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11 May 2017
N+1 Singer - Porta Communications - 2016 final results
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N+1 Singer - Porta Communications - 2016 final results
Porta Communications (PTCM:LON) | 0 0 1.6% | Mkt Cap: 11.3m
- Published:
11 May 2017 -
Author:
Singer CM Team -
Pages:
3 -
Despite the BREXIT impact Porta delivered 4% LFL CER Gross Profit (essentially fee income) growth in 2016. Adjusted EBITDA edged down to £2.34m due to the BREXIT impact on PPS and investment made to strengthen the Newgate UK operation. More importantly, progress has commenced on positioning the Company for its new phase of growth and driving efficiency under the new executive team. The start to 2017 is encouraging with the Company indicating that the trading performance is substantially ahead of the prior year and budget. The combination of organic growth, some stake increases and FX tailwind implies attributable gross profit growth of c11%. We expect that cost adjustments will be made in due course to both improve overall efficiency and also optimise investment allocation to areas of growth. Hiring key staff in the strategic communications area is critical to making progress. An organisational review is also underway aimed at strengthening the finance and support functions. The Company has announced a variety of actions to improve its financing with an equity injection of up to £3m being sought from strategic investors whom the Company is having discussions with. To aid this the board is seeking shareholder approval for the authority to issue, on a pre-emptive basis, shares equivalent to c40% of the current issue capital. Discussions with senior debt providers are advanced and the current high margin will be reduced substantially if an adequate equity investment is secured. The company is engaged with several strategic investors who could provide equity investment. If Porta can grow its attributable revenues to c£24m (2016: £21.7m) and edge net debt down to c£7.5m this year then the equity would be worth between £16.5m and £28.5m assuming an EV/GP multiple range of 1.0x to 1.5x (reflecting a potential 10% to 15% margin).