EARNINGS AND TRADING: everplay profit falls, Harworth to slash costs
The following is a round-up of earnings and trading updates by London-listed companies, issued on Tuesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Harworth Group PLC - Rotherham, England-based land regeneration company - Says it expects to achieve total annualised run rate cost savings of at least £7.4 million by the end of 2028, although it expects to exceed this amount. Says it has already realised £1.3 million of this through reducing headcount, and expects to achieve 94% of the total by the end of next year. Its forecast annualised run rate savings at the ends of 2026, 2027, and 2028 are £3.2 million, £6.9 million and £7.4 million respectively. Quantified savings represent a 20% drop in administrative expenses, based on the £36.3 million reported for 2025. Announcement elaborates on Harworth's "plan to accelerate key initiatives that would result in a simpler, lower-cost, higher returning platform" as set out in its response to would-be acquirer Peel Pepper (UK) Ltd, having rejected the suitor's 172.5 pence per share, or £582.9 million, offer in August. Harworth says its board "remains unanimous and unequivocal in its rejection," as the offer "fundamentally undervalues Harworth and its near and longer-term prospects." Company also "believes that it can deliver higher and more sustainable returns for Harworth shareholders, targeting a low double-digit total accounting return in the longer-term."
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Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income Fund Ltd - Guernsey, Channel Islands-domiciled fund, which is run by Sequoia Investment Management Co Ltd - Reports net asset value of 91.50 pence per share as of August 31, up from 90.86p one month prior. Dividend yield for August is 8.03%, based on its closing share price of 85.60p at August 31, and its 6.88p per share annual dividend target. The portfolio's weighted average yield-to-worst is 9.73% as of August 31, reflecting its "strong income returns." Sequoia notes that risk-free rates increased across its key investment regions last month, with the UK five-year gilt yield increasing to 4.64%, for example. Also, "markets moved towards pricing a further ECB rate increase in September." "In a higher interest-rate environment, SEQI benefits from its dynamic interest-rate positioning, with 56.5% of the portfolio invested in fixed-rate instruments as at [August 31]," it adds. Its invested portfolio at the end of the month comprised 47 private debt investments and 2 infrastructure bonds.
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everplay group PLC - Wakefield, England-based video game developer - Reports results for the first half of 2026. Pretax profit falls 89% to £1.6 million from £14.3 million, as revenue falls 7.5% to £66.9 million from £72.4 million, or falls 5% when excluding the impact of the strategic exit from the Astragon division's low-margin physical distribution activities. Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation fall 52% to £9.2 million from £19.2 million, which everplay says reflects lower revenues and investment ahead of its major H2 release programme. Adjusted pretax profit falls 55% to £8.8 million. Firm swings to basic loss per share of 0.4p from EPS of 7.4p, and adjusted EPS falls 65% to 3.7p from 10.5p. everplay declares 1.1p per share interim dividend. Expects full-year revenue and adjusted Ebitda "to be materially ahead of current market expectations," citing consensus for revenue of £175.2 million and adjusted Ebitda of £50.7 million.
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LSL Property Services PLC - Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England-based provider of services to mortgage intermediaries and franchised estate agencies - Reports £92.3 million in revenue for the first half of 2026, up 2.9% from £89.7 million the year before. Pretax profit increases 7.1% to £12.1 million from £11.3 million. Declares interim dividend of 4.0p, unchanged from the prior year. Says its £12 million buyback programme is on track for completion by January. Adds that it has launched a group-wide "transformation programme" to remove duplication and simplify its operating structure, supporting its goal of raising the group underlying operating margin above 20%. Expects the programme "to deliver at least [GBP5 million] of annualised benefit, which builds as implementation progresses through 2027." Company guidance for 2026 is "on track", anticipating "a further increase in profits."
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Eleco PLC - London-based software provider focused on the construction and built environment sectors - Notes that it last week accepted a takeover offer from Accel-KKR Co LLC-managed funds. Offer of 235p per share values Eleco's share capital at around £207.6 million, and implies an enterprise value of £192.4 million. Total revenue for the first half of 2026 increases 8.2% from £18.4 million the previous year, with 15% organic revenue growth. Annualised recurring revenue rises 16% to £35.5 million from £30.7 million. Pretax profit more than doubles to £5.2 million from £2.0 million. "Eleco delivered another period of strong growth, with continued improvement in revenue, recurring revenues, and profitability...the acquisition of Kivue in February 2026 has further enhanced our PPM software offering, complementing our existing PM3 offering," says Chief Executive Jonathan Hunter. "Furthermore...the divestment of the non-core Veeuze business to a management buy-out has simplified the portfolio of group products and improved the quality of earnings and shareholder value. The structural drivers of our markets remain compelling, supported by increased regulatory and sustainability demands as well as long-term digital transformation of the built environment...we remain confident in Eleco's continued success."
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