Half-year Report

28 February 2022

FISKE PLC

("Fiske" or the "Company" or the "Group")

Interim results

Fiske (AIM:FKE) is pleased to announce its interim results for the six months ended 30 November 2021.

In accordance with rule 26 of the AIM Rules for Companies this information is also available, under the Investors section, at the Company's website, http://www.fiskeplc.com .

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

For further information, please contact:

Fiske PLC
James Harrison (CEO) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7448 4700
100 Wood Street

London

EC2V 7AN

Grant Thornton UK LLP (Nominated Adviser) Tel: +44 (0) 20 7383 5100
Samantha Harrison / Harrison Clarke / Samuel Littler

Trading

In the half year to November 2021 UK markets were broadly level, and market activity was generally quieter.

However, our investment management fee income, which now represents 55% of our revenues, rose noticeably over the period.  Our investment performance and new client wins over the six months to November 2021 resulted in our investment management fee income being ahead, by some 17%, of the equivalent period to November 2020.

In contrast, and as a result of less volatile market conditions, our commission revenues were softer when compared to the previous six months to May 2021.  Although they were around the same level as for the comparable period to November 2020.  Overall, our revenues for the half year were £2.9m which is 6% higher than for the equivalent prior year period to November 2020.

Our operating expenses increased during the period partly due to relocation costs and partly due to restructuring costs incurred in anticipation of a smaller office footprint.  At the end of November, we moved to new modern offices at 100 Wood Street after spending some 45 years at Salisbury House.  We expect to benefit from the reduction in overall property costs in the second half of our financial year which will now run to 30 June 2022.  This follows our recent decision to change our accounting year end to 30 June.

Following an internal review of the results for the first half of the year, the Directors of the Company determined that certain one-off adjustments needed to be made to its accounts for the prior financial period.  These are related to the method of computation of accrued management fee revenue.  There has been no impact on the client money or asset positions of our clients, and no impact on the Company's cash position.  As a consequence, group revenues for the year to May 2021 have been restated downwards by 4% and balance sheets commensurately corrected.  Comparative data in this report has been restated and the adjustments elaborated in notes to the accounts and the comments in this statement reflect these changes.

Overall, our operating results for the half year to 30 November 2021 show a loss of £179,000 compared to the restated loss of £97,000 in the half year to November 2020.  Our pre-tax losses were £6,000 (November 2020:restated loss of £103,000) for the period following receipt of the dividend of £183,000 for our shareholding in Euroclear.

Our cash balances continue to rise, reaching £3.6m at the end of November.

Markets

The final three months of the calendar year 2021 produced the UK's fifth consecutive positive quarterly equity market return despite increased volatility created by the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid-19.  Although more transmissible and infectious, it would seem it is less virulent, and that vaccinations and boosters have produced the level of protection hoped for.

With the market impact of the pandemic beginning to recede, inflation has now become a major concern and increasingly central banks are accepting that the current increase is not transitory and are responding by raising interest rates and/or by withdrawing Covid induced financial support measures and monetary stimulus.  Higher commodity and energy prices, rising demand, supply chain disruption and wage pressures are just some of the issues driving up the cost of living

On the geo-political front, the invasion of Ukraine by Russian troops and the imposition of sanctions on Russia by Western nations is also of concern.  The failure to find a diplomatic solution before Russian troops crossed the Ukrainian border might also embolden China to make more aggressive moves on Taiwan.

Since the turn of the year, market leadership has also shifted dramatically away from highly valued US technology growth stocks and pandemic beneficiaries towards higher yielding value situations found in the "old economy" sectors that are so predominant in the UK equity market.  The relatively low ratings of many of the UK's major companies is also attracting the interest of activist investors.  As a result, the US and UK markets have become disconnected with the latter moving ahead whilst the US market and the NASDAQ market are falling. 

Outlook

We expect to see continuing turbulence in markets.  Many shares that comprise the NASDAQ index have experienced a torrid time of late with some substantial intraday falls leading to major value destruction.  This trend may continue for a while as speculative positions unwind, and share price ratings fall back to more realistic levels.

Interest rates are almost certain to rise further over the next 12 months, albeit from historically low levels.  Against a backdrop of rising inflation rates, investment in real assets particularly in shares trading at reasonable valuations in companies with enough pricing power to underpin real earnings growth is likely to find favour.  Overall, we look forward to identifying attractive investment opportunities for our clients that will no doubt be forthcoming in the coming months.

From an operational standpoint we are settling into our new offices well and look forward to the benefits that our reduced property costs and non-recurring restructuring costs will provide for the further development of the business.

Clive Fiske Harrison                                                       James P Q Harrison

Chairman                                                                         Chief Executive Officer

28 February 2022

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Total Comprehensive Income

For the six months ended 30 November 2021

All results are from continuing operations and are attributable to equity shareholders of the parent Company.

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

30 November 2021

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the six months ended 30 November 2021

Notes to the Interim Financial Statements

1.     Basis of preparation

The Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements of Fiske plc and its subsidiaries (the Group) for the six months ended 30 November 2021 have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 (Interim Financial Reporting), as adopted in the United Kingdom. The accounting policies applied are consistent with those set out in the May 2021 Fiske plc Annual Report and accounts. These Condensed Consolidated Interim Financial Statements do not include all the information required for full annual statements and should be read in conjunction with the May 2021 Annual Report and Accounts.

The Financial Statements of the Group for the year ended 31 May 2021 were prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards adopted by in the United Kingdom. The statutory Consolidated Financial Statements for Fiske plc in respect of the year ended 31 May 2021 have been reported on by the Company's auditor and delivered to the registrar of companies. The report of the auditor was (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report, and (iii) did not contain a statement under Section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

Under IAS 27 these financial statements are prepared on a consolidated basis where the Group consists of Fiske plc, the parent, and those subsidiaries in which it owns 100% of the voting rights, being Ionian Group Limited, Fiske Nominees Limited, Fieldings Investment Management Limited and VOR Financial Strategy Limited.

The directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing this half-yearly financial report.

There were no new mandatory standards or amendments to existing standards effective in the six-month reporting period to 30 November 2021.

2.     Revenues

IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly reviewed by management to allocate resources to the segments and to assess their performance. Following the acquisition of Fieldings Investment Management Limited in August 2017, their staff and operations have been integrated into the management team of Fiske plc. Pursuant to this, the Group continues to identify a single reportable segment, being UK-based financial intermediation. Within this single reportable segment, total revenue comprises:

3.     Deferred tax

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognised at a rate which is substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. The rate to be taken in this case is 25%, (2020: 19%) being the anticipated rate of taxation applicable to the Group and Company in the following year.

4.     Earnings per share

5.     Impact of restatements

(a)   Consolidated Statement of Total Comprehensive income in the prior half year to 30 November 2020

(b)   Consolidated Statement of Total Comprehensive income in the prior year to 31 May 2021

(c)   Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 30 November 2020

(d)   Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 31 May 2021

(e)   Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 1 June 2020

Notes:

i            impact of adjustments to the management fee accrual to reflect improved methodology of system data extraction