Full Year Results for the year ended 30 April 2015

Gateley (Holdings) Plc

("Gateley" or the "Group")

Full Year Results for the year ended 30 April 2015

Gateley, (AIM:GTLY), a leading national full-service commercial law firm, reports its results for the year ended 30 April 2015, being the final year of the business as an LLP and prior to admission of the Group to trading on AIM on 8 June 2015. The results set out below represent the pro-forma Plc results for the year ended 30 April 2015 based upon the audited results of the LLP for the same period.

Financial highlights

·      Revenue up 11.5% to £60.9m (2014: £54.6m)

·      Adjusted pro-forma EBITDA* up 28.4% to £11.3m (2014: £8.8m)

·      Adjusted pro-forma pre-tax profit up 32.4% to £9.8m (2014: £7.4m)  

·      Pro-forma basic EPS up 37% to 7.4p (2014: 5.4p)

·      Pro-forma total dividend yield up 35% to 5.4% (2014: 4%)

* Adjusted pro-forma EBITDA excludes income or expenses that relate to non-underlying items

Operational highlights

·      Advised on more than 250 corporate deals with an aggregate value in excess of £1.5bn

·      Fee generating staff increased to 366 from 355

·      Utilisation of fee generating staff at 85% (2014: 84%)

·      Successful IPO raised £30m in June 2015

Nigel Payne, Chairman of Gateley, commented:

"In an evolving and still challenging legal marketplace the Group has delivered a pleasing set of results for the year ended 30 April 2015 which provide a solid platform for the business as we embark upon delivering on our goals and objectives as a Plc.

The Board is focused on ensuring that Gateley is ideally positioned to maximise the opportunities from the changing marketplace in which we operate as well as from our new and more flexible Plc status. The growth strategy of the Group is based on three key pillars, which we outlined to investors at the time of the IPO. These are to, Differentiate (through our Plc status, comprehensive service offering and service ethic), where sensible Diversify (through additional complementary non-legal businesses and acquiring legal firms or teams offering sector specialism or geographic expansion), and, very importantly, Incentivise (offering wider and earlier equity to staff.)

These results, together with the successful IPO and the solid start the business has made in its journey from LLP to Plc has without doubt helped raise our profile, differentiate us from our direct competitors and attract quality staff who are interested in benefiting from the opportunities provided by a structure which is far better suited to the legal landscape of today in what is an improving but nonetheless still challenging market. As such, the Board looks forward to its first year as a Plc with confidence."

Michael Ward, CEO of Gateley, commented:

"I'm delighted to present our final year results for Gateley prior to the business becoming a listed company. Gateley's performance in the year ended April 2015 and its admission to AIM in June 2015 has created a solid foundation from which to build the business and strengthens our ability to execute our longer term growth strategy.

It would be remiss of me not to thank all the management and staff at Gateley for their continued support and commitment, particularly during a period of considerable change. It is testament to the quality of our people that the financial results for last year are as good as they are."

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CEO Business Overview

Introduction

For our final year as a partnership I am pleased to report a good financial performance in an improving but nonetheless challenging marketplace with increases against last year in both revenue (11.5%) and adjusted EBITDA (28.4%). The results were particularly pleasing in light of the commitment by the senior management team to the admission to AIM process which successfully concluded on 8 June 2015.

Operational Review  

The firm benefitted throughout the year from improving market conditions. Clients began to feel cautiously optimistic about the future and therefore sought our services to implement and aid their growth plans.  Revenues from Banking and Financial Services were up by 12.8% on the previous year driven by an increasing number of banking transactions taking place and notable successes in recovering monies obtained through fraudulent or deceitful transactions. Corporate deal flow increased in the year and revenues from this division improved by 14.1% over 2014. The Property division increased its revenues by 16.1% due to improvements in the marketplace for both commercial and residential property development.

The strong performance from the Corporate team was endorsed by achievement of a third position nationally for deal volume in the 2014 Experian Corporate Finance / M&A Adviser League Table and a first place in the Midlands.  The team advised on more than 250 corporate deals with an aggregate value in excess of £1.5 billion.

The residential development team achieved its goal of acting for all of the top ten house builders in the UK.  With a team of 72 staff nationally, our residential development unit is one of the largest stand-alone teams of its kind in the UK.  To add to this a new residential development offering has been set up in London with the movement of one partner from Birmingham to the London office and the recruitment externally of a senior associate.  This will help us build on our reputation in this sector and attract more work from the offices of our existing clients located in the South East.

In terms of infrastructure, the business has continued to invest in its people and its offices. Twelve new law graduates entered training contracts with Gateley during the year and ten qualified as solicitors following completion of their two year training contracts and have been retained. Seven new partners have been hired across a number of practice areas. A new Client and Market Development Director has also been appointed to focus on developing new business and sales opportunities as well as driving the firm's "go to market" strategy.  Office moves to increase capacity were completed in Nottingham and Leeds and bonuses earned by all employees increased to 6.13% of staff payroll costs (5.6% for 2014). We continue to explore acquisitions in businesses providing complementary commercial services as well as securing lateral hires of individuals and teams. 

We are delighted that all employees received shares in Gateley (Holdings) Plc (the "Company") following admission to trading on AIM and the firm is in the process of implementing an all staff share ownership scheme. The aim of encouraging widespread equity ownership is to attract, retain and motivate talent and to ensure all staff can benefit from the firm's longer term growth.

Financial Review

For clarity of understanding and ease of future comparison, we have prepared pro-forma financial information for the year ended 30 April 2015, as if the Plc structure of the Group formed in order to achieve its AIM listing was already in place at the end of the financial year being reported. A summary of the corporate structure changes effected in order to move from an LLP to a Plc is included in Note 1 below.

During the year ended 30 April 2015, the Group expanded its client base which yielded revenue growth of 11.5% to £60.9m (2014: £54.6m). This strong revenue growth, together with efficient operating controls which delivered an increase in the utilisation of fee generating staff to 85% (2014: 84%), combined to deliver growth in adjusted pro-forma EBITDA of 28.4% to £11.3m (2014: £8.8m).

Personnel costs increased by 9.9% to £35.6m (2014: £32.4m) as management increased the number of fee generating staff in order to service its expanding client base and to broaden the Group's geographical coverage. Pro-forma Other Operating Costs increased by 6.3% to £15.1m (2014: £14.2m). This increase in costs reflects planned investment in the infrastructure of the business designed to service actual and future growth such as office relocations in Leeds and Nottingham and enhanced IT systems.  

Adjusted Pro-forma Pre-tax Profit was up 32.4% to £9.8m (2014: £7.4m). Adjusted pro-forma numbers are stated after excluding income or expenses that relate to non-underlying items. Non-underlying items include one-off professional costs in respect of the Group's future strategy, on-going property lease restructuring costs and additional costs resulting from the release of operating lease incentives in accordance with IFRS, whereby lease incentives are now recognised over the full term of the lease.

The pro-forma net asset position of the Group balance sheet has improved from nil, as is typical within an LLP structure, to £3.8m on admission on 8 June 2015.

Cash generated from operating activities before transactions with members yielded an actual cash balance at the year-end of £2.7m. On a pro-forma basis, closing cash totalled £9.8m arising from the change in funding structure depicted in the pro-forma adjustments to net debt. The Group's pro-forma net debt position as at 30 April 2015 has changed as a result of the replacement of individual members' capital classified as a liability, otherwise known as "fixed capital", with term bank debt, along with the injection of new money from the issue of new share capital totalling £5m.  The total injection of £15m of new cash into the Group balance sheet on admission will be used firstly to repay in full all members' fixed capital and thereafter to assist in the on-going working capital funding of the Group.

Net Debt

Current trading and outlook

Trading in the first few months of the new financial year has been encouraging and whilst business confidence continues to improve it remains a challenging market.  It has been pleasing to see that our new Plc status has raised our profile and attracted interest from potential acquisition targets and lateral hires, as well as the media.  We remain focussed on delivering another year of growth and the Board looks forward to the first year of Gateley as a Plc with confidence.

Consolidated income statement

For the year ended 30 April 2015

Pro-forma Earnings per ordinary share:

The results for the periods presented above are derived from continuing operations.

Non-underlying items include one-off professional costs in respect of the Group's future strategy, on-going property lease restructuring costs and additional costs resulting from the release of operating lease incentives in accordance with IFRS, whereby lease incentives are now recognised over the full term of the lease.

Dividend yield based on 70% of profit after tax being available for distribution and £100m market capitalisation.

Consolidated statement of financial position

at 30 April 2015

The pro-forma changes reflect the drawdown of £10 million under new 5 year term loan agreements on admission to AIM.  The proceeds of which were used to repay individual members' fixed capital and support the working capital transition after admission.  Also included within the pro-forma changes is the receipt by the Group of net proceeds from the Placing of £3.8m.
 

Consolidated cash flow Statement

for the year ended 30 April 2015

Notes

(forming part of the financial statements)

1              Basis of preparation and significant accounting policies

Gateley (Holdings) Plc was incorporated on 13 November 2014 and was dormant at the period end of 30 April 2015 having only issued nominal share capital to that point. Post period end, on 29 May 2015, the Company acquired 100 per cent of the issued share capital of Gateley Plc which had, on the same day, acquired the business assets and liabilities of Gateley (Heritage) LLP formerly the partnership of Gateley LLP.  On 8 June 2015, Gateley (Holdings) Plc listed on the AIM market of London Stock Exchange Plc ("AIM").  The last day of trading of Gateley LLP was 30 April 2015.

The Audited results of the LLP relate to the financial performance of Gateley Heritage LLP and its subsidiaries ("the Group") for the year ended 30 April 2015.  At that time the Group was controlled by Gateley Heritage LLP (formerly Gateley LLP) ("the partnership") which was incorporated in the United Kingdom as a Limited Liability Partnership under the Limited Liability Partnership Act 2000.

The Group financial statements consolidate those of the partnership and its subsidiaries.

The Group financial statements have been prepared and approved by the members in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU ("Adopted IFRSs").

The Group has prepared its financial statements in accordance with Adopted IFRSs.

The pro-forma adjustments and results, used within the consolidated income statement, have been prepared consistently with information provided on historical results in the Group's admission document upon IPO.  The balance sheet, cash flow statement and related notes continue to represent those of the partnership but also include pro-forma adjustments designed to demonstrate the inclusion of partners' pay as a personnel cost, a pro-forma corporation tax charge together with the effects on net debt in the balance sheet of full repayment of partners' fixed capital.

2              Operating segments

The Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") is the Strategic Board. The Group have the following five strategic divisions, which are its reportable segments.  These divisions offer different products and services and are managed separately because they report different specialisms from the legal teams in those divisions.

The following summary describes the operations of each reportable segment:

The revenue and operating profit are attributable to the principal activities of the Group.  A geographical analysis of revenue is given below:

30 April 2015

Operating segments (continued)

30 April 2014

No other financial information has been disclosed as it is not provided to the CODM on a regular basis.

3              Pro-forma Earnings per share

Pro-forma basic earnings per share, shown on the consolidated income statement is based on profit after tax divided by 105,274,159, being the total number of shares in issue at the date of admission to AIM.

4              Other operating income

5              Expenses and auditor's remuneration

Included in profit/loss are the following:

Non-underlying items and IFRS transition adjustments

Non-underlying items include one-off professional costs in respect of the Group's future strategy, ongoing property lease restructuring costs and additional costs resulting from the release of operating lease incentives in accordance with IFRS, whereby lease incentives are now recognised over the full term of the lease.

Auditor's remuneration

6              Members and employee information

The average number of persons employed by the Group during the year, analysed by category, was as follows:

The aggregate pro-forma payroll costs of these persons were as follows:

7              Financial income and expense

Recognised in profit and loss

8              Property, plant and equipment

At the period end, the assets held under finance lease are £Nil (2014: £101,000).

Notes (continued)

9              Investment property

10           Investments

Investments are held in Mantua Capital (UK) LP (via Gateley Investments Limited) and Business Collaborator Limited.

Investments in subsidiaries

The Group had effective control of the following:

*              these investments are indirectly held at the year end

**           the equity partners of Gateley Heritage LLP as individuals are members of this entity, although effective control is held by Gateley Heritage LLP via a trust holding arrangement.

Non-controlling interests

During the year Gateley (Manchester) LLP has generated and allocated profits of £56,733 (2014: £151,194) from which £27,799 (2014: £74,085) is owed to non-controlling interested parties.
 

11           Trade and other receivables

All trade receivables are repayable within one year.

Movement in the allowance for doubtful receivables

Ageing of trade receivables (net of provisions)

The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the financial statements, which is net of any impairment losses, represents the Group's maximum exposure to credit risk.  Financial assets include client and other receivables and cash.  The Group does not hold collateral over these balances.

12           Other interest-bearing loans and borrowings

The contractual terms of the Group's interest-bearing loans and borrowings, which are measured at amortised cost are described below.

The overdraft facilities are repayable on demand and have remained at a maximum of £6 million since 20 July 2011.

Included within trade and other payables are gross finance lease liabilities.

On 8 June 2015 Gateley Plc entered into two new loan agreements of £5m each.  The total £10m of term loans are repayable quarterly over 5 years commencing on 8 November 2015.  Interest is chargeable at 2.25% over LIBOR.  The injection of cash from these loans is shown on the pro-forma consolidated statement of financial position.

13           Trade and other payables

14           Provisions

Professional indemnity

The professional indemnity provision represents amounts equal to the insurance excesses payable on outstanding claims against the LLP which are covered by the LLP's professional indemnity insurance policy.

15           Members' interests

Members' interests comprise other reserves, members' capital and other amounts due to/(from) members as follows:

Group

16           Post balance sheet events

Post year end, on the 8 June 2015, Gateley (Holdings) Plc listed on the AIM Market of London Stock Exchange Plc ("AIM").  Gateley (Holdings) Plc is now the ultimate parent company of Gateley Heritage LLP.  Gateley Plc is the immediate parent undertaking of Gateley Heritage LLP.

A Group reorganisation occurred on 29 May 2015 that became effective upon admission of the new Gateley Group.  The reorganisation involved the sale of all of the business assets and liabilities of Gateley Heritage LLP to Gateley Plc, with effect from an economic date for accounting purposes of 1 May 2015, in consideration for the issue of ordinary shares in the capital of Gateley Plc.  The shares in Gateley Plc were distributed to the members of Gateley Heritage LLP by way of a capital profit distribution.  These shares were then subject to a share for share exchange with shares in the newly formed Gateley (Holdings) Plc prior to admission.  All members in Gateley Heritage LLP then subsequently resigned. Gateley Plc became the sole corporate member of Gateley Heritage LLP.  Gateley Heritage LLP is now therefore, following admission, a dormant subsidiary of Gateley Plc.

As part of the reorganisation detailed above, Gateley Heritage LLP transferred its investment in Entrust Pension Limited (that interest being its 100% shareholding of Entrust Pension Limited) together with its membership interest in Gateley UK LLP (which it held on trust for the members of Gateley Heritage LLP) to Gateley (Holdings) Plc.

On 29 May 2015, Gateley LLP changed its name to Gateley Heritage LLP.