Alpha Plus Holdings Plc Interim Group Financial Statements – Six Months Ended 28 February 2018
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Alpha Plus Holdings plc Interim Group Financial Statements For the six months ended 28 February 2018 Alpha Plus Holdings plc Interim Group Financial Statements – six months ended 28 February 2018 Officers and registered office Directors Sir John Ritblat Chairman G G Able Non-Executive Deputy Chairman M D Hanley-Browne Chief Executive Officer M J Sample Director of Finance R D Jones Director of Property E M Francis Director of Education J E Stephen Director of Schools P D Brereton Director of HR R Proscia Director of Marketing Dame Rosalind Savill Non-Executive C B Wagman Non-Executive S M Lancaster Non-Executive Secretary J C Norton Registered office 50 Queen Anne Street London W1G 8HJ 1 Alpha Plus Holdings plc Interim Group Financial Statements – six months ended 28 February 2018 Interim Management Report The Directors present their Interim Management Report and the unaudited condensed Group financial statements for the six months ended 28 February 2018. Activities The principal activity of the Group in the period under review continued to be the ownership and management of schools and colleges in the United Kingdom and the supply of educational services. Across the UK, the Group operates 13 independent schools, 3 stand-alone nursery schools and 3 sixth form colleges all of which, with the exception of 1 school, 2 colleges and one nursery school, are based in Central London. In addition to this, in September 2017, the Group opened its first school outside the UK, in New York City. Review of business A new boys-only pre-prep school, Wetherby Kensington, opened in September 2017 in leasehold premises in Wetherby Gardens, London SW5, Wetherby Kensington is a two form, non-selective, pre- preparatory school for boys from Reception to Year 3 and follows the same curriculum and shares the same values and ethos as Wetherby School in Notting Hill. The new school has started with pupils in Reception and Year 1 only and the remaining year groups are expected to fill over the next two academic years. Wetherby-Pembridge School, a co-educational school for pupils aged 3-14, opened in New York City in September 2017. The school is located in leasehold premises on the Upper East Side on East 96th Street near Central Park and has a capacity of approximately 230 students. Group revenues continued to grow strongly and, in the six months ended 28 February 2018, were 8% higher than in the equivalent period last year at £51.2m (2017: £47.4m) with the increase resulting from greater pupil/student numbers and from increased fee levels. Total pupil/student numbers increased by 84 during the period to 4,327 (31 August 2017: 4,243) and the underlying changes are summarised below: number At 2016/17 academic year-end 4,243 New schools opened September 2017 (Wetherby Kensington and Wetherby-Pembridge) 107 Reduction in student numbers at sixth form colleges (19) Net decrease in pupil numbers elsewhere (4) At 2017/18 half year-end 4,327 The Group believes that the recruitment and retention of international students into the Group’s sixth form colleges for the current academic year, particularly from Far Eastern markets, was adversely affected by the terrorism attacks in London and Manchester in the Spring of 2017. Early indications are that confidence has since returned and the number of international students applying and being accepted into the Group’s colleges for September 2018 entry is significantly higher than at the same time last year. 2 Alpha Plus Holdings plc Interim Group Financial Statements – six months ended 28 February 2018 Interim Management Report (continued) Review of business (continued) For a variety of reasons, a number of new head teachers have taken up posts within the Group over the last year and two more are due to start in September. In any school, a change of head teacher can lead to a period of uncertainty which can adversely impact pupil numbers and hence short term financial performance. The Group has great confidence in its new head teacher appointees, however, and considers that a short term fall in pupil numbers in any of these schools will be short-lived. Overall operating expenses rose by 14% to £51.2m (2017: £45.0m) reflecting operating costs in New York and at Wetherby Kensington as well as higher personnel and other direct costs elsewhere in the Group, including costs associated with the provision of sports activities. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) decreased to a break-even position (2017: £2.3m). Reported EBITDA has again been impacted by additional operating costs incurred as the Group expands and creates additional capacity. Adjusting for the short term impact of these items results in underlying EBITDA as follows: 6 Months to Year to 28/02/18 28/02/17 31/08/17 £m £m £m Reported EBITDA - 2.3 5.0 Establishment of Wetherby Senior School 0.7 0.4 2.3 Relocation of Abbey College Cambridge 0.6 0.7 1.5 Relocation of DLD College 0.2 - 0.5 Expansion costs at Chepstow House School 0.2 0.2 0.6 Relocation of Falcons School for Girls 0.2 0.2 0.3 Establishment of St Anthony's School for Girls 0.1 0.3 0.4 Establishment of Wetherby Kensington School - - 0.5 Establishment of Wetherby-Pembridge School, New York 0.9 0.4 1.2 Non-recurring items Staff termination costs - - 0.7 Underlying EBITDA 2.9 4.5 13.0 At a pre-tax level, the Group generated a loss of £6.1m in the period (2017: loss of £1.0m). Notwithstanding this, the Group was still able to generate £3.9m of cash from its operations in the period, helped by a non-recurring £1.7m rent deposit recovery from one of its landlords. As a consequence of the usual January intake of international students into the Group’s sixth form colleges to commence 18-month A-Level programmes, and lower overheads in July and August, the Group again expects to generate improved results in the second half of the year. The Directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend. 3 Alpha Plus Holdings plc Interim Group Financial Statements – six months ended 28 February 2018 Interim Management Report (continued) Future developments The major refurbishment programme continues at Hannah House, Manchester Street, London W1 to facilitate the creation of an additional campus for Wetherby Senior School, supplementing the existing campus in nearby Marylebone Lane. As previously reported, the Group has agreed, subject to contract, to lease additional premises at 47 Bryanston Square, London W1 adjacent to Wetherby Prep School. This building will require refurbishment but will then allow Wetherby Prep to expand by adding one additional form to each year group. The Board continues to expect short term future reported EBITDA to continue to be negatively impacted by costs associated with the current expansion program but anticipates significant medium / longer term growth as a consequence. Whilst the Group is currently focussed on improving the performance of its existing portfolio of schools and colleges, opportunities to expand the portfolio will continue to be assessed. This could involve the acquisition of existing schools as well as the identification of sites to which the Group’s existing schools could move to increase capacity or sites where new schools could be established. Board changes Anthony Kay resigned his position as Director of College Operations in November 2017. Rossella Proscia joined the Board as Director of Marketing in January 2018. Principal risks and uncertainties The principal risks and uncertainties which could impact the Group’s performance remain those identified on page 6 and further described on page 42 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2017, a copy of which is available on the Group’s website www.alphaplusgroup.co.uk. 4 Alpha Plus Holdings plc Interim Group Financial Statements – six months ended 28 February 2018 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge: 1. The condensed Group interim results for the six months ended 28 February 2018 have been prepared in accordance with IAS34 “Interim Financial Reporting”. 2. The Interim Management Report includes a true and fair review of the important events that have occurred during the first six months of the financial year. This interim report was approved by the Board of Directors on 18 May 2018. Mark Hanley-Browne Mark Sample Chief Executive Officer Director of Finance 5 Alpha Plus Holdings plc Interim Group Financial Statements – six months ended 28 February 2018 Condensed Group statement of comprehensive income for the six months ended 28 February 2018 6 Months to Year to 28/02/18 28/02/17 31/08/17 Notes £000 £000 £000 Revenue 51,207 47,367 96,269 Operating expenses 6 (51,187) (45,040) (91,277) Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and 20 2,327 4,992 amortisation ("EBITDA") Depreciation 10 (3,802) (2,902) (5,901) Operating loss (3,782) (575) (909) Profit on disposal of asset held for sale - 543 543 Profit on sale of investment property - 852 852 College closure costs - (115) (4) (Loss)/profit before interest and tax (3,782) 705 482 Finance costs 7 (4,020) (3,616) (7,259) Finance income 8 1,668 1,865 3,732 Loss before tax (6,134) (1,046) (3,045) Tax credit 9 - - (642) Loss for the period (6,134) (1,046) (3,687) Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 81 (5) 15 Total comprehensive deficit for the period (6,053) (1,051) (3,672) 6 Alpha Plus Holdings plc Interim Group Financial Statements – six months ended 28 February 2018 Condensed Group balance sheet as at 28 February 2018