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PRESCIENT LIMITED - Audited Summary Financial Results for the year ended 31 March 2015 and cash dividend declaration announcement

Release Date: 24/06/2015 17:41
Code(s): PCT     PDF:  
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Audited Summary Financial Results for the year ended 31 March 2015 and cash dividend declaration announcement

PRESCIENT LIMITED

Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa

Registration number 1936/008278/06

Share code: PCT

ISIN: ZAE000163531

"Prescient" or "the Group"



Abridged audited consolidated financial results

For the year ended 31 March 2015 and cash dividend

declaration announcement



Key highlights



-  Growth in total income for the Group of 26% to R835.9 million

   (2014: R664.6 million)

-  Growth in Headline Earnings per share for continuing operations of

   12% to 7.78 cents per share (2014: 6.96 cents per share)

-  Final dividend declared of 3.0 cents per share

-  Growth in annual dividend per share of 12.7% to 5.75 cents per share

   (2014: 5.10 cents per share)

-  Increase of 11% in assets under management in Prescient Investment

   Management to R65.5 billion (2014: R59.1 billion)

-  Growth in third-party assets under administration for Prescient Fund

   Services of 56% to R48.6 billion (2014: R31.1 billion)

-  Strong investment performance across mandates

-  Diversification and performance benefit to clients invested in the

   China Balanced Fund

-  Launch of the Prescient Balanced and China Conservative Funds

-  Expansion in service offering of Prescient Fund Services, locally

   and globally

-  Another set of strong ratings for Prescient Securities in the Financial

   Mail analyst ratings

-  SAM and Retirement Reform-readiness for Prescient Life

-  Pleasing total income growth for the PBT Group



COMMENTARY



Introduction

Prescient is a multinational business whose operations in financial services and information

management services span several continents.



Financial performance

Prescient Limited, in its second full year as a listed entity, continued to deliver a solid performance in the

year to 31 March 2015. The Group achieved total income growth from continuing operations of 26%

to R835.9 million (2014: R664.6 million), headline earnings growth from continuing operations of

14% to R124.5 million (2014: R109.0 million) and declared a cash dividend per share of 5.75 cents for

the year (2014: 5.10 cents per share).



The increase in total income was due to a growth in assets under management of 11% as well as

strong investment performance coming through, which resulted in higher performance fees. This is

particularly relevant for the China Balanced Fund which significantly outperformed its benchmark

and generated a robust performance fee flow as a result. There was also strong growth in total

income in Prescient Fund Services as an increase in the third-party client base grew assets under

administration by 56%. Information Management Services also reflected a strong growth in total

income on the back of a weaker rand and a high 

demand for consulting services.



Profit before tax from continuing operations was up 22% to R186.0 million (2014: R152.2 million) with

profit after tax from continuing operations up by 25% to R140.4 million (2014: R112.6 million).



Basic earnings per share from continuing operations in 2015 were 8.31 cents per share

(2014: 7.15 cents per share). Headline earnings per share from continuing operations increased by

12% from 6.96 cents per share to 7.78 cents per share. Headline earnings were adjusted by the

upward revaluation of R2.6 million relating to the property held in Ireland and the gain arising from a

change in investment holding of a subsidiary of PBT Australia to an associate, amounting to R5.9 million.

Headline earnings were therefore lower than basic earnings by R8.5 million.



Total income from Financial Services increased by 23% from R287.1 million to R352.9 million.

The increase in total income was driven largely by the improved performance on mandates that

generate performance fees and, in addition, there was also the strong contribution from the 

China Balanced Fund in the latter half of the financial year. The China Balanced Fund significantly

outperformed its benchmark and generated a robust performance fee flow as a result. Prescient

Fund Services also grew from a strong platform from the previous year.



The PBT Group performed well during the 2015 financial period with strong growth in total income

coming through from all operating units. At least 50% of total income is received in foreign currency

where the client base in Africa is invoiced mostly in US dollars and PBT Australia generates Australian

dollar income.



Dividend

The directors consider the payment of a dividend on a biannual basis taking into account prevailing

circumstances and future cash and capital requirements of the Group in order to determine

the appropriate dividend in respect of a particular financial reporting period.



The Group declared a final dividend of 3.0 cents per share on 24 June 2015 which meant a total dividend

for the year of 5.75 cents per share (2014: 5.10 cents per share) and a dividend cover of 1.5 times

(2014: 1.4 times).



There are 1 648 655 093 shares in issue at the dividend declaration date, of which 28 661 114

are held as treasury shares. The total dividend amount payable is R49.5 million (March 2014:

R40.0 million). The dividend is payable from income reserves.



The cash dividend is likely to have tax implications for both resident and non-resident shareholders.

Shareholders are therefore encouraged to consult their professional tax advisers should they be in any

doubt as to the appropriate action to take.



In terms of the Income Tax Act, the cash dividend will, unless exempt, be subject to dividend withholding

tax (DWT). South African resident shareholders that are liable for DWT will be subject to DWT at a rate

of 15% of the cash dividend and this amount will be withheld from the cash dividend. Non-resident

shareholders may be subject to DWT at a rate of less than 15% depending on their country of

residence and the applicability of any double tax treaty between South Africa and their country of

residence. The net amount payable to shareholders who are not exempt from dividend tax is 2.55 cents

per share, while it is 3.0 cents per share to those shareholders who are exempt.



In compliance with the Listings Requirements of the JSE, the following dates are applicable:



Last day to trade cum          Friday, 31 July 2015

dividend



Shares trade ex dividend      Monday, 3 August 2015



Record date                   Friday, 7 August 2015



Payment date                Tuesday, 11 August 2015



Share certificates may not be dematerialised or rematerialised between Monday, 3 August 2015 and

Friday, 7 August 2015; both dates inclusive.



Prospects for the 2016 financial year

We believe that the Prescient Group is very well positioned for growth into the future. We have

diversified our earnings base significantly over the last few years, not only in terms of our product

range, but also in terms of the currency in which we earn our fees. This change bodes well for the

future. The staff and management at Prescient have worked extremely hard at continuing to deliver

the highest levels of service to our clients. Top quality client service has become a mantra within

each operational unit, and so has the continuous development of new ideas and ways of thinking that

will allow us to take advantage of the fast-changing environment that we operate in.



Basis of accounting

The abridged audited consolidated financial information has been prepared in accordance with

IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting, as well as the AC 500 standards as issued by the Accounting

Practices Board, the requirements of the South African Companies, Act No. 71 of 2008 and the

Listings Requirements of the JSE. The abridged audited consolidated financial statements do

not include all of the information required for full financial statements. The abridged audited

consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the historical cost

basis except for certain financial instruments and investment property which are stated at fair

value. The abridged audited consolidated financial statements are presented in rand, rounded to

the nearest thousand. The accounting policies applied in the presentation of the abridged audited

consolidated financial statements are in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards

and are consistent with those presented in the previous financial statements.



The abridged audited consolidated financial statements have been extracted from audited

information but have not, in themselves, been audited. The auditor's unqualified audit report and

the audited financial statements are available for inspection at the Company's registered office in

terms of 3.18 (F) of the Listings Requirements.



Judgements and estimates

Preparing the abridged audited consolidated financial statements requires management to

make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the

reported amounts of assets and liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from

these estimates.



In preparing these abridged audited consolidated financial statements significant judgements made

by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and key sources of estimation uncertainty

were the same as those that applied to the previous financial statements for the year ended

31 March 2014.



Related party transactions

The Group entered into various inter-company transactions with related parties in the ordinary

course of business.



During the current year a loan of R24.4 million was extended to Fisc Investment Management

Proprietary Limited, a related party, for the purpose of purchasing shares in Prescient Limited.



Subsequent events

There were no material events subsequent to the reporting date.



These abridged audited consolidated financial statements were prepared under the supervision

of Michael Buckham, CA (SA) CFA (Financial Director), and approved by the Board of Directors

on 24 June 2015.



Posting of the Integrated Report and

Notice of Annual General Meeting

The Integrated Report for the year ended 31 March 2015, including a Notice of the Annual General

Meeting has been issued and posted to shareholders today and is available on the Company's website at

www.prescient.co.za.



The Annual General Meeting will be held at 11:00 on Tuesday, 11 August 2015, at Prescient

House, Westlake Business Park, Otto Close, Westlake, 7945.



The record date on which shareholders must be registered in the Company's share register in order

to attend, participate and vote at the Annual General Meeting is Friday, 7 August 2015.



The last day to trade in order to be entitled to vote at the Annual General Meeting will therefore be Friday,

31 July 2015.



Forward-looking statements

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the financial

condition and results of the operations of Prescient Limited that, by their nature, involve risk and

uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur

in the future. These may relate to future prospects, opportunities and strategies. If one or more of these

risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may differ from those

anticipated. By consequence, none of the forward-looking statements have been reviewed or reported

on by the Group's auditors.



Cape Town

24 June 2015



Sponsor

Bridge Capital Advisors Proprietary Limited



Corporate information

Registered office of Prescient

Prescient House

Westlake Business Park

Otto Close

Westlake

7945

(PO Box 31142, Tokai, 7966)



Directors

Murray Louw (Non-executive Chairman)

Herman Steyn (Chief Executive Officer)

Michael Buckham (Financial Director)



Zane Meyer (Lead Independent Non-executive)

Keneilwe Moloko (Independent Non-executive)

Ronell van Rooyen (Non-executive)

Heather Sonn (Independent Non-executive)



Company Secretary

Bianca Pieters

Prescient House

Westlake Business Park

Otto Close

Westlake

7945

(PO Box 31142, Tokai, 7966)



Auditor

KPMG Inc

MSC House

1 Mediterranean Street

Foreshore

Cape Town

8001



Sponsor

Bridge Capital Advisors Proprietary Limited

27 Fricker Road

Illovo Boulevard

Illovo

2196



Transfer Secretary

Link Market Services South Africa Proprietary

Limited

PO Box 4844

Johannesburg

2000

19 Ameshoff Street

Braamfontein

2001



Reconciliation of earnings and diluted earnings per share to headline and diluted headline earnings per share

  

                                                                     2015                       2014

                                                                              Cents                      Cents

                                                             R'000s       per share     R'000s       per share

Profit for the year                                         136 461                     63 865

Non-controlling interests                                   (7 358)                      (777)

Earnings attributable to FSP shareholders                     (819)                         –

Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders              128 284            8.07     63 088            4.03

Headline earnings adjustments

Loss on sale of discontinued operation:                           –                     10 967

Goodwill impairment                                               –                     31 143

Change in fair value of investment property                 (2 622)                    (2 909)

Gain on loss of control of subsidiary                       (5 869)                          –

Headline and diluted headline earnings attributable to

ordinary shareholders for continuing operations             119 847            7.54    102 290            6.53



Weighted average number of shares (thousands)             1 589 707                  1 565 528



Audited consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income

for the year ended 31 March 2015



                                                                                2015             2014

                                                                               R'000            R'000

Continuing operations          

Total income                                                                 835 861          664 626

Service fees                                                                 803 169          638 013

Interest and dividend income                                                  19 442           15 970

Other investment income                                                       13 250           10 643

Net fair value gains on linked investments backing policyholder funds              –                –

Cost of information management services                                    (352 768)        (286 599)

Operating expenses                                                         (292 431)        (231 720)

Share-based payment expense                                                    (754)               –

Profit from operations                                                       189 908          146 307

Other income                                                                   8 576           10 652

Share of loss of equity-accounted investees (net of tax)                     (3 261)            (573)

Finance costs                                                                (9 212)          (4 155)

Profit before tax                                                            186 011          152 231

Income tax expense                                                          (45 671)         (39 592)

Profit from continuing operations                                            140 340          112 639

Discontinued operation          

Loss for the period from discontinued operation                              (3 879)         (48 774)

Profit for the year                                                          136 461           63 865

Other comprehensive income          

Items that are or may be reclassified to profit or loss          

Foreign currency translation differences – foreign operations                (4 599)          (1 383)

Tax on other comprehensive income                                                  –                –

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax                          (4 599)          (1 383)

Total comprehensive income for the year                                      131 862           62 482

Profit attributable to:          

Owners of the Company                                                        129 103           63 088

Non-controlling interests                                                      7 358              777

Profit for the year                                                          136 461           63 865

Total comprehensive income attributable to:          

Owners of the Company                                                        124 504           61 705

Non-controlling interests                                                      7 358              777

Total comprehensive income for the year                                      131 862           62 482

Earnings per share (cents)          

Basic earnings per share                                                        8.07             4.03

Diluted earnings per share                                                      8.07             4.03

Headline earnings per share (cents)          

Headline earnings per share                                                     7.54             6.53

Diluted headline earnings per share                                             7.54             6.53

Earnings per share – continuing operations (cents)          

Basic earnings per share                                                        8.31             7.15

Diluted earnings per share                                                      8.31             7.15

Headline earnings per share – continuing operations (cents)          

Headline earnings per share                                                     7.78             6.96

Diluted headline earnings per share                                             7.78             6.96



Audited consolidated statement of financial position

as at 31 March 2015

                  

                                                                                2015             2014

                                                                               R'000            R'000

Assets                       

Non-current assets                                                        10 517 632        7 331 567

Property and equipment                                                        26 357           11 210

Investment property                                                           24 911           24 724

Goodwill and intangible assets                                               414 048          423 361

Deferred tax asset                                                             7 483            4 841

Long-term loans and other receivables                                         51 874           70 288

Investment in equity-accounted investees                                      14 906            1 493

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss                        157 925          105 842

Linked investments backing policyholder funds                              9 820 128        6 689 808

Current assets                                                               906 102          527 764

Inventory                                                                     22 154           10 506

Trade and other receivables                                                  210 924          171 692

Amounts owing by clearing houses                                              36 575                –

Amounts owing by clients                                                     525 215          287 082

Taxation receivable                                                           14 262            3 398

Cash and cash equivalents                                                     96 972           55 086

                       

Total assets                                                              11 423 734        7 859 331

Equity                       

Stated capital                                                               664 702          637 062

Reserves                                                                     (7 287)            (841)

Retained income                                                              138 578           96 367

Total equity attributable to owners of the Company                           795 993          732 588

Non-controlling interests                                                     14 139            8 461

Total equity                                                                 810 132          741 049

Liabilities                       

Non-current liabilities                                                    9 842 927        6 732 401

Deferred tax liability                                                        11 237            5 480

Policyholder investment contract liabilities                               9 817 582        6 685 086

Loans payable                                                                 14 108           41 835

Current liabilities                                                          770 675          385 881

Trade and other payables                                                      98 363           57 594

Amounts owing to clearing houses                                               4 060          138 738

Amounts owing to clients                                                     554 685          147 916

Current tax payable                                                            9 405            6 726

Loans payable                                                                 56 458           12 865

Bank overdraft                                                                47 704           22 042

                       

Total liabilities                                                         10 613 602        7 118 282

Total equity and liabilities                                              11 423 734        7 859 331

     

Abridged audited consolidated segment report

as at 31 March 2015

                                                               Financial Services

                                                       Audited                      Audited

                                                      31 March                     31 March

                                                          2015                         2014

                                                         R'000                        R'000

                                               Continuing Discontinued      Continuing     Discontinued

Segment external revenue                          352 931              –       287 124           94 905

Segment profit/(loss) before tax                  128 261        (3 879)       108 081         (48 775)

                                                         Information Management Services

Segment external revenue                          482 930              –       377 502                –

Segment profit/(loss) before tax                   57 750              –        44 151                –

                                                                      Group

Segment external revenue                          835 861              –       664 626           94 905

Segment profit/(loss) before tax                  186 011        (3 879)       152 231         (48 775)



Audited consolidated statement of changes in equity

for the year ended 31 March 2015

 

                                                                                Share-based

                                               Stated  Translation   Treasury       payment    Retained           Non-controlling       Total

R'000                                         capital      reserve     shares       reserve      income        Total    interests      equity

Balance at 1 April 2013                       637 062       12 396   (12 116)             –      93 595      730 937        9 781     740 718

Total comprehensive income for                   

the year                   

Profit for the year                                 –            –          –             –      63 088       63 088          777      63 865

Total other comprehensive income                    –      (1 383)          –             –           –      (1 383)            –     (1 383)

Total comprehensive income for                        

the year                                            –      (1 383)          –             –      63 088       61 705          777      62 482

Transactions with owners recognised                   

directly in equity                   

Contributions by and distributions to                   

owners of the Company                   

Treasury shares sold                                –            –        262             –           –          262            –         262

Dividends declared during the year                  –            –          –             –    (60 316)     (60 316)      (2 180)    (62 496)

Total contributions by and distributions to                       

owners of the Company                               –            –        262             –    (60 316)     (60 054)      (2 180)    (62 234)

Changes in ownership interests                   

in subsidiaries                   

Acquisition of subsidiary                           –            –          –             –           –            –           83          83

Total changes in ownership interests                         

in subsidiaries                                     –            –          –             –           –            –           83          83

Total transactions with owners of                    

the Company                                         –            –        262             –    (60 316)     (60 054)      (2 097)    (62 151)

Balance at 31 March 204                       637 062       11 013   (11 854)             –      96 367      732 588        8 461     741 049



Balance at 1 April 2014                       637 062       11 013   (11 854)             –      96 367      732 588        8 461     741 049

Total comprehensive income for                        

the year                        

Profit for the year                                 –            –          –             –     129 103      129 103        7 358     136 461

Total other comprehensive income                    –      (4 599)          –             –           –      (4 599)            –     (4 599)

Total comprehensive income for                            

the year                                            –      (4 599)          –             –     129 103      124 504        7 358     131 862

Transactions with owners recognised                        

directly in equity                        

Contributions by and distributions                        

to owners of the Company                        

Equity-settled share-based payments                 –            –          –           801            –          801                     801

Dividends declared during the year                  –            –          –             –     (86 892)     (86 892)     (2 205)    (89 097)

Issue/(repurchase) of ordinary shares          27 640            –    (2 648)             –            –       24 992           –      24 992

Total contributions by and distributions                          

to owners of the Company                       27 640            –    (2 648)           801     (86 892)     (61 099)     (2 205)    (63 304)

Changes in ownership interests in                             

subsidiaries                             

Loss of control                                     –            –          –             –            –            –         525         525

Total changes in ownership interests in                             

subsidiaries                                        –            –          –             –            –            –         525         525

Total transactions with owners of the                             

Company                                        27 640            –    (2 648)           801     (86 892)     (61 099)     (1 680)    (62 779)

Balance at 31 March 2015                      664 702        6 414   (14 502)           801      138 578      795 993      14 139     810 132

   

Audited consolidated statement of cash flows

for the year ended 31 March 2015



                                                                                       2015            2014

                                                                                      R'000           R'000



Cash flows from operating activities

Profit for the year                                                                  136 461         63 865

Income tax expense                                                                    45 671         39 592

Non-cash movements and adjustments to profit before tax                          (2 280 795)       (62 825)

Cash generated from policyholder activities                                        2 269 055         98 935



Contributions and investment income                                                3 845 889      1 794 917

Withdrawals by policyholders                                                     (1 576 834)    (1 695 982)



Changes in working capital                                                           (9 231)       (54 374)

Dividends received                                                                     2 820            272

Dividends paid                                                                      (89 097)       (62 496)

Interest received                                                                     16 622         15 698

Interest paid                                                                        (9 212)       (10 233)

Taxation paid                                                                       (50 702)       (45 920)



Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities                                   31 592       (17 486)

Cash flows from investing activities

Acquisition of equipment                                                             (4 349)        (1 892)

Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired                                            –          (313)

Acquisition of intangible assets                                                     (3 161)        (5 021)

Disposal of intangible assets                                                          3 256              –

Loss in control of subsidiary                                                        (3 296)              –

Investment in equity-accounted investees                                             (3 104)          (811)

Dividends from equity-accounted investees                                                  –            143

(Acquisition)/disposal of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss     (41 455)            496

Repayment of long-term loans receivable                                               18 414          3 455

Disposal of discontinued operation, net of cash disposed of                                –        (8 029)



Cash outflow from investing activities                                              (33 695)       (11 972)

Cash flows from financing activities

Acquisition of own shares                                                                  –          (263)

Increase/(decrease) in loans payable                                                  18 517       (47 481)

 

Cash inflow/(outflow) from financing activities                                       18 517       (47 744)

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents                                  16 414       (77 202)

Effect of exchange rate fluctuations on cash held                                      (190)          9 605

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year                                    33 044        100 641

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year                                          49 268         33 044



Website: www.prescient.co.za
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