6 August 2026

CAB Payments Holdings plc and its subsidiaries

("CAB", "CAB Payments", the "Group" or the "Company")

 

2026 Interim Results
Strong strategic and financial delivery; confidence in medium-term outlook.
New capital management framework and inaugural interim dividend announced.

 

CAB Payments, the specialist bank providing cross-border payment solutions that power opportunities and deliver prosperity across the Global South, today announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2026.

 

Neeraj Kapur, Group CEO of CAB Payments, commented:

"Our results reflect the strength of the client relationships we continue to build across our markets and the deepening reach of our platform across the Global South. This growth reflects the underlying quality of the business we are winning with clients, supported by favourable trading conditions in the first half. Total Income excluding Deposit Net Interest Income grew 48% and, combined with the operating leverage in our model, translated into 157% growth in Adjusted EPS year-on-year.

"Our performance gives us the confidence to announce our new capital management framework and the declaration of our inaugural interim dividend. There is a lot to be excited about as we head into the second half of 2026: a growing pipeline of client activity, our emerging-markets network deepening, and good progress on our stablecoin strategy. Macroeconomic volatility remains elevated, but CAB Payments is stronger and more purposeful than ever, and our focus remains on delivering for our clients and shareholders."

 

Highlights:

Note: "YoY" refers to H1 2026 compared to H1 2025 and "HoH" refers to H1 2026 compared to H2 2025.

•   Strong year-on-year income and profit growth building on momentum from a seasonally higher H2 2025

•   Profit after tax up 313% YoY to £9.5m (down 16% HoH) with Return on Equity of 17%

•   Adjusted profit after tax up 152% YoY to £13.6m (up 13% HoH), delivering over 26% Adjusted Return on Target Capital (H1 2025: 11%)

•   Total Income up 31% YoY to £67.6m (up 1% HoH) with Adjusted EBITDA up 82% YoY to £23.8m (up 8% HoH)

•   Operational leverage improved with Adjusted EBITDA margin expanding to 35% (H1 2025: 25%, H2 2025: 33%) and Adjusted Cost:Income ratio improved to 72% (H1 2025: 85%)

•   Strong performance, outlook and capital position results in the early announcement of a new capital management framework and inaugural interim dividend declared of 2.1p per share - equivalent to 40% of H1 2026 adjusted PAT

•   Well capitalised, highly liquid and cash generative, with a CET1 ratio of 21.7% (Dec 2025: 21.8%) after accounting for the declared interim dividend

•   Remain confident in delivering medium-term guidance

 

Delivering strategic progress

•   32 new active clients added in the half; Total active clients stood at 601 (2025: 592)

•   Correspondent banking proposition significantly enhanced by addition of Deutsche Bank as additional global major USD and EUR clearer - now fully embedded and active

•   First trade finance syndication executed as lead arranger

•   Executed first corporate transactions for Emirates and TotalEnergies

•   Stablecoin proposition progressing - final stages of partnership selection, ADGM licence-extension submitted

•   Delivering Emerging Markets ('EM') FX proposition to major global US bank via AbbeyCross platform

•   Two multi-year global payments mandates agreed with major IDO clients

 

Continued roll-out of Global expansion strategy

•   Abu Dhabi office set up - starting to execute on pipeline despite delays due to ongoing conflict in the region

•   New York office delivering on new opportunities from across the Americas

•   Amsterdam office - new leadership in place, adding new relationship managers and deepening links into our core markets

•   New licence obtained to open a representative office in Guyana building on strong relationships spanning decades

•   Board approval to proceed with two new representative offices in Africa (Nigeria and Cote d'Ivoire), CAB's first permanent on-the-ground sales presence in the region

 

Capital management, shareholder returns and inaugural dividend

CAB Payments business model is highly cash generative, with approximately 70% of revenue from FX and Payments and a short-dated, liquid balance sheet. With the business delivering sustainable and profitable growth, working to minimise concentrations by client, segment and market, and generating a strong surplus capital position, the Board believes now is the right time to set out the Company's capital management framework and establish a mechanism to return capital to shareholders.

•   The Group will maintain a target CET1 ratio over the medium term of between 16.5% and 17.5%, which includes a c.2% buffer above the Group's overall capital requirement. The CET1 ratio will be adjusted for the new Basel 3.1 framework from 1 January 2027, however the quantum of surplus capital is not expected to change materially

•   Surplus capital utilisation will be assessed first for internal investment and growth opportunities, as well as inorganic opportunities which prioritises the delivery of our medium-term guidance of high-teens to low-twenties percentage CAGR in Total Income (excluding Deposit Net Interest Income).

•   Targeting 8-12% of Total Income p.a. to be allocated towards Capital Expenditure

•   Establishment of a progressive dividend from 2027 growing at a mid-single digit rate per annum.

•   Inaugural Interim dividend of 2.1p per share declared for H1 2026. This represents approximately 40% of Adjusted PAT for H1 2026

•   The Final Dividend for the full year-ended 31 December 2026 will be subject to shareholder approval at the next AGM

•   Remaining surplus above the target CET1 range, to be returned over time through share buybacks and /or special dividends

•   All capital returns will be subject to the Company maintaining prudent capital headroom and (where required) having received regulatory permission and shareholder approvals

 

Dividend timetable

•   Announcement date - Thursday 6 August 2026

•   Ex-Dividend date - Thursday 13 August 2026

•   Record date - Friday 14 August 2026

•   Payment date - Thursday 10 September 2026

 

Outlook

The Group made strong strategic and financial progress in the first half, supported by an encouraging pipeline of activity from both new and existing clients. Take-rates reduced in the second quarter of 2026 as macroeconomic conditions somewhat normalised, following an elevated period in the previous 3 quarters.

Looking to H2, the Group expects to drive higher client volumes and activity, underpinned by strong client relationships, new market opportunities, and execution of a healthy pipeline.. The pace of client onboarding from our newly formed Abu Dhabi office has naturally been impacted by ongoing conflict in the region, however, a strong pipeline has been established and the team continues to identify and progress opportunities across the MENA region.

The Group reiterates its medium-term guidance of high-teens to low-20s percentage CAGR growth in Total Income (excluding Deposit Net Interest Income), together with continued positive operating leverage and ongoing surplus capital generation.

 

Analyst and Institutional Investor Presentation

A recording of the Group's results presentation will be made available on the morning of results and will be accessible from the Group's website (www.cabpayments.com). As the Group is currently under offer per the Takeover Code it will be not be conducting its usual live Q&A session.

 

For further information please contact [email protected]

The individual responsible for the release of this announcement is Lesley Martin, Company Secretary.

 

About CAB Payments

CAB Payments, via its operating subsidiary Crown Agents Bank Limited, exists to deliver prosperity in the markets we serve. With more than 180 years of experience, proven expertise in complex cross-border payments, and specialist market knowledge, we help organisations and institutions move money with confidence. Our trusted global network connects the world's hardest to reach financial markets to the global economy, enabling the flow of funds across the Global South through 124 currencies and more than 800 currency pairs via API, digital platforms, and bespoke solutions. As a long-term partner, we build enduring relationships and deliver with confidence, even in times of friction.

Committed to creating meaningful impact through responsible business and sustainable practices, Crown Agents Bank Limited was one of the first banks to achieve B Corporation™ status and holds the Platinum Sustainability Rating from EcoVadis, placing it among the top 1% of companies assessed globally.

CAB Payments Holdings plc Ordinary Shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange (ticker: CABP; LEI: 8945007OZHZDN4LW1G21, ISIN: GB00BMCYKB41).

 

For further information, please contact:

CAB Payments Holdings plc

Gaurav Patel, Head of Investor Relations

[email protected]

www.cabpayments.com

 

FTI Consulting LLP

(Public Relations Adviser to CAB Payments)

Edward Bridges                                                                           +44 (0) 7768 216 607

Alexander Davis                                                                          +44 (0) 7977 016 827

[email protected]

 

 

Overview of financial performance

Note: "YoY" refers to H1 2026 compared to H1 2025 and "HoH" refers to H1 2026 compared to H2 2025.

Strategic drivers

•   Total active clients now at 601 (H1 2025: 573, 2025: 592) driven by 32 new active clients onboarded offset by strategic off-boarding of certain low-value clients and attrition

•   Overall FX and Payment volumes up 3% YoY to £20.4bn (down 7% HoH) reflecting seasonally stronger client activity in the prior half;

-      Emerging Market volumes up 21% YoY (up 6% HoH)

-      G10 volumes down 5% YoY (down 13% HoH) the latter reflecting off-boarding of high-volume and low value G-10 focused clients

•   Number of payment transactions up 21% YoY (+11% HoH) to 675,000 (H1 2025: 556,000)

•   Total take rate increased to 19bps (FY25: 15bps) consisting of 41bps for Emerging Markets and 6bps for G10 currencies. This reflects higher margin strategy driven opportunities, leveraging our unique market positioning and the current elevated levels of market volatility

•   Emerging Markets take rates reduced between Q1 2026 and Q2 2026 ( offset by good growth in Emerging Market volumes quarter on quarter

•   Average deposits grew 6% YoY (+9% HoH) to £1.6bn (H1 2025: £1.5bn, 2025: £1.4bn), including strong growth in call deposits (+24% YoY, +24% HoH)

 

Total Income

•   Total Income £67.6m, up 31% YoY

-    up 1% HoH against a seasonal strong H2 2025

-    up 5% excluding episodic income experienced in H2 2025 - these were notably small market dislocations (<£2m) and the gain on sale of treasury assets (£0.8m)

•   Total Income excluding Deposit Net Interest Income of £52.3m, up 48% YoY (up 1% HoH)

•   Top 5 currency concentration represented 38% of Total Income in H1 2025, up from 32% in 2025 (H2 2025: 37%) as a result of the Group's focus on higher-quality solutions and central banking activities -  significantly lower than peak concentration levels of approximately 50% in 2023

-    As the Company onboards new clients, opens new offices and markets, it expects to manage currency concentration going forward.

•   Wholesale FX income of £31.0m, up 75% YoY and broadly flat HoH driven by 21% growth in EM volumes, take-rate expansion and deeper Central Bank relationships, with no currency dislocation benefits in the half

•   Payments income of £16.3m, up 19% YoY (up 3% HoH), with Other Payments lifted by new correspondent banking activity,  notably through the onboarding of Deutsche Bank as a second global clearer alongside Citibank

•   Banking income of £20.3m, broadly flat YoY and HoH reflecting a deepening trade finance capability and growing deposit volumes offsetting the generally lower interest rate environment, as previously guided:

-    Deposit Net Interest Income down 7% YoY to £15.3m (up 1% HoH), reflecting lower interest rate environment from the end of 2025, offset by growth in deposits, in particular call account balances and the positive effect of our treasury investment strategy

-     Trade Finance and other income of £5.0m up 28% YoY and down 4% HoH as on-balance sheet appetite reached

 

Operating expenses

•   Operating expenses (ex Depreciation and Amortisation) of £43.6m, up 13% YoY (down 4% HoH) driven by investment in revenue generating activities including expanding our overseas office reach and an increase in variable compensation reflecting the Group's financial delivery and strategic progress

•   Cost growth below revenue growth both YoY and HoH, delivering positive progress in adjusted cost:income ratio to 72% (H1 2025: 85%, H2 2025: 75%)

 

Profitability

•   Reported EBITDA of £20.3m, up 128% YoY (down 6% HoH), Adjusted EBITDA £23.8m, up 82% YoY (up 8% HoH)

•   Significant YoY improvement in Adjusted EBITDA margin to 35% (H1 2025: 25%; H2 2025: 33%) as income growth flowed through to profitability

•   Adjusted PAT of £13.6m, up 152% YoY (up 13% HoH); Adjusted EPS 5.4p, up 157% YoY (up 15% HoH);

-    statutory PAT of £9.5m (up 313% YoY, down 16% HoH) after non-underlying items, principally Helios offer advisory costs; statutory EPS of 3.7p (up 311% YoY, down 16% HoH)

•   Strongly capitalised and highly liquid financial position with CET1 ratio of 21.7% (Dec 2025: 21.8%) after taking into account the declared inaugural interim dividend of 2.1p per share;

•   Adjusted Return on Equity increased significantly YoY to 17% (H1 2025: 7%) and adjusting for surplus capital above the target level of capital (17.5% CET1), Return on Target Capital improved to 26.3% (H1 2025: 11.0%)

 

 

Selected Financial Information

Note: all percentages are calculated based on actual numbers in '000s

Selected Reported Financial Information (£m)	Six Months Ended			YoY	HoH
	30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025	%	%
EBITDA	20.3	8.9	21.6	128%	(6%)
Profit before tax	14.6	3.1	15.4	371%	(5%)
Profit after tax¹	9.5	2.3	11.3	313%	(16%)
Basic earnings per share (pence)¹	3.7	0.9	4.4	311%	(16%)

 

Adjusted Income statement (£m)	Six Months Ended			YoY	HoH
	30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025	%	%
Wholesale FX	31.0	17.7	31.0	75%	-%
Payments	16.3	13.7	15.8	19%	3%
Banking and other income	20.3	20.4	20.4	-%	-%
Total Income1	67.6	51.8	67.2	31%	1%
Staff costs	(26.1)	(22.7)	(27.7)	(15%)	6%
Other underlying operating expenses	(17.5)	(16.0)	(17.5)	(9%)	-%
Impairment provisions	(0.2)	0.1	-	300%	%
Adjusted EBITDA¹	23.8	13.1	22.1	82%	8%
IFRS 16 Interest expense on lease liabilities	(0.7)	(0.7)	(0.7)	-%	-%
Depreciation & Amortisation	(5.0)	(5.2)	(5.4)	4%	7%
Adjusted Profit Before Tax	18.1	7.2	16.0	151%	13%
Taxation	(4.5)	(1.8)	(4.0)	(150%)	(13%)
Adjusted Profit after Tax	13.6	5.4	12.0	152%	13%
Adjusted EPS1 (pence)	5.4	2.1	4.7	157%	15%
Memo:
Total Income (ex Deposit NII)	52.3	35.3	52.0	48%	1%

¹ Metric has been identified as a KPI in the Group's 2025 Annual report

 

Note: refer to "Alternative Performance Measures" for definitions of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted Profit Before Tax and Adjusted Profit After Tax

 

Wholesale FX and Payments FX Information

	Income (£m)
	H1 2026	H1 2025	H2 2025	YoY	HoH
G10 FX	8.2	8.9	11.6	(8%)	(29%)
Emerging FX	31.0	15.0	27.2	107%	14%
Total	39.2	23.9	38.8	64%	1%

 

	Volume (£bn)
	H1 2026	H1 2025	H2 2025	YoY	HoH
G10 FX	12.9	13.6	14.8	(5%)	(13%)
Emerging FX	7.6	6.3	7.2	21%	6%
Total	20.4	19.9	22.0	3%	(7%)

 

	Take rate (%)
	H1 2026	H1 2025	H2 2025
G10 FX	0.06%	0.07%	0.08%
Emerging FX	0.41%	0.24%	0.38%
Total	0.19%	0.12%	0.18%

 

Other management information

	Six Months Ended			YoY	HoH
	30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025	%	%
Financial metrics
Wholesale FX & Payments FX (£m)	39.2	23.9	38.8	64%	1%
Total Income (ex Deposit NII)	52.3	35.3	52.0	48%	1%
Currency concentration Top 5 / Total Income	38%	27%	37%
Adjusted EBITDA Margin (%)¹	35%	25%	33%
Adjusted EBITDA / average FTE (£'000)¹	63.0	35.1	61.0	79%	3%
Adjusted Cost:Income Ratio¹	72%	85%	75%
Operating Free Cash Flow (£m)	17.8	9.5	17.7	87%	1%
Operating Free Cash Flow  Conversion (%)	75%	72%	80%
Average deposits (£bn)¹	1.6	1.5	1.4	6%	9%
Capital & Investment
Capex on intangibles (£m)	6.8	3.5	5.1	94%	33%
Capital intensity (Capex % of Total Income)	10%	7%	8%
Total CET1 Capital (£m)	133.0	115.4	129.3	15%	3%
CET1 Ratio (%)	21.7%	19.5%	21.8%
Adjusted Return on Equity (%)	17%	7%	15%	143%	13%
Adjusted Return on Target Capital  (%)	26.3%	11.0%	23.4%	139%	12%
Shareholders funds (£m)	171.5	149.5	160.7	15%	7%

¹ Metric has been identified as a KPI in the Group's 2025 Annual report

 

Chair's Statement

 

A strong first half

I am delighted with our first-half performance and momentum within the business, while remaining confident that we have the right strategy in place. Looking ahead, we continue to cement our position in underserved markets in the Global South that offer strong growth potential and further opportunities for the business to expand. We therefore reiterate our medium-term guidance.

A capital management framework for enhancing total shareholder returns

Our confidence in the Group's trajectory and delivery over the last 12 months, including the highly cash-generative nature of the business means we are now ready to start returning surplus capital to shareholders. This is an important step in our business, and we are delighted to set out the Group's capital management framework.

In brief, our policy is to first consider opportunities to invest in profitable organic growth initiatives, with inorganic opportunities considered opportunistically against strict financial returns criteria. Next, we consider shareholder returns with today's announcement of a progressive ordinary dividend policy, starting with an interim dividend of 2.1p per share expected to be paid on 10 September 2026 for those shareholders on record as at 14 August 2026. We also intend to return further surplus capital to shareholders potentially through future share buy-backs and /or special dividends subject to maintaining prudent capital headroom, and where required, having received regulatory permission and shareholder approvals. We are a business that continues to invest in its growth, maintains a strong capital position and rewards our shareholders.

Performance further reinforces the Board's rejection of the Offer from the Helios Consortium¹

The Independent Board's view on the Helios Consortium's offer remains consistent and resolute. We continue to believe the offer is highly opportunistic and fundamentally undervalues our business and its future prospects, particularly in light of this strong financial performance.  As such, we reiterate our position not to recommend the offer and advise shareholders to take no action in respect of the offer.¹ 

Board changes

Separately, the Group has announced this morning that I will be stepping down from the Board of CAB Payments Holdings PLC and my role as Chair by 31 December 2026. As the Group is demonstrating great progress in the execution of its strategy and with a bright future ahead, I am committed to ensuring continuity as I hand over to my successor. The process of appointing a new Chair will now begin with the support of an external search firm.

I would like to thank our shareholders for your continued belief and support in our business. I would also like to thank our clients for their trust and business which is the foundation of our growing delivery, and, of course, our people, for making everything possible. Our strategic objectives remain simple: to deliver prosperity in the markets we serve, maintain a sharp focus on our clients, and deliver value for all shareholders.

 

Ann Cairns

Chair, CAB Payments Holdings plc

¹    More information on the Offer from the Helios Consortium can be found on https://www.crownagentsbank.com/investors/unrecommended-offer-from-helios/

 

Chief Executive Officer's Review

Neeraj Kapur, Group Chief Executive Officer

 

These are the strongest results we have delivered since we listed, and they tell a clear story: our strategy is working, our purpose is motivating, and our growth is compounding. Our rolling twelve month total income reached its highest level since our IPO in July 2023, building on the powerful momentum we carried from H2 last year. Total Income grew 31% year-on-year and Total Income excluding Deposit Net Interest Income grew 48%. Combined with the operating leverage of our business, that growth converted into 157% growth in Adjusted EPS year-on-year. This is our refreshed strategy in action, and gives me confidence that we will meet our medium-term guidance as we build a more resilient and diversified business.

We are, of course, not without headwinds as we move into the second half. While macroeconomic tensions persist, we saw some softening in emerging market take-rates in between Q1 and Q2 this year. However, we enter the second half with an encouraging pipeline of client activity, underpinned by new mandates, a growing correspondent banking network and deepening relationships across our markets, which give us confidence in our ability to deliver.

These results were earned by our people. During a period of global disruption and intense scrutiny, our teams never lost focus. They kept delivering for our clients, staying faithful to our purpose, and rose to every challenge in front of them. Today's numbers are their achievement, and the standard they set is the platform from which we will build the next phase of our growth. I am immensely proud of every one of them.

The performance also reflects the resilience of our business and its importance to the clients we serve. Our emerging markets network, regulated platform and enduring partnerships are structural advantages, and they powerfully deliver when global, or local, conditions are complex. The direction of regulation across our markets widens that advantage. As scrutiny intensifies, more marginal participants are being squeezed out. Licensed, compliant counterparties that clients and central bankers trust, like CAB Payments, are being prioritised to operate in local markets.

CAB Payments exists to deliver prosperity in the markets we serve, providing the cross-border payments solutions that power opportunity across the Global South. That purpose shapes every relationship we build, every market we enter and every decision we make. We are better positioned, and more determined to act on it at scale.

Our central bank strategy is a powerful example of this in action. Central Banks around the world trust us because we consistently provide something valuable and increasingly scarce: reliable access to liquidity in markets where it cannot be taken for granted.

Performance Highlights

The year on year total income performance was built on our strategic execution for clients. We added 32 new active clients in the half bringing the total number of active clients to over 600 for the first time. FX and payments volumes of £20.4bn were up 3% (H1 2025: £19.9bn), importantly our Emerging Market volumes grew 21% YoY to £7.6bn while our G10 currency volumes fell 5% YoY to £12.9bn. A significant part of this volume is from central banks clients where approximately 30 of our central bank clients transacted with us in the half. We also won significant new mandates in the half, including major payments programmes for two global development organisations, and we led our first syndicated trade refinancing facility equivalent of approximately £110m for Vista Bank Group. Delivering that facility for our client showcased a capability few could match: arranging and syndicating a trade focused cross border financing and mobilising international liquidity directly into the markets where we operate.

Deutsche Bank is now established as a significant global clearing partner, alongside our other existing strategic clearing relationships, mainly Citibank. We have moved at pace to make the relationship live, and client flows are already being processed. Our capacity to serve more correspondent banking clients, across more currencies and corridors, has stepped up materially. It is a strong signal of how seriously the world's leading institutions take what we are building and the impact we can have in giving our clients access to the global financial system. 

Alongside growth in client numbers and activity, emerging market take rates remained higher than in 2025. The higher take rates observed are a function of the increasing impact of our central bank and solutions strategies, our evolving business mix and ongoing market volatility. Unlike the previous half year, however, we saw no markets with dislocated currencies in the period. Our strategy is built on growing breadth and depth of client volumes and activity and is not reliant on episodic market dislocations. Take rates are cyclical so our strategy is built on delivering value to clients and therefore increasing client volume across our platform.

Deposit Net Interest Income has remained resilient in the lower rate environment, supported by the additional deposit volumes from our client relationships.

Our markets

Our investment in regional offices is starting to deliver client income. We believe, local insight and intelligence is key to further opening addressable markets and building stronger relationships. Combined with a growing origination footprint, our digital capabilities, including stablecoin, are shifting from strategy into execution, positioning us at the next phase of cross-border payments.

Africa remains at the heart of our network. We deepened our commitment to Africa, with the Board approving new representative offices in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire. We also remained focused on servicing the humanitarian and development sector, where our specialist payments capabilities help some of the world's most impactful organisations deliver aid and development across the world's most challenging markets. This work is both commercially valuable and a direct expression of our purpose.

Latin America is one of the most dynamic growth regions in the world. We have secured a licence to establish a representative office in Guyana, which posted the highest real GDP growth in the world at an average of 47% per year between 2022 and 2024. With Venezuela also reopening to the world economy, we are exploring regulated, compliant opportunities to support their opening. This is what we do best: supporting those parts in the world that need our services when others hesitate.

The regional conflict and ensuing geopolitical uncertainty has affected the pace of roll out and the execution of our pipeline in the Abu Dhabi office. The team is making progress, identifying clients with regional and global ambitions, and has built a strong pipeline of client opportunities across MENA and Asia. I am pleased to report that our team there remain safe and well. 

Stablecoin: a strategic opportunity at the heart of our markets

Stablecoins may represent one of the most significant structural shifts in cross-border payments, and these developments play to our strengths. The technology will reshape how value moves through the Global South, regions that are becoming ever more central to global flows. We are well placed to support that shift for our clients and markets, working alongside our central-bank partners.

The critical challenge lies in the off-ramp. In emerging markets, local liquidity is thin, coin issuers and payment providers lack the networks and licences to convert digital dollars into local currency, and few can offer the regulatory and credit standing this flow demands. That is precisely our advantage. We provide a regulated banking platform with established central-bank and correspondent relationships, and deep local liquidity in the complex, hard-to-reach corridors where stablecoins need it to have real value. We are building Abu Dhabi as our centre of excellence for digital assets and have filed to extend our ADGM permissions to cover them.

We have made good progress, with an off-ramp liquidity solution now being tested with various potential partners. We see stablecoins as a powerful enhancer of global payments infrastructure, strongest in complex markets, operating alongside traditional rails rather than replacing them. It is a direct extension of our core business and a long-term growth opportunity.

 

Operational efficiency, Capital and outlook

The expansion in Adjusted EBITDA Margin this half from 25% in H1 2025 to 35% in the current period reflects our revenue quality and cost discipline. Operational improvements embedded over the past 18 months are now improving our operating leverage. We are delivering a broader and more digital platform at a lower cost-to-serve. As we set out, we continue to grow revenue faster than costs, and we expect to keep delivering operational leverage through the medium term as we structurally reduce the cost:income ratio over time.

This half-year performance reinforces our confidence in our medium-term guidance. With that in mind, together with our increasing confidence, we are delighted to announce our capital management framework which includes our inaugural interim dividend as well as setting out our future intentions with respect to investment in growth and return of surplus capital, we are a total return shareholder story. Further information can be found in the Financial Review section. 

CAB Payments is stronger and more purposeful than at any point in its history. The strategy is working, the performance is strong, and the opportunity ahead of us, across our markets, our clients and our people, is greater than ever. I have never been more confident in where we are heading, and I look forward to the second half, and the years beyond it, with excitement and ambition.

 

Financial Review

The Group delivered a strong income performance in the first half of 2026, building on the momentum from the second half of 2025. Total Income in the period of £67.6m was up 31% YoY and up 1% compared to the seasonally stronger H2 2025. This was up 5% after excluding episodic income from some dislocated currencies (less than £2m) and gain on sale of a portion of our bond portfolio in H2 2025.

The result demonstrates the continued delivery of our core FX and Payments proposition, the growing breadth of our client relationships across segments and geographies, and the tangible strategic progress we are making across our products, segments and markets.

Adjusted EBITDA of £23.8m represents a margin of 35%, a significant improvement on H1 2025 (25%), and ahead of the seasonally strong H2 2025 (33%). Adjusted Profit After Tax was £13.6m, up 152% YoY, as growth was delivered alongside disciplined cost and investment management.

Statutory Profit after Tax at £9.5m was up 313% YoY reflecting the combination of revenue growth in H1 2026 along with the non-repeat of the restructuring costs associated with the redundancy programme conducted in the first quarter of 2025. HoH, statutory Profit after Tax was down 16% with favourable underlying profitability in H1 2026 more than offset by the non-underlying costs associated with advisory costs in relation to the unrecommended offer to purchase the entire share capital of CAB Payments Holdings plc by the Helios Consortium.

Shareholder return metrics also illustrate positive trends, with Adjusted Return on Equity of 17% for H1, up 7 percentage points versus FY 2025, and an Adjusted Return on Target Capital at 26.3%, up +10pp on FY 2025.

The Group's CET1 ratio as at 30 June 2026 remains strong at 21.7% including verified H1 profit after tax and after deducting the recommended interim dividend of 2.1p per share.  After the interim dividend payment the group will continue to hold CET1 capital in excess of the top end of its internal target CET1 ratio range of 16.5% to 17.5%.

 

Summary Financial Information and KPIs

Twelve Months Ended 31 December / Six Months to 30 June 2026	H1 2026	H1 2025	YoY growth %	HoH growth %
Total Income (£m)²	67.6	51.8	31%	1%
Total Income (excl. Deposit Net Interest Income) (£m)	52.3	35.3	48%	1%
Adjusted Cost Income Ratio (%)¹ ²	72%	85%	-13pp	-3pp
EBITDA (£m)	20.3	8.9	128%	(6%)
Adjusted EBITDA (£m)¹ ²	23.8	13.1	82%	8%
Adjusted EBITDA margin (%)¹ ²	35%	25%	+10pp	+2pp
Adjusted EBITDA / average FTE (£'000)²	63.0	35.1	79%	3%
Profit After Tax (£m)²	9.5	2.3	313%	(16%)
Adjusted Profit after Tax (£m)¹	13.6	5.4	152%	13%
Adjusted Return on Equity (%)¹	17%	7  %	+10pp	+2pp
Adjusted Return on Target Capital  (%)¹	26%	11%	+15pp	+3pp
Earnings per share (pence)²	3.7	0.9	311%	(16%)
Adjusted Earnings Per Share (pence)¹ ²	5.4	2.1	157%	15%
Wholesale and Payment FX Volume (£bn)²	20.4	19.9	3%	(7%)
Average total deposits (£bn)²	1.6	1.5	6%	9%
Net Interest Margin (%)	2.32%	2.53 %	-21bps	-11bps
Shareholders funds (£m)	171.5	149.5	15%	7%
Number of Active Clients²	601	573	5%	2%
Capital Expenditure (£m)	6.9	3.5	97%	33%

¹ See Alternative Performance Measures

² Metric has been identified as a KPI in the Group's 2025 Annual report

 

Note: All amounts in the financial review section are presented in millions (£m) as whole numbers unless otherwise stated. Percentages and totals are calculated using underlying actual figures to one decimal place and may not recalculate exactly from the presented amounts due to rounding.

Total Income by product

Rounded to the nearest £m	H1 2026	H1 2025	YoY growth %	HoH growth %
Wholesale FX	31.0	17.7	75%	-%
Payments	16.3	13.7	19%	3%
of which
Payments FX	8.2	6.2	32%	5%
Other Payments	8.1	7.5	8%	1%
Total transactional income	47.3	31.4	51%	1%
Banking and other income	20.3	20.4	-%	-%
of which
Deposit Net Interest Income	15.3	16.5	(7%)	1%
Trade finance and other Income	5.0	3.9	28%	(4%)
Total Income	67.6	51.8	31%	1%
Total Income excl Deposit Net Interest Income	52.3	35.3	48%	1%

Wholesale and Payment FX Volumes and Take Rates

Rounded to the nearest £m	H1 2026	H1 2025	YoY growth %	H2 2025	HoH growth %
Total Currencies
Volumes (£bn)	20.4	19.9	3%	22.0	(7%)
Take Rates	0.19%	0.12%	+7bps	0.18%	+1bps
Emerging Market Currencies
Volumes (£bn)	7.6	6.3	21%	7.2	6%
Take Rates	0.41%	0.24%	+17bps	0.38%	+3bps
G10 Currencies
Volumes (£bn)	12.9	13.6	(5%)	14.8	(13%)
Take Rates	0.06%	0.07%	-1bps	0.08%	-2bps

 

Total Wholesale FX and Payment FX income increased 64% YoY to £39m (H1 2025: £24m), driven by adding clients over the last few periods, scaling the central bank and solutions strategies generating higher-margin Emerging Market flows, and a favourable market volatility environment.

Total Take rates were 0.19% (+7bps YoY and +1bps HoH), supported by a 21% increase of volumes in emerging market currencies more than offsetting a decline in lower-margin G10 volumes.

Emerging market take-rates have remained elevated at 0.41% (0.38% in H2 2025), despite the non-repeat of the previously disclosed dislocation in H2 2025. This is a function of the continued delivery of the solutions and central banking strategies and the impact of generally elevated macro-economic volatility.

We have observed some reduction in emerging market take-rates between Q1 2026 and Q2 2026. This margin reduction has been partly offset by emerging market volume growth quarter-on-quarter.

Active clients rose to 601 (+28 YoY and +9 HoH), reflecting, in part, the early returns on investment as we started to accelerate our overseas expansion.

Within our FX business the top 5 currency concentration increased to 38% from 32% in 2025. This reflects, in particular, the growth in solutions activity and the delivery of the central banking strategy. Corridor concentration remains significantly below peak levels of around 50%, recorded in 2023. As we onboard new clients, open new offices and markets, we expect to manage currency concentration going forward.

 

Other Payments Income was £8m, up 8% YoY and 1% HoH reflecting the scaling of Correspondent Banking Payments as we approved 31 existing clients for dollar clearing in H1 2025 with 20 already operational, underpinning further expected income growth in the second half. A notable development was the onboarding of Deutsche Bank as an additional clearing partner, with Citibank also continuing to support our approval of further respondents. These global relationships are significantly enhancing our correspondent banking capability and expanding clients' and markets' access to USD clearing infrastructure across our target markets.

 

Trade Finance and Other Income grew 28% YoY to £5m, with the portfolio at £256m, underpinned by credit insurance which allows us to actively manage our credit risk and capital allocation. Versus H2 2025, reported income was down 4% largely reflecting the impact of a £0.7m gain on sale of securities in H2 2025. Excluding this, income was up 8% due to a higher average balances (up 12% HoH) and growth in fee income. Our originate-to-distribute model continued to develop, with the first primary syndication completed, including successfully arranging an approximate £110m syndicated trade refinancing facility. Syndication is core to our strategy of supporting our markets whilst continuing to operate as a capital lite institution.

 

Deposit Net Interest Income was down YoY, as previously guided. This stood at £15m (-7% YoY) as the generally lower interest rate environment impacted our cash investment yields. This was partially offset by the growth in average call and safeguarded deposit balances, up 24% compared to the end of 2025, and the deployment of our treasury investment strategy. The period also saw the launch of our first guaranteed deposit product.

 

Client Performance

Total Income by Client type

 

	H1 2026 (£m)	H1 2025 (£m)	YoY growth %	H2 2025 (£m)	HoH Growth %
Banks	37.5	33.2	13%	37.8	(1)%
Fintechs & Corporates	21.3	12.6	69%	21.1	1%
International Development Organisations	8.8	6.0	47%	8.3	6%
Total	67.6	51.8	31%	67.2	1%

Note: The above table shows the breakdown of total income by client type with comparatives adjusted to reflect our updated funds transfer policy.

Banks remain our largest segment with around 55% of total income, generating £37.5m of income in H1 2026, up 13% YoY (H2 2025: £37.8m). Growth was largely driven by an increase in average call deposits, higher FX volumes and take rate expansion in emerging and frontier markets.  Income was down 1% HoH reflecting the seasonally high income from G10 FX in December 2025. Our central bank and correspondent banking relationships continued to deepen, supporting volume growth across clearing and settlement activities. An additional 31 respondent banks were approved for USD clearing..

Fintechs & Corporates accounted for around 32% of total income, generating £21.3m, up 69% YoY, driven by higher Emerging Market currency FX volumes and take rate expansion from the Central Bank and Solutions strategy. The period saw new corporate clients transact with CAB for the first time, including previously announced transactions with Emirates and TotalEnergies. We remain focused on deepening existing relationships and converting the corporate pipeline.

International Development Organisations accounted for around 13% of income, generating £8.8m up 47% YoY. This reflects our continuing focus on serving international development flows following the challenging environment in 2024. We have also continued to make strategic progress in this space with the signing of long-term payments mandates with global IDOs.

 

Total Income by Region

	H1 2026 (£m)	H1 2025 (£m)	YoY growth %	H2 2025 (£m)	HoH Growth %
Americas	21.8	22.1	(1)%	22.2	(2)%
UK	19.7	11.5	71%	18.6	6%
Europe	4.2	2.4	75%	3.9	8%
Africa	18.2	12.7	43%	19.4	(6)%
Middle-East	0.9	0.5	80%	0.8	13%
Asia	2.8	2.6	8%	2.3	22%
Total	67.6	51.8	31%	67.2	1%

Note: The above table shows the breakdown of total income by client domicile with comparatives adjusted to reflect our updated fund transfer policy

The Americas (North America, LATAM and Caribbean) represents our largest region with around 32% of total income. H1 2026 income was broadly flat both HoH and YoY, reflecting the lower interest rate environment as well as the timing of transactions in the prior period.  Looking forward we are building our presence further with a new licence secured to establish a representative office in Guyana and our teams working on compliant ways to help the opening up of Venezuela.

Clients located in Africa represent around 27% and grew 43% YoY, reflecting our continued focus to serve Africa and build out a leading liquidity network across the continent. Income was 6% down HoH largely reflecting the non-repeat of dislocated margins in H2 2025. Looking forward we are planning to open new representative offices in Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire. While over 60% of transactional revenue has an African nexus, the clients we engage with can be located in the continent of Africa or elsewhere in the world.

The UK, representing just under 30% of total income, grew 71% YoY and 6% HoH driven by the combination of growth in Emerging Market FX volumes and take rate expansion through the Central Bank and Solutions strategy. The YoY growth was further pronounced due to the low H1 2025 comparative income due to narrow emerging market margins.

The European and MENA offices (the latter of which also covers Asia), are relatively recently established operations, however both offices are now transacting with clients and are building their pipelines with growth expected in H2.

Expenses

Rounded to the nearest £m	H1 2026 (£m)	H1 2025 (£m)	YoY growth %	H2 2025 (£m)	HoH Growth %
Category
Staff expenses (excl. variable compensation)	22.2	20.3	(9%)	21.4	(4%)
Variable compensation	3.9	2.4	(63%)	6.3	38%
Total Staff Costs	26.1	22.7	(15%)	27.7	6%
Cost of Sales	4.3	3.0	(43%)	3.6	(19%)
Other operating expenses	13.2	13.0	(2%)	13.9	5%
Total operating expenses (excl. D&A)	43.6	38.7	(13%)	45.2	4%
Depreciation and amortisation	5.0	5.2	4%	5.4	7%
Total operating expenses before non-underlying items	48.6	43.9	(11%)	50.6	4%
Non-underlying items	3.6	4.2	14%	0.5	(620%)
Total operating expenses after non-underlying items	52.2	48.1	(9%)	51.1	(2%)
FTE (spot)	378	342	11%	366	3%
Adjusted Cost Income Ratio	72%	85%	75%	-13pp	-3pp
Transactions ('000)	675	556	21%	607	11%

Total reported operating expenses (excluding depreciation and amortisation) increased by 13% YoY to £44m and were 4% lower HoH. The increase YoY largely reflects our investment into staff costs as we grew the Group's global footprint, alongside the normalisation of variable compensation in line with improved performance. Underlying cost growth, excluding variable compensation and volume-driven cost of sales, remained largely inflationary as we maintained cost discipline.

Total staff costs were £26m, 15% up YoY. Within this, staff expenses, excluding variable compensation, were up 9% YoY reflecting the impact of our decision to scale up our front office sales staff and build up our teams in overseas locations including Amsterdam, Abu Dhabi and New York. Variable staff costs also increased YoY, reflecting the improved performance and ongoing strategic execution. The Group had 378 full time employees at the end of H1 2026, up from 366 at the year end and 342 at the end of H1 2025.

Cost of sales which includes items such as payment fees, bank charges and trade finance insurance costs, increased 43% YoY, largely reflecting growth in the number of transactions processed (up 21% YoY) and the credit guarantee insurance costs as we scale the Trade Finance distribution model.

Other operating expenses which includes items such as IT software costs, statutory audit and legal fees, and marketing spend, increased by 2% YoY to £13m, broadly reflecting inflationary growth and the benefits from increased levels of straight through processing and the adoption of Artificial Intelligence. These initiatives have improved our productivity and allowed us to reduce our dependency on external licensing and support.

Depreciation and amortisation reduced 4% YoY to £5m, reflecting the previous peak in our capital expenditure in 2024 and the reduction in 2025. In the first half of 2026 the Group, as guided, increased investment in capital expenditure in particular to support new income generating initiatives including stablecoin along with a platform upgrade to support the growing international presence of the Group.

Non-underlying items of £3.6m relate primarily to advisory costs in relation to the unrecommended offer to purchase the entire share capital of CAB Payments Holdings plc by the Helios Consortium. We are expecting further costs in relation to the transaction to be incurred in H2 2026 and potentially into the start of 2027, depending on the outcome of the bid. Non-underlying costs are down YoY due to the non-repeat of the staff restructuring programme completed in the first half of 2025. 

Profitability

As a result of a 31% income growth YoY, alongside disciplined cost management, the Group generated an Adjusted EBITDA of £23.8m (H1 2025: £13.1m), up 82% YoY. The Adjusted EBITDA margin improved to 35% (H1 2025: 25%). The Group also generated Adjusted PAT of £13.6m, up 152% versus H1 2025. Statutory Profit After Tax was £9.5m, up from £2.3m in the first half of 2025.

A key feature of the H1 2026 result is the continued expansion of operating leverage both HoH and YoY. The adjusted cost-income ratio improved to 72% in H1 2026, compared to 75% in H2 2025 and 85% in H1 2025. This improvement reflects both the income growth achieved in the period and ongoing disciplined cost decisions. The continued improvement in this ratio over time remains a key focus for management as we continue to scale the business.

Balance Sheet

Average Balance Sheet (£m)	H1 2026 (£m)	H1 2025 (£m)	YoY growth %	H2 2025 (£m)	HoH growth %
Trade Finance	256	180	42%	228	12%
Customer Deposits - Current	955	771	24%	773	24%
Customer Deposits - Term	598	694	(14%)	656	(9%)
Total Deposits	1,553	1,465	6%	1,429	9%

 

The Group Balance Sheet remains well capitalised, highly liquid and short-dated, with total shareholders' funds increasing 7% since the year end to £171.5m.

Total deposits at the period end were £1.8bn with average deposits growing by 9% HoH to £1.6bn.

Average current deposits have grown 24% HoH to £955m, as we have continued to onboard new clients, broaden our product offering and increased the number of USD clearing customers we serve.

Average term deposits were down c.£0.1bn largely reflecting clients transferring their funds into current deposits. The period also saw the successful launch of our first A+ rated deposit product, broadening the options available to clients.

Treasury assets and investment capabilities have been built out since the second half of 2025 alongside the commencement of our interest rate management strategy. The Bank maintains cash at central banks and a high-quality liquid asset portfolio that broadly matches the currency of underlying deposits. Debt securities grew to £899m, largely comprising government and other high-grade investment securities. 100% of these investment are level 1 HQLA, 100% is AA rated or higher, and the average maturity is 9 months.

Average trade finance lending increased to £256m, up 12% from H2 2025 as the portfolio has grown towards our appetite levels. The originate-to-distribute model is becoming an increasingly important structural feature of the business, with £167m of assets sold or risk participated through syndication in the period allowing us to deliver more meaningful levels of financial support to the economies we serve while maintaining disciplined use of the Group's balance sheet.

 

	H1 2026 (£m)	FY 2025 (£m)	HoH growth %
Assets
Cash at central banks	196	258	(24%)
Money market funds	339	218	55%
Loans and advances to banks	211	130	63%
Debt securities	899	678	33%
Non-HQLA Assets	10	5	86%
Treasury Assets	1,654	1,289	28%
Trade Finance	263	270	(3%)
Working Capital	13	22	(41%)
Right of use assets	15	16	(8%)
Intangible assets	34	31	10%
Fixed and Other Assets	31	33	(6%)
Total assets	2,008	1,660	21%
Liabilities
Customer deposits - Current	1,111	916	21%
Customer deposits - Term	661	521	27%
Customer Deposits	1,772	1,437	23%
Other liabilities	65	62	4%
Shareholders funds	172	161	7%
Total Liabilities + Equity	2,008	1,660	21%

 

Capital, Liquidity & Investment

 

Capital and Liquidity Metrics	H1 2026	H1 2025	H2 2025
CET1 Ratio (%)	21.7%	19.5%	21.8%
CET1 Surplus Capital >17.5% (£m)	26	12	25
LCR (%)	131%	139%	135.4%
NSFR (%)	142%	134%	137%

 

The Group continues to be well capitalised, highly liquid and short-dated. The CET1 ratio was 21.7% at 30 June 2026 (31 December 2025: 21.8%), inclusive of verified profits for the period and adjusting for the proposed interim dividend set out below.

In line with the Banking industry we have assessed and submitted our expected impact from Basel 3.1. Based on this re-calibration, we expect our total Pillar 1 RWAs to reduce under Basel 3.1, in particular for operational risk, leading to an increase in our CET1 ratio. However we do not at this point expect this to result in a material change in our absolute capital surplus following the PRA's rebasing exercise. We currently expect the change to the capital surplus amount to be modest.

Liquidity metrics remain strong with both LCR and NSFR well above regulatory minimums at 131.2% and 141.5% respectively.

Taxation

The tax charge arising during the period of £5.1m (H1 2025: £0.8m) represents an effective tax rate of 35.1% being the expected rate for the entire year plus the impact of a one off non-underlying expenses arising in H1.  Excluding the impact of these one off costs, the underlying effective tax rate is 25.4% which is a slight increase versus the H1 2025 effective tax rate of 25.1%. The non-underlying tax expense included in the period arises from certain non-deductible legal and professional costs incurred in relation to the ongoing bid by the Helios Consortium (£0.9m) and a provision in respect of a prior period uncertain tax position (£0.5m) recorded in accordance with IFRIC 23.

Capital Management Framework

CAB Payments business model is highly cash generative, with approximately 70% of revenue from FX and Payments and a short-dated, liquid balance sheet. With the business delivering sustainable and profitable growth, working to minimise concentrations by client, segment and market, and generating a strong surplus capital position, the Board believes now is the right time to set out the Company's capital management framework and establish a mechanism to return capital to shareholders.

•   The Group will maintain a target CET1 ratio over the medium term of between 16.5% and 17.5%, which includes a c.2% buffer above the Group's overall capital requirement. The CET1 ratio will be adjusted for the new Basel 3.1 framework from 1 January 2027, however the quantum of surplus capital is not expected to change materially

•   Surplus capital utilisation will be assessed first for internal investment and growth opportunities, as well as inorganic opportunities which prioritises the delivery of our medium-term guidance of high-teens to low-twenties percentage CAGR in Total Income (excluding Deposit Net Interest Income).

•   Targeting 8-12% of Total Income p.a. to be allocated towards Capital Expenditure

•   Establishment of a progressive dividend from 2027 growing at a mid-single digit rate per annum.

•   Inaugural Interim dividend of 2.1p per share declared for H1 2026. This represents approximately 40% of Adjusted PAT for H1 2026

•   The Final Dividend for the full year-ended 31 December 2026 will be subject to shareholder approval at the next AGM

•   Remaining surplus above the target CET1 range, to be returned over time through share buybacks and /or special dividends

•   All capital returns will be subject to the Company maintaining prudent capital headroom and (where required) having received regulatory clearances and shareholder approvals

	CET1 Resources (£m)	Pillar 1 RWAs (£m)	CET1 Ratio
As at 31 December 2025	129	595	21.8 %
As at 30 June 2026 before H1 Profit & Dividend	129	614	21.0 %
H1 Profit Certification	9
H1 Interim Dividend	(5)
As at 30 June 2026 after H1 Profit & Dividend	133	614	21.7 %

Related Parties

Please refer to Note 21 to the interim condensed consolidated financial statements where detailed disclosures on related parties are made.

 

Principal Risks and Uncertainties

The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group were disclosed on pages 47 to 53 of the CAB Payments Holdings plc 2025 Annual Report and Accounts after review and approval by the Board. The Group considered that the overall principal risks and uncertainties, risk appetite, key risks and management of risks were unchanged.

The principal risks include:

•   Business risk

•   Financial crime risk

•   Operational risk

•   Credit risk

•   Market risk

•   Regulatory and compliance risk

•   Capital adequacy risk

•   Liquidity and funding risk

•   Conduct risk

 

Statement of directors' responsibilities

The directors confirm that these condensed interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority and that the interim management report includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7 and DTR 4.2.8, namely:

•  an indication of important events that have occurred during the first six months and their impact on the condensed set of financial statements, and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the financial year; and

•  material related-party transactions in the first six months and any material changes in the related-party transactions described in the last annual report.

The maintenance and integrity of the CAB Payments Holding plc website is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried out by the authors does not involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that might have occurred to the interim financial statements since they were initially presented on the website.

The directors of CAB Payments Holdings plc are listed in the CAB Payments Holdings plc annual report for 31 December 2025, with the exception of the following changes in the period: Mr Kushagra Saxena retired on 29 April 2026. A list of current directors is maintained on the CAB Payments Holding plc website: www.cabpayments.com

 

By order of the Board,  

Neeraj Kapur

Group Chief Executive Officer

 

James Hopkinson

Group Chief Financial Officer

 

05 August 2026

 

 

Alternative Performance Measures

CAB Payments uses alternative performance measures ('APM') when presenting its financial results. Management believes these provide stakeholders with additional useful information to interpret the underlying performance of the business. They are used by the Directors and management to monitor performance.

APMs used within this Interim Report are supplemental to, but not a substitute for, IFRS measures presented within the Financial Statements. They may not be comparable with the APMs of other companies. The APMs are calculated on the same basis as the prior year.

EBITDA

EBITDA is the key measure of profitability used internally at Executive Committees and Board, and externally with investors.

It is calculated as Profit before Tax and IFRS 16 lease liability interest expense, depreciation and amortisation. Although it is typical to calculate EBITDA before interest, our net interest income is generated from client deposits and subsequent reinvestment to generate returns for shareholders and therefore remains included within EBITDA.

The calculation for EBITDA can be seen in Note 3 Segment reporting.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin

The Group believes that Adjusted EBITDA is a useful measure for investors because it is closely tracked by management to evaluate the Group's performance for making financial, strategic and operating decisions, as well as aiding investors to understand and evaluate the underlying trends in the Group's performance period on period, in a comparable manner.

Adjusted EBITDA margin is another measure of profitability, by understanding how much of the income is converted to profit, by calculating Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of total income.

 

Adjusted EBITDA	Reference		Six Months Ended
			30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025
			£'000	£'000	£'000
EBITDA from continuing operations	Note 3	A	20,287	8,937	21,588
Add back: Non-underlying items	Note 7 a)	B	3,549	4,162	512
Adjusted EBITDA		A+B	23,836	13,099	22,100

 

			Six Months Ended
			30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025
Adjusted EBITDA margin	Reference		£'000	£'000	£'000
Adjusted EBITDA	Table above	A	23,836	13,099	22,100
Total income (defined as total income, net of interest expense)	Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss	B	67,619	51,818	67,171
Adjusted EBITDA margin		A / B	35%	25%	33%

Adjusted Profit, Earnings Per Share and Adjusted Earnings per Share

A measure of profitability based on adjusting the statutory profit after tax by removing identified items that do not form part of the ongoing running costs of the business.

Adjusted Profit After Tax	Reference		Six Months Ended
			30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025
			£'000	£'000	£'000
Profit Before Tax	Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss	A	14,607	3,075	15,446
Add back: Non-underlying items	Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss	B	3,549	4,162	512
Adjusted Profit Before Tax		C = A+B	18,156	7,237	15,958
Adjusted Tax (at standard rates: 2025: 25%)		D	(4,539)	(1,809)	(3,990)
Adjusted Profit After Tax		E = C+D	13,617	5,428	11,968
Number of Shares	Note 19	F	254,143	254,143	254,143
Adjusted basic Earnings Per Share (pence)		E / F	5.4	2.1	4.7

Operating Free Cash Flow and Free Cash Flow conversion

A measure of cash flow generated by the business. It is a non-statutory measure used by the Board and the senior management team to measure the ability of the Group to support future business expansion, distributions, or financing. It is calculated as Adjusted EBITDA before the cost of purchasing property, plant and equipment, the cost of intangible asset additions, and the cost of lease payments. The Group also measures free cash flow conversion, being operating free cash flow as a percentage of Adjusted EBITDA.

			Six Months Ended
			30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025
Operating free cash flow:	Reference		£'000	£'000	£'000
Adjusted EBITDA	Note 3 b)	A	23,836	13,099	22,100
Less: additions of tangible fixed assets	Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows		(157)	(20)	(114)
Less: additions of intangible fixed assets	Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows		(4,484)	(3,516)	(4,123)
Less: cash payments made on property leases	Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows		(1,364)	(111)	(127)
Operating free cash flow		B	17,831	9,452	17,736
Operating free cash flow conversion		B / A	75%	72%	80%

Adjusted cost - income ratio

The Cost-Income ratio measures operating efficiency and is calculated as operating expenses before non-recurring expenses divided by total operating income, expressed as a percentage. It indicates how much operating cost is incurred to generate one unit of operating income; a lower ratio reflects greater efficiency.

			Six Months Ended
			30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025
Adjusted Cost - Income Ratio	Reference		£'000	£'000	£'000
Operating expenses excluding Non-underlying items	Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss	A	48,634	43,952	50,571
Operating Income	Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss	B	67,619	51,818	67,171
Adjusted Cost-income ratio		A/B	72%	85%	75%

Adjusted Return on Equity

A measure of how effectively a company generates profit from shareholders' invested capital and is calculated as annualised adjusted profit after tax divided by average shareholders' equity, expressed as a percentage. It indicates the return generated for shareholders on each unit of equity invested in the business.

			Six Months Ended
			30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025
Adjusted Return on Equity	Reference		£'000	£'000	£'000
Adjusted Profit After Tax	APMs - Adjusted profit After Tax	A	13,617	5,428	11,968
Annualised Adjusted PAT	365 / period days	B	27,460	10,946	23,741
Average Shareholders' funds		C	166,053	147,498	155,140
Adjusted Return on Equity		B/C	17%	7%	15%

Adjusted Return on Target Capital

A measure of how effectively a company generates profit from the target capital requirement, as stated in the capital distribution framework, which excludes any surplus capital above this defined rate. It is calculated as annualised adjusted profit after tax divided by the average target capital requirement over the period, expressed as a percentage. It indicates the return generated for shareholders should the business be efficiently capitalised.

			Six Months Ended
			30 June 2026	30 June 2025	31 December 2025
Adjusted Return on Target Capital	Reference		£'000	£'000	£'000
Adjusted Profit After Tax	APMs - Adjusted profit After Tax	A	13,617	5,428	11,968
Annualised Adjusted PAT	365 / period days	B	27,460	10,946	23,741
Average Pillar 1 RWAs		C	595,598	544,553	580,353
Target Capital	x 17.5%	D = C x 17.5%	104,230	95,297	101,562
Adjusted Return on Target Capital		B/D	26%	11%	23%

 

Independent review report to CAB Payments Holdings plc

Report on the condensed consolidated interim financial statements

Our conclusion

We have reviewed CAB Payments Holdings plc's condensed consolidated interim financial statements (the "interim financial statements") in the Interim results of CAB Payments Holdings plc for the 6 month period ended 30 June 2026 (the "period").

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the interim financial statements are not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

The interim financial statements comprise:

•   the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 30 June 2026;

•   the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss for the period then ended;

•   the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income for the period then ended;

•   the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the period then ended;

•   the Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the period then ended; and

•   the explanatory notes to the interim financial statements.

 

The interim financial statements included in the Interim results of CAB Payments Holdings plc have been prepared in accordance with UK adopted International Accounting Standard 34, 'Interim Financial Reporting' and the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority.

Basis for conclusion

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK) 2410, 'Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity' issued by the Financial Reporting Council for use in the United Kingdom ("ISRE (UK) 2410"). A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures.

A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and, consequently, does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

We have read the other information contained in the Interim results and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the interim financial statements.

Conclusions relating to going concern

Based on our review procedures, which are less extensive than those performed in an audit as described in the Basis for conclusion section of this report, nothing has come to our attention to suggest that the directors have inappropriately adopted the going concern basis of accounting or that the directors have identified material uncertainties relating to going concern that are not appropriately disclosed. This conclusion is based on the review procedures performed in accordance with ISRE (UK) 2410. However, future events or conditions may cause the group to cease to continue as a going concern.

 

Responsibilities for the interim financial statements and the review

   Our responsibilities and those of the directors

The Interim results, including the interim financial statements, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the Interim results in accordance with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority. In preparing the Interim results, including the interim financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Our responsibility is to express a conclusion on the interim financial statements in the Interim results based on our review. Our conclusion, including our Conclusions relating to going concern, is based on procedures that are less extensive than audit procedures, as described in the Basis for conclusion paragraph of this report.

Use of this report

This report, including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the company for the purpose of complying with the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules sourcebook of the United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving this conclusion, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chartered Accountants

London

05 August 2026

 

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Profit or Loss

for the six months ended 30 June 2026

		Six months ended
		30 June 2026	30 June 2025
	Note	£'000	£'000
Interest income	4	27,677	28,509
Interest expense	4	(13,132)	(15,263)
Net interest income		14,545	13,246
Gain on money market funds		5,820	7,921
Net loss on financial assets and financial liabilities mandatorily held at fair value through profit or loss		(665)	(1,151)
Fees and commission income	5	8,721	7,924
Net foreign exchange gain	6	39,198	23,878
Total income		67,619	51,818
Operating expenses before non-underlying items	7	(48,634)	(43,952)
Non-underlying items	7	(3,549)	(4,162)
Operating expenses after non-underlying items	7	(52,183)	(48,114)
Other finance costs		(678)	(682)
Provision for impairment of financial assets at amortised cost		(151)	53
Profit before tax		14,607	3,075
Tax expense	8	(5,121)	(771)
Profit for the period		9,486	2,304

 

Profit for the period arises from continuing operations and is attributable to the owners of the parent.

 

		Six months ended
Earnings per share		30 June 2026	30 June 2025
	Note	pence	pence
Basic earnings per share	25	3.7	0.9
Diluted earnings per share	25	3.5	0.9

 

Earnings per share relate entirely to continuing operations.

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Other Comprehensive Income

for the six months ended 30 June 2026

		Six months ended
		30 June 2026	30 June 2025
	Note	£'000	£'000
Profit for the period		9,486	2,304
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the period:
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Foreign exchange gains/(losses) on translation of foreign operations		76	(190)
Cash flow hedge reserve		(453)	-
Movement in investment in debt securities at fair value through other comprehensive income		(17)	-
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:
Movement in investment revaluation reserve for equity instruments at fair value through other comprehensive income		(4)	94
Income tax relating to these items		-	-
Other comprehensive loss net of tax		(398)	(96)
Total comprehensive income		9,088	2,208

Total comprehensive income for the period is wholly attributable to the owners of the parent.

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

Interim Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

as at 30 June 2026

		As at	As at
		30 June 2026	31 December 2025
	Note	£'000	£'000
Assets
Cash and balances at central banks	9	195,529	257,867
Money market funds	10	338,639	218,157
Loans and advances on demand to banks	11	211,240	129,946
Investment in debt securities at amortised cost	13	48,675	234,790
Investment in debt securities at fair value through OCI	14	850,048	442,751
Other loans and advances to banks	11	272,061	274,956
Other loans and advances to non-banks	11	12,652	21,521
Unsettled transactions	15	12,507	8,900
Derivative financial assets	12	3,061	489
Investment in equity securities		669	679
Other assets	15	11,154	9,614
Current tax asset		545	8,839
Accrued income		701	2,033
Property, plant and equipment		2,155	2,299
Right of use assets		14,511	15,713
Intangible assets	16	34,214	31,170
Total assets		2,008,361	1,659,724
Liabilities
Customer accounts	17	1,771,899	1,436,533
Derivative financial liabilities	12	4,302	1,384
Unsettled transactions	18	21,415	20,772
Other liabilities	18	7,412	4,800
Current tax liabilities		20	43
Accruals	18	10,635	13,451
Lease liabilities		18,056	19,037
Deferred tax liability		927	928
Provisions	18	2,168	2,054
Total liabilities		1,836,834	1,499,002
Equity
Called up share capital	19	85	85
Treasury shares reserve		(349)	(264)
Retained earnings		172,353	161,065
Investment revaluation reserve		196	200
Cash flow hedge reserve		(697)	(244)
Debt securities revaluation reserve		56	73
Foreign currency translation reserve		(117)	(193)
Shareholders' funds		171,527	160,722
Total liabilities and equity		2,008,361	1,659,724

Company registration number - 09659405

 

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these interim condensed consolidated financial statements.

The Board of Directors approved the interim condensed consolidated financial statements on 05 August 2026.

 

 

N Kapur	J Hopkinson
Group Chief Executive Officer	Group Chief Financial Officer