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Wed 17 Jun 2009, 13:21 AFP - Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Proprietary) Limited - Abridged
AFP
AFP                                                                             
AFP - Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Proprietary) Limited - Abridged         
reviewed results for the year ended 31 March 2009                               
Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Proprietary) Limited                          
(Incorporated in the republic of South Africa)                                  
Registration number: 2006/025226/07                                             
Abridged reviewed results for the year ended 31 March 2009                      
REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES                                                            
Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Proprietary) Limited ("AFEH" or "the          
company") is the ultimate holding company of the Alexander Forbes group of      
companies ("the group"). AFEH acquired the entire issued share capital of       
Alexander Forbes Limited effective 26 July 2007 ("the effective date")          
following the implementation of a scheme of arrangement in terms of section     
311 of the Companies Act No 61 of 1973, as amended ("the scheme of              
arrangement").  Although AFEH is a privately held company, its financial        
statements are made publically available in conjunction with those of           
Alexander Forbes Preference Share Investments Limited in terms of the           
undertakings given in the prelisting statement issued by that company.          
Details of the scheme of arrangement were provided in the circular to           
shareholders issued by Alexander Forbes Limited on 30 May 2007 and in the pre-  
listing statement issued by Alexander Forbes Preference Share Investments       
Limited on 10 July 2007.                                                        
AFEH`s prior year results are presented for the thirteen months ended 31 March  
2008, but include only eight months of trading results covering the period      
from the effective date of acquisition of Alexander Forbes Limited on 26 July   
2007 up to the year end reporting date of 31 March 2008, the current year       
includes 12 months trading results. The full segmental trading results of the   
acquired Alexander Forbes group for both the twelve month periods ended 31      
March 2009 and 31 March 2008, as well as commentary thereon, is provided in     
note 12 to these results in order to provide more comprehensive information     
concerning the recent trading performance of the acquired group.                
The implementation of the equity and debt funding structure at the time of      
acquisition of Alexander Forbes Limited has exposed the group to financial      
risk in relation to increases in variable interest rates and volatility of the  
Rand against foreign currencies. These risks have substantially been mitigated  
by implementing interest rate and currency hedges, which are of a medium term   
duration.                                                                       
The operating loss reported by AFEH in its capacity as the ultimate holding     
company of the group, is mainly as a result of the amortisation and write-off   
of intangible assets and goodwill which arose on consolidation following the    
acquisition of the profitable Alexander Forbes operating group in terms of the  
private equity transaction referred to above. The operating group reported a    
trading profit for the year under review. Interest costs relating to the        
funding structure further increases the loss reported by the acquisition        
entities.  It should be noted that these amortisation charges, impairment       
write-offs and a significant component of the interest costs are non-cash       
items.                                                                          
As detailed in the pre-listing statement issued by Alexander Forbes Preference  
Share Investments Limited on 10 July 2007, AFEH does not intend to declare any  
dividends for the foreseeable future.                                           
Changes in directorate                                                          
We are very pleased to report that Mr Vuyani Ngalwana was appointed to the      
board as independent non-executive director on 3 November 2008.                 
M S Moloko                    B Campbell                                        
Chairman                      Group chief executive                             
17 June 2009                                                                    
Sandton                                                                         
Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Pty) Limited                                  
Abridged consolidated income statement                                          
for the year ended 31 March 2009                                                
13 mths                  
                                             12 mths   (8 mths                  
                                                       trading)                 
                                             31-Mar    31-Mar                   
2009      2008                     
                                       Notes Rm        Rm                       
                                                                                
Income from continuing operations       3     5 396     3 465                   
Operating expenses                            (4 410)   (2 746)                 
Trading result from continuing                 986       719                    
operations                                                                      
Professional indemnity insurance cell          (11)      (41)                   
Amortisation of intangible assets              (190)     (133)                  
arising from business combinations                                              
Non recurring items                     4      48        (87)                   
Impairment losses and other capital     5      (347)     39                     
gains                                                                           
Operating profit                               486       497                    
Net finance costs                       6      (742)     (515)                  
Share of associates profits (after            1          3                      
tax)                                                                            
Loss before taxation                           (255)     (15)                   
Taxation                                       (158)     (105)                  
Loss from continuing operations                (413)     (120)                  
Loss from discontinued operations                        (16)                   
                                             -                                  
Attributable loss for the year                 (413)     (136)                  
                                                                                
Attributable to:                                                                
  Ordinary shareholders                       (464)     (170)                   
  Minority interests                          51        34                      
                                              (413)     (136)                   

                                                                                
Headline loss per ordinary share        7      (31)      (55)                   
(cents)                                                                         

Basic loss per ordinary share (cents)          (123)     (45)                   
                                                                                
Number of ordinary shares                                                       

  Issued                                     377       377                      
  Weighted average (from effective           377       377                      
date)                                                                           

Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Pty) Limited                                  
Abridged consolidated balance sheet                                             
at 31 March 2009                                                                
31-Mar     31-Mar                  
                                             2009       2008                    
                                       Notes Rm         Rm                      
ASSETS                                                                          
Financial assets held under multi-            134 678    143 501                
manager investment contracts                                                    
Financial assets of cell captive              7 498      6 795                  
insurance facilities                                                            
Housing loans secured by retirement           750        750                    
fund assets                                                                     
Property and equipment                        208        215                    
Purchased and developed computer              210        230                    
software                                                                        
Goodwill                                      5 335      5 675                  
Other intangible assets                       2 091      2 264                  
Investments in associates               8     7          13                     
Deferred tax assets                           148        124                    
Financial assets                              365        356                    
Insurance related receivables                 330        324                    
Trade and other receivables                   1 778      1 964                  
Cash and cash equivalents                     2 495      3 322                  
Total assets                                  155 893    165 533                
                                                                                
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                                          
Shareholders` funds                           2 578      3 291                  
Minority shareholders` interests               205        238                   
Total equity                                   2 783      3 529                 
Financial liabilities held under multi-       134 646    143 473                
manager investment contracts                                                    
Liabilities of cell captive insurance         7 498      6 795                  
facilities                                                                      
Securitisation funding for housing             750        750                   
loans                                                                           
Borrowings                                    5 857      5 633                  
Deferred consideration for                     8          6                     
acquisitions                                                                    
Employee benefits                              155        150                   
Deferred tax liabilities                       719       816                    
Provisions                                     608        724                   
Deferred income                                263        267                   
Insurance related payables                    1 379      2 043                  
Trade and other payables                      1 227      1 347                  
Total liabilities                              153 110    162 004               
Total equity and liabilities                   155 893    165 533               

Total equity per above                        2 783      3 529                  
Number of ordinary share in issue              377        377                   
(millions)                                                                      
Net asset value per ordinary share             738        936                   
(cents)                                                                         
                                                                                
Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Pty) Limited                                  
Abridged Consolidated Cash Flow Statement                                       
for the year ended 31 March 2009                                                
                                                 12      13 mths                
                                                 mths    (8 mths                
trading)               
                                                 31-Mar  31-Mar                 
                                                 2009    2008                   
                                                 Rm      Rm                     
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES                                            
Cash generated from operations                    1 142   731                   
Net finance costs requiring servicing              (502)   (253)                
Cash settlement of cash management and retirement (91)    (91)                  
benefit commitments                                                             
Taxation paid                                      (281)   (238)                
Operating cash flows                               268     149                  
Movement in working capital                        (56)   278                   
Movement in insurance balances                     (669)   564                  
Net cash flows from operating activities           (457)   991                  
                                                                                
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES                                            
Subsidiaries and businesses acquired net of        (18)    (8 297)              
disposals                                                                       
Proceeds from sale of subsidiaries, associates    -       20                    
and businesses                                                                  
Net movement in financial assets                   (63)   (3)                   
Proceeds from sale of other investments                   -                     
                                                 58                             
Proceeds on disposal of property and equipment              1                   
10                             
Capital expenditure for the period                (102)   (60)                  
Net cash outflow from discontinued operations                                   
                                                 -       (67)                   
Cash outflows from investing activities                                         
                                                 (115)   (8 406)                
                                                                                
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES                                            
Proceeds of share issues                           -          3 261             
Net borrowings (repaid) / advanced                                              
                                                 (64)    4 874                  
Payments to minority shareholders                  (84)    (8)                  
Net cash (outflows)/inflow from financing         (148)    8 127                
activities                                                                      
                                                                                
Net movement in cash and cash equivalents         (720)    712                  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period   3 322   -                    
Cash balances of subsidiaries and businesses       5       2 562                
acquired                                                                        
Foreign subsidiaries translation adjustment        (112)   48                   
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD         2 495   3 322                
                                                                                
Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Pty) Limited                                  
Abridged Consolidation statement of changes in Equity                           
for the year ended at 31 March 2009                                             
               Share    Non-    Accumula  Ordinary Minority   Total             
               capital  distri  ted loss  share-   share-     equity            
               and      butabl            holders` holders`                     
premium  e                 equity   interests                    
                        reserv                                                  
                        es                                                      
               Rm       Rm      Rm        Rm       Rm         Rm                

At 28 February   -        -       -         -        -           -              
2007 *                                                                          
Shares issued    3 323    -       -         3 323    -         3 323            
on 26 July 2007                                                                 
Equity raising   (62)     -       -         (62)     -          (62)            
fees deducted                                                                   
from share                                                                      
premium                                                                         
Minority         -        -       -         -        210        210             
shareholders                                                                    
interests of                                                                    
the acquired                                                                    
Alexander                                                                       
Forbes group                                                                    
Movement in      -        43      -         43       9          52              
foreign                                                                         
currency                                                                        
translation and                                                                 
other reserves                                                                  
Movement in      -        648     -         648      -          648             
cash flow hedge                                                                 
Foreign         -        (491)   -         (491)    -          (491)            
currency                                                                        
movement in                                                                     
euro loan                                                                       
(Loss) / Profit  -        -       (170)     (170)    34         (136)           
for the period                                                                  
Other movements  -        -       -         -        (15)       (15)            
in minority                                                                     
interests                                                                       
At 31 March      3 261    200     (170)     3 291    238        3 529           
2008                                                                            
Movement in      -        (94)    -         (94)     -          (94)            
cash flow hedge                                                                 
Foreign         -        (47)    -         (47)     -          (47)             
currency                                                                        
movement in                                                                     
euro loan                                                                       
Movement in      -        (108)   -         (108)    -          (108)           
foreign                                                                         
currency                                                                        
translation and                                                                 
other reserves                                                                  
(Loss) / profit  -        -       (464)    (464)     51        (413)            
for the year                                                                    
Dividend paid    -        -       -         -        (84)       (84)            
to minorities                                                                   
At 31 March      3 261    (49)    (634)     2 578    205        2 783           
2009                                                                            
                                                                                
                                                                                
* The issued share capital of the company at 28 February 2007 was R100.         
Alexander Forbes Equity Holdings (Pty) Limited                                  
for the year ended 31 March 2009                                                
Notes:                                                                          
31-Mar   31-Mar                   
                                              2009     2008                     
                                              Rm       Rm                       
1.  Basis of preparation                                                        

   These abridged results have been prepared                                    
   in accordance with, and comply with,                                         
   International Financial Reporting                                            
Standards ("IFRS"), including IAS 34                                         
   (Interim financial reporting) and the                                        
   South African Companies Act No 61 of                                         
   1973, as amended.                                                            

   The accounting policies applied in the                                       
   preparation of these results are                                             
   consistent with those detailed in the                                        
financial statements issued by Alexander                                     
   Forbes Equity Holdings (Proprietary)                                         
   Limited for the year ended 31 March 2008.                                    
   There have been no new standards or                                          
interpretations, which have had a                                            
   material effect on the results.                                              
                                                                                
   In accordance with IFRS 3 Business                                           
Combinations, the excess of the purchase                                     
   consideration over the tangible net asset                                    
   value of the acquired Alexander Forbes                                       
   group is allocated between goodwill,                                         
computer software and other intangible                                       
   assets. A comprehensive purchase price                                       
   allocation exercise has been completed                                       
   and the result of this exercise has been                                     
accounted for in these abridged results                                      
   including the restatement of the 31 March                                    
   2008 comparatives.                                                           
                                                                                
2.  Exchange rates                                                              
   The income statements and balance sheets                                     
   of significant foreign subsidiaries have                                     
   been translated to Rands as follows:                                         
Weighted average R :GBP rate               14.3     15.1                     
   Closing R :GBP rate                        13.8     16.0                     
                                                                                
3.  Income from continuing operations                                           
Fee and commission income                  4 893    3 131                    
   Operational interest income                50       29                       
   Interest and other finance income from     142      120                      
   finance operations                                                           
less: directly related interest expense    (91)     (55)                     
   Net premium and investment income from     1 059    644                      
   insurance operations                                                         
   less: net claims and transfers to          (657)    (404)                    
policyholder funds                                                           
   Total income from continuing operations    5 396    3 465                    
 4.  Non - recurring items                                                      
     Realised profit on early close out of     77       -                       
market hedge                                                               
     Cost relating to strategic review         (16)     -                       
     Cost relating to settlement of            (14)     -                       
     warrantee claim                                                            
Other non-recurring items                1             -                   
     Costs relating to the private equity      -       (87)                     
     transaction                                                                
     Non -recurring items                     48       (87)                     

 5.  Impairment losses and other capital                                        
     gains                                                                      
     Impairment of goodwill arising on        (354)     -                       
acquisition of the Alexander Forbes                                        
     group                                                                      
     Deferred profit on sale of subsidiary     -       20                       
     Reversal of previously impaired loan      -       15                       
note                                                                       
     Other                                     7       4                        
     Impairment losses and other capital      (347)    39                       
     gains                                                                      

     The goodwill balance arises primarily                                      
     from the acquisition of the Alexander                                      
     Forbes group effective 26 July 2007.                                       
In line with the accounting policy of                                      
     the group the goodwill balance is                                          
     assessed annually for impairment. The                                      
     impairment review for the year ended 31                                    
March 2009 has resulted in an                                              
     impairment charge of R354 million.  The                                    
     impairment charge specifically relates                                     
     to the International Financial Services                                    
and the South Africa Financial Services                                    
     cash generating units in the amounts of                                    
     R224 million and R130 million                                              
     respectively. It should be noted that                                      
goodwill in respect of cash generating                                     
     units where developments may justify an                                    
     increase in value, would not result in                                     
     an increase in carrying value under the                                    
current accounting standards.                                              
                                                                                
 6.  Net finance costs                                                          
     Interest income                          107      52                       
Finance costs requiring servicing        (623)    (305)                    
     Net finance costs requiring servicing    (516)    (253)                    
     Accrued interest                         (226)    (262)                    
     Total net finance costs                  (742)    (515)                    

 7.   Calculation of headline earnings per                                      
      share                                                                     
      Loss attributable to ordinary             (464)     (170)                 
shareholders (IAS 33 earnings)                                            
      Adjusting items                                                           
      - Impairment losses and other capital     347       (39)                  
      gains                                                                     
Headline attributable loss for the year  (117)     (209)                  
      Weighted average number of shares (from  377       377                    
      effective date)                                                           
      Headline loss per share (cents)          (31)      (55)                   

 8.   Investments in associates                                                 
      Carrying value in balance sheet          7          13                    
                                                                                
Directors` valuation of associates        17        21                    
                                                                                
                                                                                
 9.    Capital expenditure and commitments                                      

      Depreciation of property and equipment    91        59                    
      and amortisation of computer software                                     
      for the period                                                            
Capital expenditure for the period        102       60                    
                                                                                
      Operating lease commitments                                               
       Due within one year                      148       161                   
Thereafter                               357       513                   
                                                505       674                   
                                                                                
                                                                                
10.  Subsequent events                                                         
                                                                                
On the 22nd of May 2009 certain shareholders entered into a transaction to      
repurchase the high yield term loan and various related instruments issued by   
Alexander Forbes Funding (Proprietary) Limited.  The restructuring of the term  
loan, and subsequent amendments to certain terms of the loan, result in         
significant benefit to the group.  Amongst other benefits, the new terms will   
provide additional flexibility necessary to continue the groups` strategic      
development.  A further announcement, containing additional details of the      
transaction and an intended offer to other shareholders to participate, will    
be made public in due course.                                                   
                                                                                
11. Reconciliation to prior period                                              
   reported numbers                                                             
   In accordance with IFRS 3                                                    
   (Business Combinations), a                                                   
comprehensive purchase price                                                 
   allocation project was                                                       
   completed as at 31 July 2007.                                                
   The purpose of this exercise                                                 
was to allocate the excess                                                   
   purchase consideration over                                                  
   tangible net asset value among                                               
   goodwill, computer software                                                  
and other intangible assets.                                                 
   In terms of the standard, the                                                
   company has 12 months in which                                               
   to complete this allocation.                                                 
The allocation was completed                                                 
   by July 2008.                                                                
                                                                                
   In addition to the IFRS 3                                                    
(Business Combinations)                                                      
   restatements above, certain                                                  
   other restatements and                                                       
   reclassifications to the prior                                               
year balances were made.  The                                                
   most significant of which                                                    
   relates to the restatement of                                                
   a Euro denominated loan which                                                
was previously incorrectly                                                   
   carried at the hedged exchange                                               
   rate rather than the spot                                                    
   rate.  These reclassifications                                               
have no impact on our reported                                               
   earnings of the previous                                                     
   period. The impact on the                                                    
   balance sheet is included in                                                 
the analysis below.                                                          
                                                                                
   A reconciliation of the                                                      
   changes to the 31 March 2008                                                 
balances as a result of the                                                  
   above is given below:                                                        
                                                                                
                                   Previously  Restatem  Currently              
reported    ent       Reported               
                                   2008                  2008                   
                                   Rm                    Rm                     
                                                                                
Total assets                    165 688     (155)     165 533                
   Total liabilities               (161 649)   (355)     (162 004)              
   Total equity                    4 039       (510)     3 529                  
                                                                                

   Income from operations          3 465       -         3 465                  
   Operating expenses              (2 746)     -         (2 746)                
   Trading result                  719         -         719                    
Other expenses                  (213)       (9)       (222)                  
   Operating profit                506         (9)       497                    
                                                                                
 12.  Historical segmental trading results of                                   
the acquired Alexander Forbes group                                       
                                                                                
      The segmental trading results of the                                      
      acquired Alexander Forbes group for the                                   
period ended 31 March 2009, including                                     
      comparative figures, are shown in the                                     
      table below. It should be noted that                                      
      these include trading results for the                                     
period prior to being acquired by AFEH                                    
      and are presented solely to afford a                                      
      better comparison.                                                        
                                                                                

Segmental results of Alexander Forbes Limited                                   
for the year ended 31 March 2009                                                
                   Income from           Trading results of                     
operations            operations                             
                   31 Mar        31 Mar  31 Mar          31 Mar                 
                   2009    Var.  2008    2009    Var.    2008                   
                   12      %     12      12      %       12                     
Mths          Mths    Mths            Mths                   
Africa (Rm)                                                                     
SA Risk &           1 075   9%    989     299     16%     257                   
Insurance Services                                                              
SA Financial        1 455   8%    1 352   265     (15%)   313                   
Services                                                                        
Investment          782     (3%)  809     252     0%      252                   
Solutions                                                                       
Afrinet (Africa     293     30%   226     70      46%     48                    
excl-South Africa)                                                              
Total Africa (Rm)   3 605   7%    3 376   886     2%      870                   
                                                                                
International                                                                   
(GBPm)                                                                          
Financial Services  113.6   10%   103.5   8.7     (27%)   11.9                  
Investment                  (11%)                                               
Solutions           7.5           8.4     (1.4)   (180%)  (0.5)                 
Total               121.1   8%    111.9   7.3     (36%)   11.4                  
International                                                                   
(GBPm)                                                                          
Total               1 791   11%   1 610   106     (37%)   168                   
International (Rm)                                                              
Total Group (Rm)    5 396   8%    4 986   992     (4%)    1 038                 
                                                                                

Commentary on segmental results                                                 
Alexander Forbes Limited achieved 8% growth in income from operations totaling  
R5 396 million for the year ended 31 March 2009.  Trading results of            
operations declined by 4% to R992 million for the period largely as a result    
of SA Financial Services and International Financial Services divisions         
experiencing difficult trading conditions.                                      
A brief commentary on the operating results of each of the main businesses is   
detailed below.                                                                 
SA Risk & Insurance Services                                                    
Income from operations increased by 9% to R1 075 million driven by record new   
business gains across most of the business units. In excess of R100 million of  
new annualised revenue was written during the year. Conditions in the           
corporate insurance sector have become more challenging and clients have        
benefited from the depth of skills and experience within the Risk Services      
division. The business is benefitting from having invested in specialist teams  
such as mining, aviation, marine and financial institutions.                    
Towards the end of the year our focused motor and household insurer, Alexander  
Forbes Insurance, launched a new marketing campaign. This, together with a      
significant investment in our distribution capacity, has seen a marked          
increase in the amount of new premium business.                                 
Guardrisk continues to deliver strong revenue and profit growth and has a five- 
year cumulative annual growth rate in trading result of 24%. In particular,     
its Life and Volume divisions performed extremely well and continued to gain    
market share in the cell-captive industry. The business has won numerous        
industry awards.                                                                
Alexander Forbes Compensation Technologies had a satisfactory year and grew     
further from the attainment of a major long-term contract.                      
Expense growth was maintained at below inflation and contributed to the 16%     
growth in trading results, which totaled R299 million for the year.             
SA Financial Services                                                           
Income from operations increased by 8% to R1 455 million for the year under     
review where the division benefitted from its focus on client retention.        
Strong profit growth of 20% was experienced in our core Retirement Funds        
division (comprising the Consulting, Actuarial and Retirement Fund              
Administration divisions). This was counteracted by difficult trading           
conditions in the Homeplan division (retirement fund based lending business),   
which suffered from the turbulent credit markets and a higher cost of funding   
the loan book.                                                                  
The continued roll out of our Integrated Personal Financial Management (IPFM)   
initiative was well received by our retail client base focusing on the          
education of retirement fund members and the achievement of long term           
financial security. This initiative ensures increased financial literacy among  
clients who have implemented it.                                                
Our Retail Investment and Advice business experienced record new business       
flows and remains a key strategic focus area of the group. We continue to       
steadily grow our distribution, ensuring we employ people who share our         
passion for acting in the best interests of our clients. Our best-advice        
Profile Range investment portfolios performed well compared with their          
benchmarks, although volatile investment markets reduced assets under           
advisement and administration.                                                  
The Health broking and consulting business performed well, in line with         
expectations.  A restructure has been completed and this area will now focus    
on growing its core services relating to ill-health, disability and incapacity  
management and complementing the services offered within the broking and        
consulting business.                                                            
Africa Investment Solutions                                                     
Investment Solutions` revenue declined by 3% to R782 million mainly             
attributable to a general decline in international and South African equity     
markets. The impact of equity markets on the income was somewhat tempered by    
the positive effect of certain market hedges entered into following the         
implementation of the private equity transaction in order to protect the        
income stream from Investment Solutions against such negative movements. This   
combined with focused cost management which resulted in a reduction in overall  
expenses assisted with achieving a commendable trading result of R252 million   
in line with that of last year.                                                 
Net investment inflows were marginally negative, with the reduced flows mainly  
driven by a marked increase in benefit payments due to retrenchments and        
retirements and reduction in new staff hires by clients. Closing assets under   
management declined by 11% from R139 billion to R125 billion mainly driven by   
equity market movements.                                                        
We achieved comparatively good investment performance across all product        
lines. The industry has suffered from overall negative returns in key asset     
classes and it is therefore pleasing that all Investment Solutions` flagship    
portfolios outperformed their respective benchmarks across one, three and five  
years.                                                                          
Due to market volatility, we expect continued uncertainty in the financial      
markets in which we operate. Despite this, we remain confident that our         
business is robust and has demonstrated the multimanager value proposition      
particularly in turbulent markets.                                              
Afrinet (Africa excl-South Africa)                                              
Income from operations increased by 30% year on year to R293 million. During    
the year under review, the division continued to focus on growing market share  
in existing markets in addition to exploring potential new markets in other     
African countries. The group has operations spanning 11 African countries       
outside South Africa, a comprehensive network that is well positioned to        
capitalise on the opportunities brought about by growing demand for our         
services in these regions. Good organic growth was recorded in the Botswana,    
Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda operations. This was despite   
hardening trading conditions as well as volatile foreign-exchange movements.    
International Financial Services                                                
The International Financial Services group recorded revenue growth of 10% to    
GBP113.6 million although profits were significantly down as the effects of     
the recession in the United Kingdom impacted, particularly, the small and       
medium corporate sector, which is the core market for Alexander Forbes          
Financial Services ("AFFS"). Employee contributions to pensions and             
expenditure on healthcare and risk solutions, in aggregate, were negatively     
affected by redundancy programs, curtailment of expenditure by employers and,   
in some instances, insolvencies of employers. In response to declining          
volumes, AFFS undertook a redundancy program in the final quarter of the year   
to reduce its cost base. The Healthcare division and Alexander Forbes Trustee   
Services performed in line with expectation, posting moderate growth. Overall,  
the AFFS businesses made a trading loss of GBP2.3 million, down from a profit   
of GBP1.6 million in the previous year.                                         
The actuarial consulting business, Lane Clark & Peacock, performed well across  
all its businesses, being in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Belgium, Ireland  
and the Netherlands with revenue growth of 25%. This was driven by strong       
organic growth with increased demand for actuarial and investment consulting    
services as larger corporate clients, which is LCP`s target market, responded   
to the credit crisis, recession and investment market volatility. This          
resulted in a strong trading profit growth of 14%.                              
The businesses in the UK are enjoying a strong professional reputation, with    
Lane Clark & Peacock receiving Corporate Adviser and FT Pension and Investment  
Provider awards this year. AFFS was highly recommended in a number of           
categories at the Corporate Adviser awards and during the year was awarded two- 
star accreditation for "Investors in Customers".                                
International Investment Solutions                                              
Income from operations for the year declined by 11% to GBP7.5 million as the    
significant decline in investment markets affected the assets under management  
and associated revenue.  Assets under management fell from GBP1.3 billion at    
31 March 2008 to GBP0.8 billion at 31 March 2009. As a direct consequence, the  
trading loss for the year increased by GBP0.9 million to GBP1.4 million. New    
business gains remain the key driver in successfully growing assets under       
management to achieve a sustainable level of profitability and critical mass.   
Developments and prospects                                                      
Under the guidance of an experienced and energised management team, Alexander   
Forbes is well positioned to operate both responsibly over the current period   
of market turbulence and benefit from the upturn as and when markets improve.   
In line with our culture of innovation and service excellence, we will          
continue to focus on providing value and relevant solutions to all our clients  
particularly through these volatile markets. Our clients are the basis of our   
business and we are privileged to have their continued support. The             
restructuring of a significant component of our funding structure, reported     
above under subsequent events, is also aimed mainly at providing the group      
with the financial flexibility to continue its strategic development over the   
next number of years.                                                           
Like many forward-thinking organisations, we continually review our             
strategies. Consequently, we are running a number of key projects through a     
centralised project management office to ensure we maximise growth              
opportunities and effectively contain costs.                                    
In 2008, we launched our values programme, through which we endeavour to        
formalise the positive values to which we, as a group, aspire. Through a        
number of specific activities the programme was embedded across the             
organisation during the course of this year and this process will continue      
through 2009.                                                                   
Our culture actively encourages the promotion of a transformed, innovative      
organisation within the boundaries of strict adherence to corporate             
governance. We celebrate diversity within the workplace and remain committed    
to this and to our other values under the supervision of a board appointed      
Transformation Committee. We are extremely proud to have recently received      
independent confirmation of a level 3 transformation rating from Empowerdex as  
at 31 March 2009.                                                               
As part of the continued work we are doing in this area the Board of AFEH has   
appointed Dr Len Konar as chair of the Board`s Audit Committee and Advocate     
Vuyani Ngwalana (former Pension Funds Adjudicator) who, as previously           
announced, has been appointed to the board of AFEH and serves on the Group      
Audit Committee and has been appointed as a director to Alexander Forbes        
Financial Services (Proprietary) Limited.                                       
Review Opinion                                                                  
Our auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers Inc., have reviewed the abridged           
financial information in this report for the year ended 31 March 2009. A copy   
of their unqualified review report is available at the registered office of     
the company upon request.                                                       
                                                                                
Directors:                                                                      
Independent directors:                                                          
D Konar, V R Ngalwana                                                           
Non-executive directors:                                                        
M S Moloko (Chairman), A J Claerhout, AC De Beer (Alternate), L Hall, N C       
Kolbe (Alternate), K A Mills (Alternate), P G Nkadimeng, M C Ramaphosa, A       
Roux, P Schmid, J A van Wyk                                                     
Executive directors:                                                            
B Campbell (Group chief executive), D M Viljoen (Group finance director)        
Company secretary:                                                              
J E Salvado                                                                     
Investor relations:                                                             
J E Salvado                                                                     
Registered office:                                                              
Alexander Forbes Place, 61 Katherine Street, Sandown, 2196                      
Transfer secretaries:                                                           
Computershare Investor Services (Pty) Limited.                                  
Ground Floor, 70 Marshall Street, Johannesburg. PO Box 61051, Marshalltown,     
2107                                                                            
Sponsor:                                                                        
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)                       
1 Merchant Place, corner Fredman Drive and Rivonia Road, Sandton, 2196          
Date: 17/06/2009 13:21:01 Produced by the JSE SENS Department.                  
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