1st Feb 2007 07:00
1st February 2007 Impact Holdings ( UK ) Plc Trading Update Total Indicative Offers for banking facilities of up to ‚£23m
Heads of Agreement signed for an acquisition of a Solicitor Lending Business
Agreed purchase of the Veracity IT platform Appointment of a new Finance Director Trading Update Banking Facilities
Impact is pleased to announce that it has received indicative offer letters from three financial institutions for facilities of up to ‚£23m. These facilities will secure the expansion of the Company's loan book during 2007 across the three main business lines.
Impact has also signed Heads of Agreement and is in an exclusivity period to purchase a solicitor lending business . The Company has received an indicative offer for banking facilities of ‚£15m to fund the ongoing growth. The purchase price will be satisfied by a mix of cash and shares. If the acquisition is successful it will allow Impact to accelerate its expansion into the solicitor lending market. Impact expects to be able to update the market on this acquisition within the next six weeks.
Impact has also been provided with an indicative offer for facilities of up to ‚£8m, subject to an injection of ‚£2m cash, to establish a property bridging finance division.
Purchase of IT platform
Until now, Impact has been outsourcing the management of loans. In accordance with its desire to bring this expertise in-house, the Company is delighted to report that it has agreed to buy the software platform, "Veracity". The Company has purchased this which will result in the elimination of the budgeted ‚£ 400,000 fees for those services in 2007/8. Impact has employed two dedicated IT staff to develop the systems in order to sustain a larger loan book with a broader range of products.
Management Changes
As a result of these changes Robert Long resigned from the Board on Friday 26th January 2007 and left the Company on the 31st January in order to pursue other personal interests.
In addition to the recent appointment of Paul Davies as CEO, the Company has appointed Chris Williams as Finance Director. Chris is a chartered accountant who is presently Managing Director of Concerva Limited which provides tax and financial planning advice to high net worth clients. In addition, he is an equity partner in a Manchester City Centre practice of Chartered Accountants.
Trading Update
The Company's negotiations over banking facilities have taken longer than expected, however, Impact has now received indicative terms for funding lines which will give the Group significantly greater leverage than had been anticipated. Thus, whereas profits to the year ended 31 March 2007 will be affected by the delay, the larger facilities combined with the proposed acquisition will allow the company to more actively pursue lending growth, enhancing the prospects for the company in 2007.
Summary
In the interim statement of 30 October 2006, the Company highlighted the IT platform and the securing of banking facilities as key to exploiting future market opportunities. We are delighted to have addressed both these areas over the past few months. Assuming the proposed acquisition goes ahead, Impact will have the capacity to significantly grow its total loan book. The Group expects to continue to make very attractive returns on the loan book and the outlook for growth in profits during 2007 is positive.
The following information is disclosed pursuant to Schedule 2 (g) of the AIM Rules:
Chris William's current directorships:
McKellens LimitedConcerva LimitedJack Ross Trustees LimitedJack Ross Limited
There is no other information to disclose in accordance with Schedule 2 (g).
Enquires
Paul Davies
Impact Holdings plc Tel: 0161 437 9499
Alastair Cade/Chloe Ponsonby
Daniel Stewart & Co plc Tel: 020 7776 6550
IMPACT HOLDINGS (UK) PLCRelated Shares:
IHUK.L