RNS Number : 3812F
Cavendish PLC
30 October 2025
 

The information contained within this announcement is deemed to constitute inside information as stipulated under the retained EU law version of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) No. 596/2014 (the "UK MAR") which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. The information is disclosed in accordance with Cavendish's obligations under Article 17 of the UK MAR. Upon the publication of this announcement, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

30 October 2025

 

Cavendish plc

("Cavendish" and together with its subsidiary undertakings, the "Group")

2026 Interim Results

 

Cavendish plc (AIM: CAV), a leading UK investment bank and trusted adviser to both public and private companies, today announces unaudited interim results for the six-month period ended 30 September 2025.

 

H1'26 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Revenues of £28.5m (H1'25: £27.7m)

Adjusted profit before tax* of £2.0m (H1'25: £1.9m) delivers an improved profit margin of 7.0%

Cash balances at 30 September 2025 of £19.8m, an increase of 15% vs the same date last year (H1'25: £17.2m)

Interim dividend of 0.3p per share (H1'25: 0.3p), commensurate with performance during the period and confidence in performance for the full year 

Adjusted Earnings per Share*: 0.4p (H1'25: 0.4p)

 

H1'26 OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

More than 30 transactions executed during the period, with a value of £1.1 billion

Continued investment in Group talent with select and strategically aligned hires

Non-employee costs reduced by 9% to £7.0m during the period (H1'25: £7.7m) reflecting continued Group efficiencies and investments in AI capabilities

 

* Adjusted profit before tax is prior to share-based payments, share of associate profits and fair value gains and losses on long term investments.

 

JULIAN MORSE AND JOHN FARRUGIA, CO-CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF CAVENDISH, COMMENTED:

"We delivered a profitable first half across both public and private markets, highlighting the broad appeal of our services and the efficiency of our platform. Our pipeline remains strong, with a mix of public and private transactions underway, including several potential IPOs.

While overall client numbers declined due to market exits, we continue to hold our market-leading position as the adviser to the largest number of AIM-quoted companies, including the addition of eight new clients across AIM and the Main Market through a combination of IPOs and competitive wins.  At the same time, we are expanding our regional footprint in the UK, and our international reach, supported by our membership of the Oaklins network, remains a clear competitive advantage.

 

Our work spans the full company life cycle, advising and supporting small and mid-sized businesses at every stage of their growth. Thanks to the breadth of our capabilities, we can offer one of the most comprehensive ranges of solutions in the market, enabling us to deliver tailored outcomes for each client."

 

CAPITAL STRENGTH

The Group continues to have surplus capital and a strong liquidity position - cash balance of £19.8m at 30 September 2025, reflecting careful cash-flow management and operational efficiency. This provides the flexibility to adapt to changing market conditions and to invest in opportunities that align with our growth objectives.

INTERIM DIVIDEND

The Board has declared an interim dividend of 0.3p per share in respect of the six months ended 30 September 2025 (the "Interim Dividend") (interim dividend 0.3p in FY'25). The Interim Dividend will be paid on 10 December 2025 to shareholders registered on the record date of 21 November 2025, reflecting Cavendish's commitment to returning value to shareholders.

OUTLOOK

We have made a solid start to the second half, with a pipeline of both public and private transactions including potential IPOs and ongoing M&A activity. We remain optimistic about the outlook, supported by continued client wins and growing demand for IPOs as companies look to access the UK markets.

There are encouraging indications that sentiment toward UK equities may be gradually improving. During the period, the FTSE 100 reached record highs, and since the reversal of the 'Trump tariffs,' the UK has ranked among the best performing global equity markets. We are also seeing anecdotal evidence of increased allocations from global investors into the UK, initially directed toward the largest and most liquid companies.  However, this trend has yet to extend meaningfully to small and mid-cap equities, where valuations remain highly attractive in the context of long-term trends.

In the near term, fiscal uncertainty linked to the delayed Budget continues to weigh heavily on business confidence. Nonetheless, once this overhang clears and particularly if inflation moderates, there is potential for a strong finish to the financial year.

BUSINESS REVIEW

Revenue from public and private market transactions continued to be well diversified. Transaction fees from equity issuance and sell-side private M&A continued to underpin this significant revenue stream, with the size of public market deals varying throughout the period as the market became increasingly volatile following the introduction of the 'Trump tariffs'.

The Group recorded a notable improvement in revenue from market making and agency commission, compared with the previous period driven by disciplined execution and more buoyant markets.

MARKET CONDITIONS

The FTSE AIM All-Share rose approximately 14% in the period, driven by a strong second quarter as smaller companies benefited from renewed investor appetite, selective corporate activity, and the Bank of England's August rate cut, although elevated gilt yields later moderated gains.

Investment company shares continued to trade on wide average discounts, with some modest narrowing supported by buybacks, mergers, and sector-specific corporate actions. Renewable infrastructure funds remained weak despite high yields, while broader sentiment stabilised.

In private markets, M&A activity strengthened modestly as attractive UK valuations and easing financing conditions encouraged selective trade and private equity participation.

EXPANSION

Towards the end of the prior year, Cavendish expanded into the Regions with offices opened in Manchester and Birmingham, partnering with industry experts to bring in local contacts and expand the clientele. During H1'26, the new team completed their first transaction and have numerous others in the pipeline for the future, with nine staff now employed across the two offices.

 

INVESTMENT BANKING REVENUE

Investment Banking revenue comprises recurring retainer income from corporate clients and advisory fees earned from ECM, M&A, Debt, and Private placings.

Revenue decreased slightly versus the same period last year, due to a lower volume of equity issuance and a small reduction in average deal fees in private sales.  Income from retainers declined in line with the net reduction in quoted clients in the period.

 


6 months ended

  6 months ended


30 Sep 2025

  30 Sep 2024


Unaudited

Unaudited


£'000

£'000

Retainers

5,276

5,956

Transactions

18,244

18,931

Investment Banking

23,520

24,887

 


EQUITIES REVENUE        

Market making profit and agency commission were materially ahead (+78%) of the same period last year. This reflects better market conditions coupled with the strength of our experienced team and disciplined capital management.


6 months ended

  6 months ended


30 Sep 2025

  30 Sep 2024


Unaudited

Unaudited


£'000

£'000

Equities

5,008

2,820

 

OPERATING EXPENSES

Non-employee costs reduced by 9% compared with the same period last year through a combination of supplier contract review and renewal and a continued focus on process automation.

Employee costs increased 7% compared with the same period last year driven by the expansion into new regional offices and other targeted hires.

Share-based payments reduced as pre-merger share schemes fell away over the period.

 


6 months ended

  6 months ended

  12 months ended


30 September 2025

  30 September 2024

  31 March 2024


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


£'000

£'000

 £'000

Employee Costs

19,621

18,262

35,975

Share-based Payments

887

1,579

2,453

Non-employee

7,045

7,740

16,203

Administrative expenses

27,553

27,581

54,631

 

 

 

 

Average number of employees

203

197

197

 

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

UNAUDITED FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

 



6 months ended
30 September 2025

6 months ended
30 September 2024

12 months ended 31 March 2025

 


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited

 


£'000

£'000

£'000

 

Notes

 



Revenue

2

28,528

27,707

55,646

Other operating income / (expense)

3

99

(87)

(294)

Administrative expenses

4

(27,553)

(27,581)

(54,631)

Operating profit 


1,074

39

721

Share of joint venture and associate losses


(135)

              (135)

(211)

Finance income


287

338

604

Finance charge


(163)

(190)

(366)

Profit before taxation

 

1,063

52

748

 





Analysed as



 

 

Adjusted profit before tax

 


1,986

1,853

3,706

Share-based payments


(887)

(1,579)

(2,453)

Adjusting items

8

(36)

(222)

(505)

Profit before taxation


1,063

52

748

 





Taxation


(337)

(15)

17

Profit attributable to equity shareholders


726

37

765

Total comprehensive profit for the year


726

37

765

 





Earnings per share (pence)





Basic

5

0.21

0.01

0.23

Diluted

5

0.20

0.01

0.21






Analysed as



 

 

Adjusted profit before tax


1,986

1,853

3,706

Share of joint venture and associate losses


(135)

(135)

(211)

Taxation


(337)

(371)

17

Adjusted earnings


1,514

1,347

3,512

Basic shares


338,384,123

330,827,536

339,632,342

Adjusted earnings per share (pence)


0.4

0.4

1.0

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

UNAUDITED FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

 


 

30 Sep 2025

30 Sep 2024

31 Mar 2025


 

Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


Notes

£'000

£'000

£'000

Non-current assets





Property, plant and equipment


8,671

10,150

9,618

Intangible assets


13,551

13,432

13,579

Investment in associates and joint ventures


1,876

1,947

1,871

Financial assets held at fair value 


729

451

264

Deferred tax asset

7

2,651

3,611

2,988

Total non-current assets


27,478

29,591

28,320

Current assets





Trade and other receivables

7

36,275

24,338

22,903

Corporation tax receivable


-

-

595

Current assets held at fair value


4,838

4,339

4,210

Cash and cash equivalents


19,810

17,213

21,223

Total current assets


60,923

45,890

48,931

Total assets


88,401

75,481

77,251

Non-current liabilities





Lease liability


6,664

8,397

7,503

Provisions


25

815

58

Total non-current liabilities


6,689

9,212

7,561

Current liabilities





Trade and other payables


40,940

24,105

28,311

Current Liabilities held at fair value


1,612

2,135

1,535

Borrowings                           


-

291

-

Total current liabilities       


42,552

26,531

29,846

Equity    





Share capital        


3,871

3,857

3,857

Share premium


3,380

3,216

3,216

Own shares held

7

(3,287)

(4,379)

(4,494)

Merger relief reserve

7

25,151

25,151

25,151

Share based payments reserve


3,243

3,365

4,236

Retained earnings


6,802

8,528

7,878

Total equity


39,160

39,738

39,844

Total equity and liabilities


88,401

75,481

77,251

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGE IN EQUITY

UNAUDITED FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

 




Own

Merger

Share Based

 


Share

Share

Shares

Relief

Payment

Retained

Total

 

Capital

Premium

Held

Reserve

Reserve

Earnings

Equity

 

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

£'000

Balance at 31 March 2024

3,847

3,099

(4,799)

25,151

3,766

8,556

39,620

Total comprehensive profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

37

37

Transactions with owners:








Share-based payments charge

-

-

-

-

789

-

789

Vesting of share-based payments

-

-

-

-

(1,190)

-

(1,190)

Transfers to employees relating to share-based payments

-

-

1,008

-

-

-

1,008

Purchase of own shares

-

-

(588)

-

-

-

(588)

Issued share capital

10

117

-

-

-

-

127

 

10

117

420

-

(401)

-

146

Balance at 30 September 2024

3,857

3,216

(4,379)

25,151

3,365

8,593

39,803

Total comprehensive expense for the period

-

-

-

-

-

728

728

Transactions with owners:

 







Share-based payments charge

-

-

-

-

1,656

-

1,656

Vesting of share-based payments

-

-

-

-

(785)

1,975

1,190

Transfers to employees relating to share-based payments

-

-

473

-

-

(1,481)

(1,008)

Purchase of own shares



(588)



-

(588)

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

(1,937)

(1,937)

 

-

-

(115)

-

871

(1,443)

(687)

Balance at 31 March 2025

3,857

3,216

(4,494)

25,151

4,236

7,878

39,844

Total comprehensive income for the period

-

-

-

-

-

726

726

Transactions with owners:








Share-based payments charge

-

-

-

-

887

-

887

Vesting of share-based payments

-

-

-

-

(1,880)

1,880

-

Transfers to employees relating to share-based payments

-

-

1,923

-

-

(1,923)

-

Purchase of own shares

-

-

(716)

-

-

-

(716)

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

(1,759)

(1,759)

Issued share capital

14

164

-

-

-

-

178

 

14

164

1,207

-

(993)

(1,802)

(1,410)

Balance at 30 September 2025

3,871

3,380

(3,287)

25,151

3,243

6,802

39,160

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

UNAUDITED FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

 


 

30 Sep 2025

30 Sep 2024

31 Mar 2025


 

Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited



£'000

£'000

£'000

Cash flow from operating activities





Profit before taxation


1,063

52

748

Adjustments for:





Depreciation


980

941

1,938

Amortisation


54

41

-

Share of associate profits


135

135

211

Finance income


(287)

(338)

(604)

Finance charge


163

190

366

Share-based payments charge


887

1,579

2,453

Net fair value (gains) / losses recognised in profit or losses


(99)

87

294

Payments received of non-cash assets


(366)

(226)

(20)


 

2,530

2,461

5,386

Changes in working capital





Trade and other receivables


(13,372)

(1,624)

(189)

Trade and other payables


10,575

(4,911)

(46)

Provisions


33

-

(24)

Cash Generated from Operations

 

(234)

(4,074)

5,127






Net cash payments for current asset investments held at fair value through profit or loss


(302)

2,006

1,736

Taxation receipts


595

-

56

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities

 

59

(2,068)

6,919

Cash flows from investing activities





Purchase of property, plant and equipment


(33)

(46)

(68)

Purchase of intangible assets


(26)

(36)

(143)

Proceeds on sale of investments


-

-

(100)

Investment in associates and joint ventures


(140)

(100)

-

Interest received


287

338

604

Net cash inflow from investing activities

 

88

156

293

Cash flows from financing activities





Equity dividends paid


-

-

(1,937)

Issue of share capital and exercise of share options


178

17

127

Purchase of own shares


(716)

-

(1,176)

Interest paid


-

(14)

(11)

Lease liability payments


(1,022)

(1,424)

(3,247)

Repayment of borrowings


-

(193)

(484)

Net cash outflow from financing activities

 

(1,560)

(1,614)

(6,728)

Net (increase) / decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(1,413)

(3,526)

484

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

21,223

20,739

20,739

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

19,810

17,213

21,223








NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

UNAUDITED FOR THE 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

1.     BASIS OF PREPARATION

Cavendish plc (the "Company" or the "Group") is a public limited company, limited by shares, incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. The Company was incorporated on 28 August 2018. The registered office of the Company is One Bartholomew Close, London EC1A 7BL, United Kingdom. The Company's registered number is 11540126. The Company is quoted on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

The financial information contained within these condensed consolidated Interim Financial Statements is unaudited and has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34 Interim Financial Reporting ('IAS 34') and AIM Rule 18. The financial information contained in the Interim Financial Statements is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.

The statutory accounts for the 12 months ended 31 March 2025 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The statutory accounts have been prepared in accordance with UK Adopted International Accounting Standards and in accordance with applicable law. The Independent Auditor's Report to the members of Cavendish plc contained no qualification or statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 2006.

These consolidated Interim Financial Statements contain information about the Group and have been prepared on a historical cost basis except for certain financial instruments which are carried at fair value. Amounts are rounded to the nearest thousand, unless otherwise stated and are presented in pounds sterling, which is the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Group operates.

The preparation of these Interim Financial Statements requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires Group management to exercise judgement in applying the Group's accounting policies. Judgements and estimates used in these Interim Financial Statements have been applied on a consistent basis with those used in the statutory accounts for the 12 months ended 31 March 2025.

The Group has assessed the appropriateness of accounting on a going concern basis. This process involved the review of a forecast for the coming 18 months, along with stress testing a second downside scenario. Both cases showed that the Group has the required resources to operate within its resources during the period. The Directors believe that the Group has adequate resources to continue trading for at least 12 months from the date of approval of this report. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Interim Financial Statements.



 

2.     Segmental Reporting

The Group is managed as an integrated financial services group and the different revenue streams are considered to be subject to similar economic characteristics. Consequently, the Group is managed as one business unit. The trading operations of the Group comprise of Corporate Advisory and Broking, M&A Advisory and Institutional Stockbroking. The Group's revenues are derived from activities conducted in the UK, although several of its corporate and institutional investors and clients are situated overseas. All assets of the Group reside in the UK.


6 months ended

  6 months ended

  12 months ended


30 September 2025

  30 September 2024

  31 March 2025


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


£'000

£'000

£'000

Retainers

5,276

5,956

11,708

Transactions

18,244

18,931

38,260

Equities

5,008

2,820

5,678

Revenue

28,528

27,707

55,646

 

 

3.     Other Operating Income / (Expense)


6 months ended

  6 months ended

  12 months ended


30 September 2025

  30 September 2024

  31 March 2025


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


£'000

£'000

 £'000

Other Operating Income / (Expense)

99

(87)

(294)






 

 

4.     Administrative Expenses


6 months ended

  6 months ended

  12 months ended


30 September 2025

  30 September 2024

  31 March 2025


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


£'000

£'000

 £'000

Employee Costs

19,621

18,262

35,975

Share-based Payments

887

1,579

2,453

Non-employee Costs

7,045

7,740

16,203

Administrative expenses

27,553

27,581

54,631

 

 

 

 

Average number of employees

203

197

197

 

Employee benefit expense includes share-based payments of £887k (H1'25: £1,579k).

 


 

5.     Earnings per share

 


6 months ended

  6 months ended

  12 months ended


30 September 2025

  30 September 2024

  31 March 2025


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited

Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of basic earnings per share

338,384,123

330,827,536

339,632,342

Weighted average dilutive effect of conditional share awards

19,649,559

3,542,276

26,528,921

Weighted average number of shares for the purposes of diluted earnings per share

358,033,682

334,369,812

366,161,263


 


 

Profit per ordinary share (pence) (pence)

 

 

 

Basic profit per ordinary share

0.21

0.01

0.23

Diluted profit per ordinary share

0.20

0.01

0.21

 

Shares held by the Group's Employee Benefit Trusts have been excluded from the calculation of earnings per share.

 

 

6.     Dividends


6 months ended

  6 months ended

  12 months ended


30 September 2025

  30 September 2024

  31 March 2025


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


£'000

£'000

 £'000

Dividend proposed and paid

1,730

-

1,937

Dividends per share (pence)

0.50

-

0.55

 

 



 

7.     Balance Sheet Items

 

i.      Deferred tax asset

Deferred taxation for the Group relates to timing differences on the taxation relief on the exercise of options and tax losses carried forward. The amount of the asset is determined using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted when the deferred tax assets are expected to be recovered.

 

ii.     Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables principally consist of amounts due from clients, brokers and other counterparties. In addition, the Group has credit risk exposure to the gross value of unsettled trades (on a delivery versus payment basis) at its agency settlement agent (Pershing, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bank of New York Mellon Corporation).

 

iii.    Own shares held

The value of own shares held is the cost of shares purchased in the Group's Employee Benefit Trusts. The Trusts were established with the authority to acquire shares in the Group and are funded by the Group.

 

iv.    Merger relief reserve

The merger relief reserve represents: the difference between net book value of subsidiaries acquired via share-for-share exchanges and the nominal value of the shares issued as consideration. Upon consolidation, part of the merger reserve is eliminated to recognise the pre-acquisition reserves of Cavendish Capital Markets Limited (December 2018) and Cavendish Securities plc (September 2023); and the difference between the fair value and nominal value of shares issued for the acquisition of Cavendish Corporate Finance (UK) Limited and Cavendish Corporate Finance LLP from the acquisition in December 2018. This reserve is not distributable.

 

v.     Post balance sheet events

There are no material post balance sheet events.

 



 

8.     ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

The below non-GAAP alternative performance measures have been used.

Adjusted profit before tax

Measure: Adjusted profit before tax is calculated excluding share-based payments, non-recurring items, share of joint venture and associate profits and fair value (gains) / losses on long term investments.

Use: Provides a consistent measure of the earnings performance of the core business activities.

 


6 months ended

  6 months ended

  12 months ended


30 September 2025

  30 September 2024

  31 March 2025


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


£'000

£'000

 £'000

Profit before tax

1,063

52

748

Fair value (gains) / losses on long term investments

(99)

87

294

Share-based payments

887

1,579

2,453

Share of joint venture and associate losses

135

135

211

Adjusted profit before taxation

1,986

1,853

3,706






 


6 months ended

  6 months ended

  12 months ended


30 September 2025

  30 September 2024

  31 March 2025


Unaudited

Unaudited

Audited


£'000

£'000

 £'000

Profit attributable to equity shareholders

726

37

765

Fair value (gains) / losses on long term investments

(99)

87

294

Share-based payments

887

1,579

2,453

Taxation

(33)

(329)

(369)

Adjusted earnings

1,481

1,374

3,143

Basic shares

338,384,123

330,827,536

339,632,342

Adjusted earnings per share (pence)

0.4

0.4

0.8






 

 


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