Driver Group plc releases it’s interim report for the six months ended 31 March 2019.
Key Points (for the six months ended 31 March 2019
6 months ended | 6 months ended | Change | |
Revenue | 29,711 | 31,694 | (1,983) |
Gross Profit | 6,695 | 8,887 | (2,192) |
Gross Profit % | 23% | 28% | (5%) |
Profit before tax Add: Share-based payment (credit)/charge Underlying* profit before tax | 1,005 (243) 762 | 1,726 379 2,105 | (721) (622) (1,343) |
Underlying* profit before tax % | 3% | 7% | (4%) |
Underlying* earnings per share | 1.1p | 3.4p | (2.3p) |
Net cash** | 5,011 | 838 | 4,173 |
Highlights
- Revenue down by 6% to £29.7m (2018: £31.7m)
- Gross profit at 23% a £2.2m decrease to £6.7m (2018: £8.9m)
- Underlying* profit before tax at £0.8m (2018: £2.1m) resulting in an underlying* profit before tax margin of 3% (2018: 7%)
- Net cash increase year on year of £4.2m to £5.0m (2018: £0.8m)
- Fee earner headcount decreased by 32 to 355 because of reduced revenues in both APAC and Middle East.
- Overall utilisation rates of 76.1% (2018: 81.6%)
- Europe & Americas (EuAm) reported underlying* profit before tax for the period of £2.0m (2018: £1.4m) with utilisation rates at 70.3% (2018: 73.6%)
- Mddle East (ME) reported underlying* profit before tax for the period of £0.4m (2018: £1.3m) with utilisation rates at 80.9% (2018: 83.5%)
- Asia Pacific (APAC) reported underlying* loss before tax for the period of £0.6m (£2018: profit £0.6m) with utilisation rates at 76.1% (2018: 91.6%)
* Underlying figures are stated before the share-based payment costs.
** Net cash consists of cash and cash equivalents, bank loans and finance leases.
Steve Norris, Chairman of Driver Group, said: “Although the first half of 2019 has seen lower activity than expected in some markets we have reacted quickly to re-align the cost base of underperforming businesses in the first half and with enquiry rates at high levels the Group is well placed to record good progress for the remainder of the current financial year.”
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