely and responsibly, with appropriate controls around data protection and security. Over time, we expect this disciplined, customer-led approach to AI to contribute to improved service quality, more efficient internal processes and a stronger competitive position for our operating units.

 

Outlook

 

This half year marks an inflection point for Software Circle. Moving beyond Gate 4 on an annualised basis, which should unlock debt options that give us financial flexibility without diluting shareholders.

 

Our focus now shifts firmly to Gate 5, achieving £15m of annualised aEBITDA and building a Group capable of sustaining its own growth through internally generated cash flow. With strong recurring revenues, disciplined capital allocation, and a growing portfolio of exceptional operating units, we are well positioned to deliver long-term, compounding value for our shareholders.

 

Including our latest acquisitions, on a run-rate basis and before any further M&A, we expect annualised revenue of approximately £24m and view an aEBITDA margin of approximately 25% as a realistic target as operating discipline continues to improve. Our pipeline is healthy, we remain disciplined on valuation and operational fit. The combination of decentralised execution, improving quality of earnings and a scalable funding platform underpins our confidence in compounding OCFPS over the long term.

Finally, our sincere thanks to all of our talented teams across the Group for their focus and execution in the year so far. Their work continues to strengthen the foundations of a resilient, cash-generative and enduring software group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthias Riechert Gavin Cockerill

Chairman Chief Executive Officer

24 November 2025

 

 

Unaudited Interim Results for the period ended 30 September 2025

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the six months ended 30 September 2025

 

 

Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited

 

Note

Six months to

30 September

2025

Six months to

 30 September

2024

Year ended

31 March

2025

£000

£000

£000

Total

Total

Total

Revenue

3

10,194

8,917

18,274

Direct costs

(2,416)

(2,625)

(5,028)

Gross profit

7,778

6,292

13,246

 

Staff costs

 

(4,476)

 

(3,073)

 

(7,433)

Other operating charges

(1,077)

(1,219)

(2,404)

Depreciation and amortisation

(2,966)

(2,277)

(4,608)

Profit on disposal of domain

-

1,712

1,712

Value adjustment on consideration payable

(107)

-

191

Operating (loss) / profit

 

 

(848)

1,435

704

Financial income

62

187

386

Financial expenses

4

(829)

(309)

(887)

Value adjustment on bond settlement

-

-

(874)

Net financing expense

(767)

(122)

(1,375)

 

(Loss) / profit before tax

 

(1,615)

1,313

(671)

Taxation

 

397

(68)

342

(Loss) / profit for the period

(1,218)

1,245

(329)

 

 

Other comprehensive income

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss

Exchange differences on translation of foreign subsidiaries

159

(74)

(64)

(Loss) / profit and total comprehensive income for the period

(1,059)

1,171

(393)

Earnings per share - Basic and diluted

5

(0.31)p

0.32p

(0.08)p

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

at 30 September 2025

 

Note

 Unaudited

30 September 2025

 Unaudited

30 September 2024

Audited

31 March

2025

 

 

£000

£000

£000

Non-current assets

 

 

Property, plant and equipment

 

675

1,150

764

Intangible assets

6

30,846

23,251

26,862

Total non-current assets

 

31,521

24,401

27,626

 

 

 

Current assets

 

 

Inventories

19

25

26

Trade and other receivables

7

2,277

2,622

1,881

Cash and cash equivalents

 

4,798

12,684

8,566

Total current assets

 

7,094

15,331

10,473

Total assets

 

38,615

39,732

38,099

 

 

Current liabilities

 

 

 

Trade and other payables

8

4,227

4,304

3,830

Other interest-bearing loans and borrowings

9

4,185

8,057

 2,692

Total current liabilities

8,412

12,361

6,522

 

Non-current liabilities

 

Other interest-bearing loans and borrowings

9

7,683

2,248

8,108

Deferred tax liabilities

2,130

2,219

2,075

Total non-current liabilities

9,813

4,467

10,183

Total liabilities

18,225

16,828

16,705

Net assets

20,390

22,904

21,394

 

Equity

 

Share capital

3,901

3,901

3,901

Share premium

28,255

28,255

28,255

Merger reserve

838

838

838

Share based payment reserve

198

89

143

Translation reserve

144

(16)

(15)

Retained earnings

(12,946)

(10,163)

(11,728)

Total equity

20,390

22,904

21,394

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders Equity

for the six months ended 30 September 2025

 

 

Share

Capital

Share Premium

Merger

Reserve

Share based payment reserve

Translation reserve

Retained

earnings

 

Total

 

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Opening shareholders' funds at 1 April 2024

3,901

28,255

838

37

58

(11,408)

21,681

Total comprehensive loss for the period

-

-

-

-

(74)

1,245

1,171

Share option charge

-

-

-

52

-

-

52

Closing shareholders' funds at 30 September 2024

3,901

28,255

838

89

(16)

(10,163)

22,904

Total comprehensive loss for the period

-

-

-

-

10

(1,574)

(1,564)

Transfer of translation reserve on closure of foreign subsidiaries

-

-

-

-

(9)

9

-

Share option charge

-

-

-

54

-

-

54

Closing shareholders' funds at 31 March 2025

3,901

28,255

838

143

(15)

(11,728)

21,394

 

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

159

 

(1,218)

 

(1,059)

Share option charge

-

-

-

55

-

-

55

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Closing shareholders' funds at 30 September 2025

3,901

28,255

838

198

144

(12,946)

20,390

 

 

 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

for the six months ended 30 September 2025

 

 

 

 

 

Note

Unaudited

Six months to 30 September 2025

£000

Unaudited

Six months to 30 September 2024

£000

Audited

Year ended

31 March

 2025

£000

Cash flows from operating activities

 

 

(Loss) / profit for the period

(1,218)

1,245

(329)

Adjustments for:

 

Depreciation, amortisation and impairment

2,966

2,277

4,789

Profit on disposal of plant and equipment

1

(92)

(223)

Profit on disposal of intangible assets

3

-

(1,712)

(1,712)

Share based payments

55

52

106

Financial income

(62)

(187)

(386)

Financial expense

829

309

887

Value adjustment on bond settlement

-

-

874

Bad debt (credit) / expense

(44)

(36)

83

Tax (income) / expense

(397)

68

(342)

Value adjustment on consideration payable

107

-

(191)

Operating cash flow before changes in working capital and provisions

2,237

1,924

3,556

Change in trade and other receivables

47

294

978

Change in inventories

7

8

7

Change in trade and other payables

179

(946)

(1,601)

Cash generated from operations

2,470

1,280

2,940

Corporation tax (paid) / received

(134)

81

(156)

R&D tax received

-

96

158

Net cash from operating activities

2,336

1,457

2,942

Cash flows from investing activities

 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

(30)

(56)

(61)

Disposal of plant and equipment

2

53

46

Disposal of intangible assets

-

1,712

1,712

Capitalised development expenditure

6

(562)

(810)

(1,292)

Purchase of other intangible assets

-

(16)

(16)

Interest received

62

212

329

Acquisition of subsidiaries net of cash

(3,593)

(4,170)

(7,367)

Payment of deferred consideration

(879)

(369)

(1,318)

Net cash from investing activities

(5,000)

(3,444)

(7,967)

Cash flows from financing activities

 

Proceeds from loans

-

-

6,700

Repayment of loans

(611)

(181)

(7,361)

Finance costs paid

(373)

(402)

(913)

Capital payment of lease liabilities

(78)

(64)

(132)

Interest payment of lease liabilities

(26)

(48)

(84)

Net cash from financing activities

(1,088)

(695)

(1,790)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

(3,752)

(2,682)

(6,815)

Exchange difference on cash and cash equivalents

(16)

(25)

(10)

Cash and cash equivalents at start of period

8,566

15,391

15,391

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

4,798

12,684

8,566

Notes

(forming part of the interim financial statements)

1 Basis of preparation

Software Circle plc (the "Company") is a company incorporated and domiciled in the UK.

 

These financial statements do not include all information required for full annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the financial statements of the Company as at and for the year ended 31 March 2025. Those accounts have been reported on by the Company's auditors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors was: (i) unqualified; (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report; and (iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

These interim financial statements are prepared on the same basis as the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025, in which our full set of accounting policies, including critical judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty, can be found.

 

As of the balance sheet date, the Company maintains a substantial cash balance, providing a strong liquidity position to support its business operations and strategic growth plans. The cash reserves are considered sufficient to meet the current operational requirements and short-term obligations of the Company.

 

The Company's primary strategic objective includes expansion through acquisitions, which involves inherent risks, particularly concerning deferred consideration payments. While the Company has a significant cash balance, the Directors recognise the following risks:

 

● Acquisition Volume and Payment Obligations: The risk of acquiring multiple companies in a short time frame could potentially strain the Company's liquidity if not managed prudently.

● Deferred Consideration Payments: The Company must ensure that it can meet deferred consideration payments as they fall due, without compromising its operational liquidity.

 

To mitigate these risks, the Directors have implemented the following measures:

● Due Diligence and Acquisition Strategy: Rigorous due diligence processes are in place to evaluate potential acquisition targets, ensuring that each acquisition aligns with the Company's strategic objectives and financial capacity.

● Cash Flow Forecasting and Management: Detailed cash flow forecasting is conducted regularly to project the timing and amounts of deferred consideration payments, ensuring that adequate cash reserves are maintained.

● Contingency Planning: Contingency plans are established to address any potential shortfalls in liquidity, including securing additional financing if necessary.

 

After considering the Company's strong cash position, the comprehensive risk management strategies in place, and the ability to adjust the pace of acquisitions if required, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing these interim financial statements.

 

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 24 November 2025.

 

 

 

2 Significant accounting policies

The accounting policies applied by the Company in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements are the same as those applied by the Company in its consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2025.

3 Segmental information

Segmental reporting is prepared for the Group's operating segments based on the information which is presented to the Board, which reviews revenue and adjusted EBITDA by segment. The Group's costs, finance income, tax charges, non-current liabilities, net assets and capital expenditure are only reviewed by the Board at a consolidated level and therefore have not been allocated between segments in the analysis below.

 

Analysis by location of revenue

 

UK & Ireland

£000

 

Europe

£000

 

Other

£000

 

Total

£000

Six months ended 30 September 2025

9,905

43

246

10,194

Six months ended 30 September 2024

8,685

67

165

8,917

Year ended 31 March 2025

17,690

122

462

18,274

Revenue generated outside the UK & Ireland is in Belgium, The Netherlands, France, New Zealand, South Africa and the USA. No single customer provided the Group with over 1% of its revenue.

DISAGGREGATION OF REVENUE AND OPERATING PROFIT / (LOSS)

 

Period ended 30 September 2025

Graphics

& Ecommerce

Professional & financial services

Health & social

care

 

 

Property

 

 

Education

 

Operating Total

 

Central overhead

 

 

Total

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£'000

£000

Licence and subscription revenue

1,671

1,879

1,883

878

1,126

7,437

-

7,437

Product and service revenue

2,357

263

15

2

120

2,757

-

2,757

Revenue

4,028

2,142

1,898

880

1,246

10,194

-

10,194

 

 

adjusted EBITDA

472

793

756

394

694

3,109

(824)

2,285

Development costs

161

161

150

60

27

559

-

559

Share based payment charges

-

-

-

-

-

-

(55)

(55)

Acquisition costs

-

-

-

-

-

-

(564)

(564)

Depreciation and amortisation

(408)

(137)

(153)

(14)

(17)

(729)

(2,237)

(2,966)

Value adjustments on contingent consideration

-

-

-

-

-

-

(107)

(107)

Operating profit / (loss)

225

817

753

440

704

2,939

(3,787)

(848)

 

Acquisition costs include directly related bonuses, stamp duty, legal and professional fees and contingent consideration payments treated as a compensation expense in line with IFRS 3 due to ongoing employment clauses.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Period ended 30 September 2024

Graphics

& Ecommerce

Professional & financial services

Health & social

care

 

 

Property

 

 

Education

 

Operating Total

 

Central overhead

 

 

Total

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

£'000

£000

Licence and subscription revenue

1,722

1,269

1,553

791

614

5,949

-

5,949

Product and service revenue

2,818

120

28

2

-

2,968

-

2,968

Revenue

4,540

1,389

1,581

793

614

8,917

-

8,917

 

 

adjusted EBITDA

632

561

544

375

225

2,337

(745)

1,592

Development costs

299

140

330

41

-

810

-

810

Share based payment charges

-

-

-

-

-

-

(52)

(52)

Acquisition costs

-

-

-

-

-

-

(299)

(299)

Depreciation and amortisation

(350)

(122)

(31)

(15)

(12)

(530)

(1,747)

(2,277)

Exceptional items

-

-

(51)

-

-

(51)

1,712

1,661

Operating profit / (loss)

581

579

792

401

213

2,566

(1,131)

1,435

 

Exceptional items

On 2 April 2024, the Company announced the sale of the printing.com domain to JAL Equity Corp for £1,772,000. Related disposal costs totalled £60,000. £51,000 of restructuring costs were incurred in our Health & social care division to enable the required reinvestment into development of the operating unit's platform, future proofing and preparing that business for growth.

 

4 Finance expenses

 

 

 

Unaudited

Six months to

30 September

2025

£000

Unaudited

Six months to

 30 September

2024

£000

Audited

Year ended

31 March

2025

£000

Lease interest

26

48

85

Bearer bond interest

-

207

272

Loan interest

388

9

291

Facility fees

73

-

56

Foreign exchange losses / (gains)

158

(57)

(54)

Unwinding of discount on deferred consideration

184

102

237

Total finance expense

829

309

887

 

5 Earnings per share

The calculations of earnings per share are based on the following profits and numbers of shares:

 

Unaudited

Six months to

 30 September

 2025

Unaudited

Six months to

30 September

 2024

Audited

Year ended

31 March

2025

 

£000

£000

£000

(Loss) / profit after taxation for the period

(1,218)

1,245

(329)

Weighted average number of shares in issue

390,083,306

390,083,306

390,083,306

Dilutive effect of share options

-

2,898,742

-

Weighted average shares in issue on a diluted basis

390,083,306

392,982,048

390,083,306

 

 

Basic earnings per share

(0.31)p

0.32p

(0.08)p

Diluted earnings per share

(0.31)p

0.32p

(0.08)p

 

Diluted earnings per share is calculated based on the treasury method prescribed in IAS 33. This calculates the theoretical number of shares that could be purchased at the average market price in the period from the proceeds of exercised options. The difference between the number of shares under option and the theoretical number of shares that could be purchased from the proceeds of their exercise is deemed liable to be issued at nil value and represents the dilution. Where the Group has reported a net loss after tax, including the options would be anti-dilutive, therefore all outstanding options have no dilutive effect.

 

6 Intangible assets

Domains

& brand

Software

Development

costs

Customer

Lists

Technology

Goodwill

Other

Total

£000

£000

£000

£000

£0000

£000

£000

£000

 

Cost

Balance at 30 September 2024

363

4,560

7,336

7,658

13,443

5,931

139

39,430

Additions - internally developed

-

-

482

-

-

-

-

482

Addition through subsidiary acquisition

-

-

-

303

1,080

3,855

-

5,238

Disposals

(337)

(251)

-

(279)

-

-

-

(867)

Balance at 31 March 2025

26

4,309

7,818

7,682

14,523

9,786

139

44,283

Additions - internally developed

 

-

 

-

 

562

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

562

Addition through subsidiary acquisition (note 11)

-

-

-

2,673

1,364

2,222

-

6,259

Balance at 30 September 2025

26

4,309

8,380

10,355

15,887

12,008

139

51,104

 

Amortisation and impairment

Balance at 30 September 2024

350

4,540

5,373

1,523

4,267

12

114

16,179

Amortisation

-

1

158

351

1,598

-

1

2,109

Disposals

(337)

(251)

-

(279)

-

-

-

(867)

Balance at 31 March 2025

13

4,290

5,531

1,595

5,865

12

115

17,421

Amortisation

1

2

519

447

1,867

-

2

2,838

Balance at 30 September 2025

14

4,292

6,050

2,042

7,732

12

117

20,259

 

Net book value

At 30 September 2024

 

 

13

 

 

20

 

 

1,963

 

 

6,135

 

 

9,176

 

 

5,919

 

 

25

 

 

23,251

At 31 March 2025

13

19

2,287

6,087

8,658

9,774

24

26,862

At 30 September 2025

12

17

2,330

8,313

8,155

11,996

22

30,845

 

7 Trade and other receivables

Unaudited

30 September

 2025

£000

Unaudited

30 September

 2024

£000

Audited

31 March

 2025

£000

Trade receivables

1,853

2,440

1,748

Less provision for trade receivables

(362)

(610)

(439)

Trade receivables net

1,491

1,830

1,309

Total financial assets other than cash and cash equivalents classified at amortised cost

1,491

1,830

1,309

 

Corporation tax

-

-

96

Prepayments

395

312

260

Other receivables

391

480

216

Total other receivables

786

792

572

Total trade and other receivables

2,277

2,622

1,881

8 Trade and other payables

 

 

 

 

 

Unaudited

30 September

 2025

£000

Unaudited

30 September

 2024

£000

Audited

31 March

 2025

£000

Trade payables

486

599

504

Accruals

306

613

438

Other liabilities

1,363

1,277

1,408

Current financial liabilities measured at amortised cost

2,155

2,489

2,350

Deferred Income

2,072

1,815

1,480

Total trade and other payables

4,227

4,304

3,830

 

9 Other interest-bearing loans and borrowings

 

 

 

Current liabilities

 

Unaudited

30 September

 2025

£000

Unaudited

30 September

 2024

£000

Audited

31 March

 2025

£000

Lease liabilities

156

83

159

Bearer bonds

-

5,905

-

Loans

521

177

634

Deferred consideration

1,687

1,892

1,634

Contingent consideration

1,821

-

265

4,185

8,057

2,692

Non-current liabilities

 

Lease liabilities

424

769

499

Loans

5,267

-

5,678

Contingent consideration

1,992

1,479

1,931

7,683

2,248

8,108

 

 

10 Dividend

 

The Directors have not declared an Interim Dividend (2024: Nil).

 

 

11 Acquisitions

 

Acquisition of Artificial Intelligence Finance Limited (AIF)

 

Approximately 95% of the issued share capital of AIF, a provider of software to mortgage and insurance brokers, was acquired on 4 August 2025 for total consideration of up to €9,000,000. The initial consideration paid at completion was €4,330,000, with deferred consideration of €670,000 to be paid on the first anniversary of completion. Up to a further €4,000,000 is payable to acquire the remaining 5% of AIF's share capital through a put and call option, with the price payable being contingent upon the achievement of certain targets relating to the future financial performance of AIF for calendar years 2026 and 2027. The nature of the put and call option means that the instrument is highly likely to be exercised. Due to this, management has determined that it holds a present ownership interest in the remaining 5% of the issued share capital. As a result, Non-Controlling Interest has not been recognised, instead the consideration transferred includes the present value of the expected amount payable upon exercise of the put and call option. In addition, the consideration was increased by a further €449,000 in respect of surplus cash within the business on completion, €149,000 of which was paid on completion with the remainder deferred until the agreement of completion accounts. The present value of expected consideration payments at acquisition totalled £6,181,000.

 

AIF met Software Circle's acquisition criteria by being a software business, by having a prominent position in its vertical market and by delivering solutions that generate revenues of a recurring nature.

 

For the period that AIF was owned by the Group during the period under review, it contributed revenue of £360,000, an aEBITDA of £99,000 and, due to the amortisation of intangibles arising on consolidation, a loss before tax of £14,000.

 

Net assets of AIF on acquisition:

Book Value

Adjustments

Fair value

£000

£000

£000

Customer lists

-

2,673

2,673

Technology

-

1,364

1,364

Development costs

449

(449)

-

Property, plant and equipment

12

-

12

Investments in subsidiaries

1,279

(1,279)

-

Cash and cash equivalents

329

-

329

Trade and other receivables

385

-

385

Trade and other payables

(300)

-

(300)

Deferred tax

-

(504)

(504)

Net assets acquired

2,154

1,805

3,959

Consideration

6,181

Goodwill

2,222

 

 

Consideration satisfied by:

£000

Cash on completion

3,922

Deferred consideration

775

Contingent consideration

1,484

 

6,181

 

An income approach was used to value contractual customer lists and relationships, using a discount factor of 13.4%. The useful life has been estimated at 10 years. The technology was valued by using a relief from royalty approach, based on a royalty rate of 21% and using a discount factor of 13.4%. The useful life has been estimated at 3 years.

 

Investments in subsidiaries related to the previous acquisition of Lunar Technologies Ltd by AIF and are eliminated on consolidation.

 

Trade and other receivables include gross contractual amounts due of £209,000 of which £nil was expected to be uncollectible at the date of acquisition.

 

The goodwill arising from the acquisition of AIF is attributable to a number of factors, including the specialised knowledge and expertise of the assembled workforce and the market position.

 

The deferred tax liabilities recognised represent the tax effect which will result from the amortisation of the intangible assets, estimated using the tax rate substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

 

 

 

12 Post balance sheet events

 

On 13 October 2025, the Company announced the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Broker Information Services Limited (BIS), a provider of client management and quotation software for the financial broker market in Ireland. The total consideration of €8,250,000 is structured on a debt free/cash free basis. The acquisition is expected to be cash flow generative and earnings enhancing in the first year after acquisition. Initial consideration of €6,900,000 was paid on completion, less a retention for estimated net liabilities of €480,000. A further €1,350,000 of deferred consideration will be paid on the first anniversary of completion. At the time of issuing these financial statements, the completion accounts and intangible asset valuations are ongoing. As a result, values relating to the valuation of assets, intangible assets and goodwill arising on consolidation cannot yet be disclosed.

 

The net initial consideration was funded partially through a £4.5m drawdown from the Company's committed acquisition facility, with the remainder coming from existing cash reserves.

 

Following the acquisition of BIS, the amount payable under the earnout for the previously acquired AIF, as set out in note 11, has increased to a maximum of €7,500,000, dependent on a now combined earnings target for AIF and BIS across calendar years 2026 and 2027.

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END
 
 
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