Regulatory News


REG-GlobeOp Fin Services Interim Results - Part 1

Released: 27/08/2009


com:20090827:Rnsa0787Y
                                                                                                                       .
RNS Number : 0787Y  
  
GlobeOp Financial Services S.A.  
  
27 August 2009  
  
 
  For Immediate Release   27 August 2009  
  
  
INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2009  
  
    GlobeOp Financial Services S.A. ("GlobeOp" or "the Company"), (LSE:GO.) a 
leading independent provider of business process outsourcing, financial 
technology services and analytics to hedge funds and other asset managers, today 
announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2009.  
  
Highlights  
  
 
 * Assets under Administration (AuA) as at 30 June 2009 were $83 billion, with 
$11 billion in new clients and $4 billion in new funds from existing clients 
added during the first half of 2009 
 * Revenues of $79.2 million 
 * Adjusted Operating Profit* of $15.9 million 
 * Recognition of a legal provision - $27 million after tax impact, $43.5 
million pre-tax  
 * Cash of $53.6 million as at 30 June 2009 compared to $42.9 million as at 31 
March 2009 
 * Interim dividend of 0.65 pence per share - same as first half 2008 
 * Solid new business pipeline, with several billion of AuA from new client 
launches possible for the second half of the year  
  
 
                                                             2009         2008        
                                                             Half year    Half year   
  Financial Information                                                               
  Revenues                                                   $79.2m       $94.5m      
  Operating (loss) profit+                                   ($34.1)m     $17.4m      
  (Loss) profit before tax+                                  ($34.0)m     $17.7m      
  (Loss) earnings per share-diluted                          ($0.19)      $0.12       
  Dividends per share (pence)                                0.65p        0.65p       
  Key Performance Indicators                                                          
  Adjusted operating profit*                                 $15.9m       $24.6m      
  Adjusted operating profit as a percentage of revenues      20.0%        26.1%       
  Profit before tax and exceptionals*                        $9.5m        $17.1m      
  Profit before tax and exceptionals as a percentage of      12.0%        18.1%       
  revenues                                                                            
  End of period AuA related to MBA revenues (in billions)*   $83bn        $104bn      
  
  
KEY  
  
+ amounts include exceptional costs as described in the Financial Review 
discussion below.  
  
* see explanatory note in Financial Review discussion below.  
  
Commenting on the results, Hans Hufschmid, chief executive officer, said:  
  
   In the first half of the year, GlobeOp continued to perform well as financial 
markets began to stabilise. Many hedge funds returned to profitability, leading 
to an encouraging increase in subscriptions. In addition, new business AuA added 
during the first half of 2009 stood at $15 billion with $11 billion of AuA from 
new clients and $4 billion from new funds from existing clients.   
  
   GlobeOp's strong market position and ability to meet the evolving needs of 
the industry produced significant opportunities through the expansion of product 
offerings. Recent portfolio risk reporting enhancements to the investor 
reporting tool, GoBook, respond to increased investor demand for greater 
transparency. We also introduced Managed Services for hedge funds and other data 
sensitive organisations. Both demonstrate our flexibility as we continue to 
develop innovative and relevant products.  
  
Commenting on the second half of 2009, Mr. Hufschmid added:  
  
    Continuing the trend we have seen in previous quarters, we expect to see 
sustained investor demand for greater transparency, control of capital and 
independent portfolio valuation and reconciliation. We also believe fund 
managers will seek operational solutions to meet these requirements and to 
improve their own cost structures. We will continue to develop solutions for 
these evolving needs and to aggressively pursue new business prospects, while 
remaining focused on improving productivity and managing costs across the 
business. The current environment creates opportunities for companies with 
strong financial positions, client bases and scalable operations. Our new 
business pipeline is very encouraging and we aim to supplement organic growth 
with a focused acquisition strategy targeting our existing markets to increase 
our share of the fund administration sector going forward.  
  
Enquiries  
  
 
  GlobeOp Financial Services                                           
  Martin Veilleux, Chief Financial Officer   (US) +1 646 827 2000      
                                                                       
  Brunswick Group                                                      
  Gill Ackers / Roberta Governale            (UK) +44 (0)20 7404 5959  
  
  
Conference Call for Analysts and Investors   
There will be a conference call for analysts and investors at 2:30pm GMT. The 
dial-in number is +44 (0) 1452 561 263. Participants will need to quote Hans 
Hufschmid as chairman of the call, together with the conference ID 26944189.   
An instant replay facility will also be available for 7 days after the call. The 
dial-in number for the replay facility will be +44 (0) 1452 55 00 00 and the 
access code 26944189#. The recorded call will then be accessible via 
www.globeop.com.   
  
Notes to Editors - About GlobeOp   
  
GlobeOp Financial Services (LSE:GO.) is a leading, independent financial 
technology specialist providing automated, integrated middle- and back-office, 
administration and risk reporting services to hedge funds and asset management 
firms-including banks, insurance companies, mutual & pension funds and 
proprietary traders. Clients trading a wide range of asset classes and 
derivatives outsource to GlobeOp to reduce technology investments and 
operational risks, and to focus resources on asset generation and portfolio 
management. Established in 2000, GlobeOp serves over 180 clients worldwide, 
representing $81 billion in assets under administration (AuA).With headquarters 
in London and New York, GlobeOp employs more than 1,500 people on three 
continents; offices are also located in Dublin, Ireland; George Town, Cayman 
Islands; Harrison and Yorktown Heights, NY and Hartford, CT, U.S.A.; and Mumbai 
(Bombay), India. Further information: www.globeop.com  
  
(R) 2009 - GlobeOp Financial Services LLC (GlobeOp). All rights reserved. 
GlobeOp and the GlobeOp "G" are trade and service marks of GlobeOp and its 
affiliates.  
  
Important notice   
  
Certain statements in this announcement of interim results are forward looking 
statements. By their nature, forward looking statements involve a number of 
risks, uncertainties or assumptions that could cause actual results or events to 
differ materially from those expressed or implied by those statements. Forward 
looking statements regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as 
representations that such trends or activities will continue in the future. 
Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on forward looking statements.  
  
 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT  
  
 The results of the first half were accomplished within a very challenging 
market environment. Despite difficult economic conditions, GlobeOp added $15 
billion of new AuA and generated 20% Adjusted Operating Profit on $79.2 million 
of revenue. Through prudent management of the business, the Company again 
generated positive cash flow from operations and continued to invest 
significantly in technology and infrastructure. These investments further 
broaden GlobeOp's service offerings and enhance the scalability of its 
operations. GlobeOp also continued to focus on productivity and service quality 
initiatives throughout the first half. We believe this positions the Company 
well as a platform for potential consolidation within the fund administration 
sector.  
  
   GlobeOp has also settled a long-standing legal dispute that relates to the 
2004 and 2005 time period. Resolving this issue removes the uncertainty of 
ongoing arbitration and allows management to continue its focus on leveraging 
the highly efficient operating platform it has built and improved over the 
years. The Company has significantly invested in its people, processes, controls 
and technology to strengthen its service offerings and infrastructure. GlobeOp 
now also pursues an independent audit of its operating processes and controls to 
meet SAS 70 Type II certification each year. Further details regarding the 
settlement are provided in the Litigation Update section.  
  
   Finally, based on the strength of the results I am pleased to announce an 
interim dividend of 0.65 pence per share. It will be paid on 8 October 2009, 
with an ex-dividend date of 16 September 2009 and a record date of 18 September 
2009.   
  
CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REVIEW  
  
Operational Review  
  
    During the first half of this year we continued to invest in GlobeOp 
services and technology, add new clients and expand our relationships with 
existing clients. At the same time, we carefully managed our cost structure. As 
a result, we put into production our second state-of-the-art data center, which 
is wholly-owned, and extended our Risk Reporting expertise and capabilities for 
both clients and their investors. We also expanded our product offerings with 
the introduction of Managed Services for hedge funds and other data-sensitive 
organizations. We continued to strengthen our sales force and increased our 
share of the hedge fund administration market with the addition of $15 billion 
of AuA from new clients and new funds from existing clients.    
  
   While making our investments and expanding the business during the first half 
of the year, we also maintained a sharp focus on cash flow and core 
profitability. Reflecting this, our 30 June 2009 cash balance of $53.6 million 
increased nearly $10.7 million from $42.9 million as at 31 March 2009 and grew 
$6.9 million in the past twelve months, even after capital investments that 
included nearly $11 million for the purchase and build-out of our Yorktown 
Heights, New York data center.    
  
   As anticipated, revenue decreased from $94.5 million in the first half of 
2008 to $79.2 million during the first half of this year. The decline reflected 
a reduction in AuA from $88 billion at the beginning of 2009 to $83 billion as 
at 30 June 2009. The addition of $15 billion from new clients and new funds from 
existing clients during the first six months of 2009 was offset by investor 
redemptions and client terminations of $33 billion. However, subscriptions and 
fund performance, which were both negatively impacted by the tough economic 
environment in the second half of 2008, have begun to improve. Combined, they 
added $13 billion to AuA during the first half of 2009. Adjusted operating 
profit margin decreased to 20.0% from 26.1% in the prior year period primarily 
due to non-recurring costs. Excluding these costs, adjusted operating profit 
margin would have been 25.2% for the first half of 2009 versus 27.4% for the 
first half of 2008. See the Financial Review section for further details.  
  
   We are reporting an operating loss of $34.1 million for the first half of 
2009 as a result of a one-time $43.5 million pre-tax charge related to a legal 
settlement. This settlement will be paid over time until 2011 using existing 
cash resources and will be a tax deductible expense during the year in which 
each payment is made. The tax benefit of this charge is approximately $16.5 
million. See the Litigation Update section for further details.    
  
   We are pleased with our core operating performance for the first half of the 
year. Revenue, adjusted operating profit and cash flow from operations all 
exceeded internal projections. We also increased our market share during a 
challenging period and continued to invest in the business. As a result, we have 
further strengthened our offerings and delivery of services and this positions 
us well in an industry that has begun to stabilize.    
  
Current Trading and Outlook  
  
   Looking ahead to the second half of 2009, we expect to see sustained investor 
demand for greater transparency, control of capital and independent portfolio 
valuation and reconciliation. We also believe fund managers will continue to 
seek operational solutions to meet these requirements and to improve their own 
operational cost structures. We will keep developing solutions for these 
evolving needs and aggressively track new business opportunities. In addition, 
we intend to pursue a focused acquisition strategy targeted to our existing 
markets to increase our share of the fund administration sector and to take 
advantage of our cost-effective, leveragable and high-quality platform.  
  
   Our current pipeline of prospects is promising, with several billion of AuA 
from new client launches possible for the second half of the year. Redemptions 
were $6.4 billion in July but we see the pace of redemptions notably slowing, 
with approximately $700 million thus far in August. The current schedule of 
forward-looking redemptions shows a substantial reduction compared to 2008 and 
early 2009 levels. So far in the second half of 2009, subscriptions have 
continued their upward trend from the first half of 2009, as July was the first 
month since September 2008 to exceed $2 billion of inflows, a figure nearly 
matched by August 2009 subscriptions.  
  
   We remain focused on prudently managing costs and further improving 
productivity. We continue to be confident in our ability to generate strong cash 
flow from operations while introducing new technology and solutions to improve 
productivity and client service levels.    
  
   We believe our highly efficient operating model, solid financial position and 
proven ability to meet the evolving needs of the industry position us well for 
the long term.  
  
Financial review  
  
Overview  
  
    Total revenues decreased by $15.3 million, or 16%, to $79.2 million for the 
first half of 2009 versus $94.5 million for the first half of 2008. The decline 
in revenues was, as anticipated, primarily the result of lower average AuA 
during the first half of 2009 versus the first half of the prior year.  
  
    A $43.5 million pre-tax charge was recorded in the first half results for 
the settlement of a historical legal dispute. As a result, an operating loss of 
$34.1 million was recognized for the period. Further details are provided in the 
Litigation Update section. The first half of 2008 delivered an operating profit 
of $17.4 million.   
  
    Adjusted operating profit, a non-IFRS financial measure described below, 
decreased by $8.7 million, or 36%, from $24.6 million for the first half of 2008 
to $15.9 million for the first half of 2009. As a percentage of revenues, 
adjusted operating profit decreased to 20.0% in the current year period from 
26.1% in the prior year period. This margin reduction was impacted by a $1.6 
million accrual for the estimated exit costs related to a leased data center 
that was replaced by a new wholly-owned facility that became operational during 
the first half of 2009, and by a $1.2 million increase in litigation-related 
fees over the prior year period. Without lease exit and litigation-related 
expenses, adjusted operating profit as a percentage of revenues would have been 
25.2% for the first half of 2009 versus 27.4% for the first half of 2008.  
  
   Profit before tax and exceptionals, a non-IFRS financial measure described 
below, decreased by $7.6 million, or 44%, from $17.1 million during the first 
half of 2008 to $9.5 million during the first half of 2009. Net loss for the 
first half of 2009 was $19.7 million versus a net profit of $12.4 million for 
the first half of 2008.  
  
    The following table sets forth selected financial and operating data for the 
six months ended 30 June 2009 and 2008. All amounts are in US Dollars and in 
thousands, except percentages, employee data and as otherwise indicated.  
  
 
                                                                  Six months ended 30 June              
                                                                  2009          2008          Change    
                                                                  (unaudited)   (unaudited)             
  Revenues                                                                                              
  MBA revenues                                                    $74,077       $87,844       -16%      
  Risk Reporting revenues                                         3,318         4,007         -17%      
  Transaction Solutions revenues                                  1,756         2,654         -34%      
  Total revenues                                                  79,151        94,505        -16%      
  Expenses                                                                                              
  Employee costs, excluding costs related to share options and    38,812        45,698        -15%      
  restricted stock                                                                                      
  Employee costs related to share options and restricted stock    2,023         2,548         -21%      
  Technology costs                                                13,100        11,955        10%       
  Depreciation and amortization expense                           4,471         5,279         -15%      
  Occupancy costs                                                 5,389         5,332         1%        
  Legal claims - pre-tax(1)                                       43,500        --            n/a       
  Insurance reimbursement related to water damage at facility     --            (613)         n/a       
  Other operating expenses                                        5,985         6,901         -13%      
  Total operating expenses                                        113,280       77,100        47%       
  Operating (loss) profit                                         (34,129)      17,405        -296%     
  Interest income, net                                            157           274           -43%      
  (Loss) profit before tax                                        (33,972)      17,679        -292%     
  Taxation (benefit) expense                                      (14,292)      5,306         369%      
  Net (loss) profit                                               $(19,680)     $12,373       -259%     
  Key Performance Indicators:                                                                           
  Adjusted operating profit(2)                                    $15,865       $24,619       -36%      
  Adjusted operating profit as a percentage of revenues           20.0%         26.1%                   
  Profit before tax and exceptionals(3)                           $9,528        $17,066       -44%      
  Profit before tax and exceptionals as a percentage of revenues  12.0%         18.1%                   
  AuA related to MBA revenues-end of period (in billions)(4)      $83           $104          -20%      
  Employees-beginning of period (excluding temporary employees)   1,734         1,704         2%        
  Employees-end of period (excluding temporary employees)         1,554         1,789         -13%      
  
  
Revenues  
  
    Revenues decreased $15.3 million, or 16%, to $79.2 million in the first half 
of 2009. This reduction was comprised of decreases in MBA revenues of $13.7 
million, Transaction Solutions revenues of $0.9 million and Risk Reporting 
revenues of $0.7 million.  
  
    The decrease in MBA revenues was predominantly related to a 14% reduction in 
average AuA for the first half of 2009 versus the first half of 2008. The 
decrease in Transaction Solutions revenues was primarily due to a net decline in 
trade volumes and positions. The decrease in Risk Reporting revenues was mainly 
related to a reduction in AuA for certain clients whose fees are based on their 
AuA.    
  
Operating expenses  
  
    Operating expenses increased $36.2 million to $113.3 million in the first 
half of 2009 from $77.1 million in the same period last year due to the $43.5 
million pre-tax charge recorded for the settlement of a historical legal 
dispute. This one-time charge was offset by a $7.3 million decrease in operating 
expenses primarily related to a $7.4 million reduction in employee costs.  
  
    Employee costs, excluding costs related to share options and restricted 
stock, decreased 15% from $45.7 million in the first half of 2008 to $38.8 
million in the first half of 2009 primarily due to a 6% decrease in average 
headcount and a reduction in average compensation and benefits per headcount. In 
addition, employee costs related to share options and restricted stock declined 
21% from $2.5 million in the first half of 2008 to $2.0 million in the first 
half of 2009.  
  
    Technology costs increased 10% from $12.0 million in the first half of 2008 
to $13.1 million in the first half of 2009. This was primarily due to a $1.6 
million accrual for the anticipated exit costs related to a leased data center 
recorded in the first half of 2009. Excluding these lease exit costs, technology 
costs declined 3% in the first half of 2009 as compared to the first half of 
2008.  
  
   Other operating expenses decreased 13% from $6.9 million in the first half of 
2008 to $6.0 million in the first half of 2009. This was primarily due to 
reductions of $0.8 million in travel and other employee-related costs, $0.8 
million in professional service fees, $0.3 million in pass-through costs and 
$0.2 million in miscellaneous expenses, partially offset by a $1.2 million 
increase in litigation-related fees over the prior year period.  
  
Operating (loss) profit  
  
    The operating loss of $34.1 million in the first half of 2009 includes a 
$43.5 million pre-tax charge for the settlement of a historical legal dispute. 
Operating profit in the first half of 2008 was $17.4 million. Adjusted operating 
profit was $15.9 million in the first half of 2009 versus $24.6 million in the 
first half of 2008, a decrease of $8.7 million or 36%. Adjusted operating profit 
is not a measure of financial performance under IFRS. A reconciliation of 
adjusted operating profit to operating (loss) profit is shown in the explanatory 
notes below. As a percentage of revenues, adjusted operating profit was 20.0% in 
the first half of 2009 as compared to 26.1% in the first half of 2008. This 
margin reduction was impacted by a $1.6 million accrual for the estimated exit 
costs related to a leased data center and a $1.2 million increase in 
litigation-related fees over the prior year period. Without lease exit and 
litigation-related expenses, adjusted operating profit as a percentage of 
revenues would have been 25.2% for the first half of 2009 versus 27.4% for the 
first half of 2008. The decline in the adjusted operating profit margin was due 
to a greater decrease in revenues than in the Company's principal operating 
expenses - employee and technology costs - as well as a slight increase in 
occupancy costs.  
  
 
                                                             1H 2009                                          
                                                             Rate of         1H 2009          1H 2008         
                                                             (Reduction)     % of Revenues    % of Revenues   
                                                             Increase                                         
  Revenue                                                    (16%)           100%             100%            
  Employee costs, excluding share-based compensation         (15%)           49%              48%             
  Technology costs (a)                                       (3%)            15%              13%             
  Occupancy costs                                            1%              7%               6%              
  (a) excluding $1.6 million accrual for lease exit costs                                                     
  in first half 2009.                                                                                         
  
  
Taxation  
  
    Our effective income tax rate for the first half of 2009 was a benefit of 
42% versus a charge of 30% for the first half of 2008. The tax benefit in the 
current year period is the result of the $16.5 million estimated income tax 
benefit related to the legal charge recorded during the period. In addition, the 
current year tax provision includes the positive impact of an increase in our 
share price during the first half of 2009 on the estimated future expense 
deductions related to employee share awards.   
  
    Our effective tax rate may vary from year to year depending on, amongst 
other factors, our geographic and business mix of taxable earnings as well as 
the deductibility of expenses for income tax purposes relative to financial 
reporting purposes.   
  
Balance Sheet and Cash Flow  
  
    At 30 June 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $53.6 million, 
excluding $2.2 million of restricted cash, versus $51.2 million at 31 December 
2008 and $46.7 million at 30 June 2008.   
  
    The following table sets forth the components of our cash flows for the 
following periods. Amounts are in US Dollars and millions.  
  
 
                                                       Six months ended             
                                                       ______ 30 June______         
                                                       2009           2008          
                                                       (unaudited)    (unaudited)   
  Net cash provided by operating activities            $7.8           $14.2         
  Net cash used in investing activities                (5.3)          (5.6)         
  Net cash used in financing activities                (2.4)          (2.0)         
  Increase in cash and cash equivalents                0.1            6.6           
  Effect of foreign exchange rate changes              2.3            --            
  Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of the period   51.2           40.1          
  Cash and cash equivalents, end of the period         $53.6          $46.7         
  
  
    During the first six months of 2009, we generated net cash from operating 
activities of approximately $7.8 million compared to $14.2 million during the 
first six months of 2008. This decrease in cash generation was primarily related 
to a decrease in profit before tax and exceptionals of $7.5 million, offset by a 
net improvement in working capital.   
  
    Cash used in investing activities in 2009 includes $3.2 million for the 
substantial completion of the build-out of the Company's new data center in 
Yorktown Heights, New York, that was purchased in the second half of 2008. Cash 
used in the first half of 2008 included $4.5 million for the expansion and 
upgrade of the Company's data center in Harrison, New York.   
  
    Cash used in financing operations for both periods primarily related to the 
Company's dividend payments.   
  
    We are currently in discussions with the Bank of Scotland to amend financial 
covenants to allow borrowings by the Company, if so desired, under its $30 
million credit facility, despite the operating loss reported in the six months 
ended 30 June 2009.  
  
Litigation Update  
  
 We have settled a long-standing claim brought in arbitration by a former hedge 
fund client. The claim relates to GlobeOp's obligation to calculate and 
distribute the net asset value of the fund and the impact on that of mis-priced 
position values provided by a principal of the hedge fund's investment manager. 
The arbitration will be terminated and a settlement agreement was signed. 
GlobeOp expects that the cost of this settlement will be approximately $27 
million, net of $16.5 million of applicable income tax benefits. The amount of 
the settlement is $43.5 million, with $20 million paid at settlement and the 
remainder paid over time with interest equal to the U.S. prime rate. The last 
payment will be February 2011. The settlement will be paid out of existing cash 
resources and will be a tax-deductible business expense during the year in which 
each payment is made. GlobeOp has no further liabilities outstanding in relation 
to this matter and the issue will have no impact on current and future clients.  
  
Dividend  
  
    The Board has declared an interim dividend of 0.65 pence per share payable 
on 8 October 2009, with an ex-dividend date of 16 September 2009 and a record 
date of 18 September 2009.   
  
First Half Important Events  
  
   During the six months ended 30 June 2009, the Group was involved in 
arbitration with a former hedge fund client. The arbitration hearing took place 
during May and June 2009. A settlement agreement was signed on 26 August 2009 in 
order to avoid the risk and uncertainty of a binding arbitration award, which 
could not be subject to an appeal, and to receive favorable payment terms for 
the settlement amount. The amount of the settlement is $43.5 million. See the 
Litigation Update section for further details.    
  
   Other important events are as noted elsewhere in this interim results 
announcement.  
  
Principal Risks and Uncertainties  
  
  Our business performance and the execution of our strategy are subject to a 
number of risks and uncertainties, not wholly within our control, which could 
have a material impact on the Group's performance and could cause actual results 
to differ materially from forecast and historic results.  
  
  The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group include: the current 
state of the world's financial markets; trends, developments and risks, 
including market stress or volatility, associated with the hedge fund industry; 
ability to hire and retain highly skilled employees and reliance on key senior 
members of our management team; dependence on the capacity and reliability of 
our computer and communications systems and those of third-party service 
providers; ability to protect our intellectual property and retain key 
third-party licenses; continuation of contracts with our existing clients; 
substantial litigation risk from and through our clients and otherwise in the 
ordinary course of business; ability to maintain our reputation as a leading 
independent hedge fund services provider; ability to comply with applicable laws 
and regulations including financial service regulations; exposure to 
fluctuations in exchange rates and interest rates.  
  
  Further details of these principal risks and uncertainties can be found in the 
2008 Annual Report, available from the GlobeOp website (www.globeop.com).  
  
  All of the above risks have the potential to impact our results or financial 
position during the remaining six months of the financial year.  
  
Related-Party Transactions  
  
  The Company has related-party relationships with its subsidiaries (which are 
eliminated upon consolidation) and with its Directors and members of key 
management in the form of remuneration. There are no transactions with related 
parties who are not members of the Group.  
  
Explanatory notes:    
  
(1)    Legal claims - pre-tax includes the pre-tax charge recorded for the 
settlement of a historical legal dispute. See the Litigation Update section for 
further details.   
  
(2)    Adjusted operating profit is calculated by the Company as operating 
profit prior to depreciation and amortization expense, employee costs related to 
share options and restricted stock, legal claims - pre tax and insurance 
reimbursements related to water damage to a company facility. Adjusted operating 
profit is not a measure of financial performance under IFRS. Our calculation of 
adjusted operating profit may be different from the calculation used by other 
companies and therefore comparability may be limited. The following table 
reconciles operating (loss) profit to adjusted operating profit:  
  
 
                                                                Six months ended      
                                                                30 June               
                                                                2009        2008      
                                                                ($'000)               
                                                                (unaudited)           
  Operating (loss) profit                                       $(34,129)   $17,405   
  Depreciation and amortization expense                         4,471       5,279     
  Employee costs related to share options and restricted stock  2,023       2,548     
  Legal claims - pre-tax                                        43,500      --        
  Insurance reimbursement related to water damage at facility   --          (613)     
  Adjusted operating profit                                     $15,865     $24,619   
  
  
(3)    Profit before tax and exceptionals is calculated by the Company as profit 
before tax prior to legal claims - pre tax and insurance reimbursements related 
to water damage to a company facility. Profit before tax and exceptionals is not 
a measure of financial performance under IFRS. Our calculation of profit before 
tax and exceptionals may be different from the calculation used by other 
companies and therefore comparability may be limited. The following table 
reconciles (loss) profit before tax to profit before tax and exceptionals:  
  
 
                                                                Six months ended      
                                                                30 June               
                                                                2009        2008      
                                                                ($'000)               
                                                                (unaudited)           
  (Loss) profit before tax                                      $(33,972)   $17,679   
  Legal claims - pre-tax                                        43,500      --        
  Insurance reimbursement related to water damage at facility   --          (613)     
  Profit before tax and exceptionals                            $9,528      $17,066   
  
  
(4)    AuA (assets under administration) is an operational metric in the hedge 
fund services industry commonly used to describe the amount of funds currently 
under a fund service provider's administration. We define AuA as the aggregate 
amount of our clients' assets that we are servicing that we use as the basis for 
invoicing those clients for services rendered in a particular month, in 
accordance with the terms of our client contracts. Consistent with past 
disclosure, the performance of clients' funds for the current month is not 
included in the measurement of AuA at the end of that month. Thus, June 2009 
client fund performance is not within the 30 June 2009 figure.  
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM INCOME STATEMENT  
  
 
                                         Six months ended    Six months ended   
                                         30 June 2009        30 June 2008       
                                         (unaudited)         (unaudited)        
                                 Notes   $'000               $'000              
                                                                                
  Revenue                                79,151              94,505             
  Operating expenses             6       (113,280)           (77,100)           
  Operating (loss) profit                (34,129)            17,405             
                                                                                
  Finance income                 10      214                 684                
  Finance costs                  10      (57)                (410)              
  Finance income, net            10      157                 274                
                                                                                
  (Loss) profit before tax               (33,972)            17,679             
  Taxation                       11      14,292              (5,306)            
  (Loss) profit for the period           (19,680)            12,373             
                                                                                
  (Loss) earnings per share:                                                    
  Basic                          12      (0.19)              0.12               
                                                                                
  Diluted                        12      (0.19)              0.12               
  
  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this unaudited condensed 
consolidated interim  
  
financial information.  
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE (LOSS) INCOME  
  
 
                                                        Six months ended    Six months ended   
                                                        30 June 2009        30 June 2008       
                                                        (unaudited)         (unaudited)        
                                                        $'000               $'000              
                                                                                               
  Net (loss) profit recognized in income statement      (19,680)            12,373             
                                                                                               
  Other comprehensive income (loss)                                                            
                                                                                               
  Cumulative translation adjustment                     2,688               (691)              
  Other comprehensive income (loss)                     2,688               (691)              
                                                                                               
  Total comprehensive (loss) income                     (16,992)            11,682             
                                                                                               
                                                                                               
                                                                                               
  
  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this unaudited condensed 
consolidated interim  
  
financial information.  
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEET  
  
 
                                                 At 30 June    At 30 June 2008   At 31 December   
                                                 2009                            2008             
                                                 (unaudited)   (unaudited)       (audited)        
                                         Notes   $'000         $'000             $'000            
                                                                                                  
  Assets                                                                                          
  Non-current assets                                                                              
  Intangible assets, net                         6,804         8,597             6,941            
  Property, plant and equipment, net     14      29,131        22,269            29,931           
  Deferred income tax assets             11      15,377        10,817            4,084            
  Accounts receivable and other assets   15      856           943               823              
  Restricted cash                                2,181         1,339             2,187            
  Total non-current assets                       54,349        43,965            43,966           
                                                                                                  
                                                                                                  
  Current assets                                                                                  
  Accounts receivable and other assets   15      15,002        22,603            23,422           
  Corporate tax receivable                       5,909         -                 486              
  Cash and cash equivalents                      53,626        46,673            51,259           
  Total current assets                           74,537        69,276            75,167           
  Total assets                                   128,886       113,241           119,133          
  
  
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this unaudited condensed 
consolidated interim  
  
financial information.  
  
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM BALANCE SHEET  
  
 
                                                                                30 June       30 June       31 December   
                                                                                2009          2008          2008          
                                                                                (unaudited)   (unaudited)   (audited)     
                                               Notes                            $'000         $'000         $'000         
                                                                                                                          
  Shareholders' Equity                                                                                                    
  Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the Company                                                      
  Share capital                                                                 10,960        10,914        10,960        
  Treasury shares                                                               (110)         (1,086)       (41)          
  A Beneficiary Certificates                   16                               -             1,086         -             
  Share premium                                                                 7,813         13,139        8,356         
  Other reserves                                                                24,808        24,053        17,864        
  Retained earnings                                                             17,745        31,730        40,186        
  Total Shareholders' equity                                                    61,216        79,836        77,325        
                                                                                                                          
  Liabilities                                                                                                             
  Non-current liabilities                                                                                                 
  Trade and other payables                     18                               677           553           560           
  Provisions for liabilities and charges       17                               26,469        2,881         2,679         
  Deferred lease obligations                                                    1,718         1,947         1,639         
  Total non-current liabilities                                                 28,864        5,381         4,878         
                                                                                                                          
  Current liabilities                                                                                                     
  Trade and other payables                     18                               16,660        26,479        30,257        
  Corporate tax liabilities                                                     596           1,295         3,033         
  Provisions for liabilities and charges       17                               21,550        250           3,640         
  Total current liabilities                                                     38,806        28,024        36,930        
  Total liabilities                                                             67,670        33,405        41,808        
  Total Shareholders' equity and liabilities                                    128,886       113,241       119,133        
  
  
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