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Half-year Results

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Performance headlines:

  • Funds under management and administration (FUMA): £108.9 billion, +3.4%
  • Significant improvement in net flows in Q2
  • Underlying profit before tax: £112.1 million, +120.7%
  • Underlying operating margin: 25.1%
  • Statutory profit before tax: £65.3 million, +151.2%
  • Interim dividend of 30p, +3.4%
  • Accelerated delivery of IW&I integration synergies
  • Successful first stage implementation of InvestCloud Client Lifecycle Management (CLM) technology platform
  • Migration of Saunderson House assets substantially complete

Paul Stockton, Group Chief Executive Officer of Rathbones, said:

"Rathbones has continued to focus on consolidating its position as the leading UK discretionary wealth manager, with total FUMA growing to £108.9 billion at 30 June 2024 (Q1 2024: £107.6 billion, FY 2023: £105.3 billion).

In the first six months of 2024, Rathbones has surpassed both the strategic and financial objectives we set out upon the announcement of the Investec Wealth & Investment (IW&I) combination. We have achieved synergy realisation ahead of target, with run-rate synergies of £20 million delivered to the end of June 2024, well ahead of our year one post-combination objective of £15 million. These synergies have delivered a benefit to underlying operating profit for the six-month period of £8 million and we remain confident in the guidance set out at the time of the combination.

Our office consolidation programme is progressing at pace with six office integrations completed so far, including our London head office move to Gresham Street earlier this month. The remaining two co-located offices will complete during the remainder of 2024. Work to develop our combined service proposition is also advancing well, with several propositions now aligned across the group.

In June, we launched successfully the InvestCloud CLM system into the business in line with the budgeted investment we guided previously. This represents a key milestone for our digital programme and gives us a strong platform from which to build enhanced functionality and improve the client experience.

The migration of Saunderson House assets has been substantially completed, with the advice process to migrate assets to Rathbones investment propositions completed or in progress, with only a small residue of £0.2 billion yet to engage in the migration process.

Our underlying operating margin was 25.1% for the six months to 30 June 2024 (30 June 2023: 21.3%), in line with our target and showing significant progress towards our target of a 30%+ margin. We end the period in a strong position, with confidence in the prospects for our enlarged business and a clear focus on maintaining the momentum of delivery during the second half of the year."

Financial highlights:

  • Total FUMA grew to £108.9 billion at 30 June 2024 (Q1 2024: £107.6 billion, FY 2023: £105.3 billion).
  • £93.6 billion in the Wealth Management segment (£99.1 billion prior to the elimination of Wealth Management FUMA invested in the Asset Management segment of £5.5 billion).
  • £15.3 billion in the Asset Management segment.
  • Statutory profit before tax increased by 151.2% to £65.3 million (30 June 2023: £26.0 million), after expensing amortisation of client relationship intangible assets of £22.0 million (30 June 2023: £9.5 million) and integration related costs of £24.8 million (30 June 2023: £15.3 million) in the period. Underlying profit before tax totalled £112.1 million at 30 June 2024 (30 June 2023: £50.8 million), reflecting the inclusion of IW&I for the current six-month period, with an underlying operating margin of 25.1% (30 June 2023: 21.3%).
  • Total operating income for the group increased by 88.0% to £447.4 million (30 June 2023: £238.0 million). Legacy Rathbones operating income grew by 11.6% to £265.7 million on a like-for-like basis, driven by recurring investment management and asset management fees on higher average FUMA, in addition to increased net interest income of £32.7 million (30 June 2023: £23.0 million).
  • Total underlying operating expenses for the period were £335.3 million (30 June 2023: £187.2 million) and include the impact of the integration, and £7.1 million planned investment in our digital programme (30 June 2023: £6.0 million) with the remainder of the £15 million guided for the year to be incurred in the second half of the year, completing the £45 million spend of the programme implementation.
  • Net FUMA flows improved significantly in the second quarter. While factors which have resulted in elevated outflows remain relevant, a significant reduction in gross outflows combined with continued strength in gross inflows saw net outflows reduce from £0.6 billion in the first quarter to flat in the second quarter.
  • Total gross inflows increased by 3.3% in the second quarter to £3.1 billion (Q1 2024: £3.0 billion) while total gross outflows reduced by 8.6% to £3.2 billion (Q1 2024: £3.5 billion) in the same period. Although remaining elevated, reflecting the impact that the prolonged higher interest rate environment has on debt servicing costs and the relative attraction of cash as an asset class, this result offers a greater degree of optimism of returning to more normalised outflow levels.
  • Net flows in RIM discretionary & managed propositions remained positive in the second quarter at £0.1 billion, resulting in £0.5 billion of net inflows for the first half of the year (30 June 2023: £0.2 billion), representing an annualised growth rate of 1.9% (30 June 2023: 0.7%).
  • Net flows in IW&I also improved significantly, returning to positive territory in the second quarter, with net inflows of £0.2 billion (Q1 2024: net outflows of £0.6 billion), reflecting both a significant reduction in gross outflows related to investment managers who left the business prior to the announcement of the combination and improved gross inflows as client confidence in investment markets improves.
  • Our single strategy funds remained resilient, with limited outflows of £0.1 billion in the second quarter (Q1 2024: £0.2 billion), against a challenging industry backdrop (30 June 2023: £0.3 billion).

Declaration of interim dividend:

  • In line with our progressive dividend policy, we have increased our interim dividend by 3.4% to 30p (30 June 2023: 29p), reflecting the strength of our business and balance sheet. The record date will be 6 September 2024 and the dividend will be paid on 1 October 2024.

Funds under management and administration

Segment fuma

6 months ended 30 June 2024Wealth Management (£m)Asset Management (£m)Intra-group holdings (£m)Group FUMA (£m)
Opening FUMA96,11813,770(4,548)105,340
Gross Inflows4,7272,533(1,168)6,092
Gross Outflows(5,209)(2,002)531(6,680)
Net Flows(482)531(637)(588)
Transfers(84)84--
Market & Investment Performance3,518922(285)4,155
Closing FUMA99,07015,307(5,470)108,907
(Ii) Breakdown of FUMA and flows by service level
6 months ended 30 June 2024Opening FUMA (£m)Gross Inflows (£m)Gross Outflows (£m)Net Flows (£m)Transfers 1 (£m)SHL Migrated Assets (£m)Market & Investment Performance (£m)Closing FUMA (£m)Ann Net Growth 2 (%)
Rathbones Investment Management48,7592,371(2,060)311(2)6251,67051,3631.3
Bespoke portfolios45,0042,096(1,894)202(304)2721,55346,7270.9
Managed via in-house funds3,755275(166)1093023531174,6365.8
Multi-asset funds 32,545601(423)17884-1852,99214.0
Rathbones discretionary & managed51,3042,972(2,483)489826251,85554,3551.9
Non-discretionary service75212(24)(12)(39)-6707(3.2)
Investec W&I42,2672,128(2,528)(400)(204)-1,61443,277(1.9)
Saunderson House 41,59058(238)(180)-(626)36820(22.6)
Total wealth management95,9135,170(5,273)(103)(161)(1)3,51199,159(0.2)
Single-strategy funds6,677764(1,048)(284)--4526,845(8.5)
Execution only2,750158(359)(201)16111922,903(14.6)
Total group105,3406,092(6,680)(588)--4,155108,907(1.1)
Q2 ended 30 June 2024Opening FUMA (£m)Gross Inflows (£m)Gross Outflows (£m)Net Flows (£m)Transfers 1 (£m)SHL Migrated Assets (£m)Market & Investment Performance (£m)Closing FUMA (£m)Ann Net Growth 2 (%)
Rathbones Investment Management50,4231,095(1,026)69(23)18770751,3630.5
Bespoke portfolios46,099969(934)35(170)9966446,7270.3
Managed via in-house funds4,324126(92)3414788434,6363.1
Multi-asset funds 32,926278(212)66---2,9929.0
Rathbones discretionary & managed53,3491,373(1,238)135(23)18770754,3551.0
Non-discretionary service7296(10)(4)(31)-13707(2.2)
Investec W&I42,6711,272(1,094)178(21)-44943,2771.7
Saunderson House 41,11941(181)(140)-(187)28820(50.0)
Total wealth management97,8682,692(2,523)169(75)-1,19799,1590.7
Single-strategy funds6,904371(476)(105)--466,845(6.1)
Execution only2,82272(166)(94)75-1002,903(13.3)
Total group107,5943,135(3,165)(30)--1,343108,907(0.1)
  • Breakdown of Investment Management FUMA and flows by channel
6 months ended 30 June 2024Opening FUMA (£m)Gross Inflows (£m)Gross Outflows (£m)Net Flows (£m)Transfers 1 (£m)SHL Migrated Assets (£m)Market & Investment Performance (£m)Closing FUMA (£m)Ann Net Growth 2 (%)
Total direct34,4111,479(1,512)(33)(152)-1,22435,450(0.2)
Total financial adviser linked14,348892(548)34415062544615,9134.8
Total discretionary service48,7592,371(2,060)311(2)6251,67051,3631.3
Execution only2,750158(359)(201)16111922,903(14.6)
Non-discretionary service75212(24)(12)(39)-6707(3.2)
Total Investment Management52,2612,541(2,443)981206261,86854,9730.4
Investec W&I42,2672,128(2,528)(400)(204)-1,61443,277(1.9)
Total Investment Management for enlarged group94,5284,669(4,971)(302)(84)6263,48298,250(0.6)
Q2 ended 30 June 2024Opening FUMA (£m)Gross Inflows (£m)Gross Outflows (£m)Net Flows (£m)Transfers 1 (£m)SHL Migrated Assets (£m)Market & Investment Performance (£m)Closing FUMA (£m)Ann Net Growth 2 (%)
Total direct35,127671(750)(79)(104)-50635,450(0.9)
Total financial adviser linked15,296424(276)1488118720115,9133.9
Total discretionary service50,4231,095(1,026)69(23)18770751,3630.5
Execution only2,82272(166)(94)75-1002,903(13.3)
Non-discretionary service7296(10)(4)(31)-13707(2.2)
Total Investment Management53,9741,173(1,202)(29)2118782054,973(0.2)
Investec W&I42,6711,272(1,094)178(21)-44943,2771.7
Total Investment Management for enlarged group96,6452,445(2,296)149-1871,26998,2500.6
(iV) Total Group FUMA
6 months ended 30 June 2024Opening FUMA (£m)Gross Inflows (£m)Gross Outflows (£m)Net Flows (£m)Transfers 3 (£m)SHL Migrated Assets (£m)Market & Investment Performance (£m)Closing FUMA (£m)Ann Net Growth 4 (%)
Rathbones Investment Management52,2612,541(2,443)981206261,86854,9730.4
Rathbones Asset Management13,7702,533(2,002)53184-92215,3077.7
Investec W&I42,2672,128(2,528)(400)(204)-1,61443,277(1.9)
Saunderson House 41,59058(238)(180)-(626)36820(22.6)
Total109,8887,260(7,211)49--4,440114,3770.1
Group eliminations 5(4,548)(1,168)531(637)--(285)(5,470)28.0
Total105,3406,092(6,680)(588)--4,155108,907(1.1)
  • Annualised net growth in flows calculated as net flows/opening FUMA.
  • Total funds under advice by Saunderson House, including those clients transferred to fellow group companies totalled £4.3 billion at 30 June 2024.
  • Group eliminations represent RAM funds which are held within portfolios managed by RIM (£5.2 billion) and IW&I (£0.2 billion) teams and Saunderson House (£0.1 billion) teams. Consequently, after excluding the RAM funds, the FUMA of each entity is £49.8 billion in RIM, £43.1 billion within IW&I and £0.7 billion within Saunderson House.

Interim results presentation:

A presentation detailing Rathbones' 2024 interim results is available on the investor relations website under the tab 'Results Presentations' (https://www.rathbones.com/investor-relations/results-and-presentations).

A presentation to analysts and investors will take place this morning at 10:00am at Peel Hunt's offices at 100 Liverpool Street, EC2M 2AT. Participants who wish to join the presentation virtually can do so by either joining the video webcast (https://www.investis-live.com/rathbone-brothers/666186c9806e6315001ab2b5/ioiy) or by dialling in using the conference call details below:

United Kingdom (Local): +44 20 3936 2999

United Kingdom (Toll-Free): +44 800 358 1035

Participant access code: 822572

Rathbones has over 3,500 employees in 23 locations across the UK and Channel Islands; its headquarters is 30 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7PG.

Group Chief Executive Officer's Review

A STRONG FIRST HALF FOCUSED ON DELIVERY

Rathbones has continued to focus on consolidating its position as the leading UK discretionary wealth manager, with total funds under management and administration ('FUMA') growing to £108.9 billion at 30 June 2024 (Q1 2024: £107.6 billion, FY 2023: £105.3 billion).

In the first six months of 2024, Rathbones has surpassed both the strategic and financial objectives we set out upon the announcement of the Investec Wealth & Investment ('IW&I') combination. We have achieved synergy realisation ahead of target, with run-rate synergies1 of £20 million delivered to the end of June 2024, well ahead of our year one post-combination objective of £15 million. These synergies have delivered a benefit to underlying operating profit for the six-month period of £8 million and we remain confident in the guidance set out at the time of the combination.

Our office consolidation programme is progressing at pace with six office integrations completed so far, including our London head office move to Gresham Street earlier this month. The remaining two co-located offices will complete during the remainder of 2024.

Work to develop our combined service proposition is also advancing well, with several propositions now aligned across the group.

In June, we launched successfully the InvestCloud Client Lifecycle Management system into the business in line with the budgeted investment we guided previously. This represents a key milestone for our digital programme and gives us a strong platform from which to build enhanced functionality and improve the client experience.

The migration of Saunderson House assets has been substantially completed, with the advice process to migrate assets to Rathbones investment propositions completed or in progress, with only a small residue of £0.2 billion yet to engage in the migration process.

Our underlying operating margin was 25.1% for the six months to 30 June 2024 (30 June 2023: 21.3%), in line with our target and showing significant progress towards our target of a 30%+ margin. We end the period in a strong position, with confidence in the prospects for our enlarged business and a clear focus on maintaining the momentum of delivery during the second half of the year.

MARKET BACKDROP

After a sustained period where equity market growth was dominated by a select number of companies, it was encouraging to see more of a recovery across a wider number of sectors and geographies in the first half of 2024, with investor sentiment towards the UK in particular emerging more positively towards the end of the period from a challenging few years. Portfolios in Rathbones Investment Management (RIM) and IW&I continue to target balanced and diversified positioning to enable clients to meet their long-term goals and aspirations.

The UK wealth management industry remains attractive, with its long-term structural drivers well documented. Our services and propositions are well placed to respond to external market conditions, along with varied and changing client preferences in a period of ongoing and significant regulatory change.

As a combined business with significant scale, Rathbones offers a compelling and diverse range of investment and advice solutions, while remaining commercially competitive. Whether through bespoke investment management, advice services, or unitised product offerings, we continue to develop our proposition suite to deliver a service that remains highly valued by clients and their families, building long-lasting relationships across generations over multiple planning and investment horizons.

PERFORMANCE, FUMA AND FINANCIAL REVIEW

Total gross inflows of FUMA were strong in the second quarter, up 3.3% to £3.1 billion relative to the first quarter (Q1 2024: £3.0 billion), exhibiting that the demand for investment management services continues to grow as the cost-of-living crisis begins to abate. Total gross outflows reduced 8.6% to £3.2 billion (Q1 2024: £3.5 billion) in the second quarter. Although gross outflows remain elevated, reflecting the impact that the prolonged higher interest rate environment has on debt servicing costs and the relative attraction of cash as an asset class, the reduction we have seen in the second quarter offers a greater degree of optimism that we are returning to more normalised outflow levels.

Net flows in RIM discretionary and managed propositions remained positive in the second quarter at £0.1 billion, resulting in £0.5 billion of net inflows for the first half of the year (30 June 2023: £0.2 billion).

Net flows in IW&I improved significantly, returning to positive territory in the second quarter with net inflows of £0.2 billion (Q1 2024: net outflows of £0.6 billion). This reflects both a significant reduction in gross outflows relating to investment managers who left the business prior to the announcement of the combination and improved gross inflows as client confidence in investment markets improves.

Despite renewed investor confidence and stability in the market, the asset management industry continued to face challenges. Performance in our single strategy funds, and in particular across our largest funds, remained resilient, however, limiting outflows to £0.1 billion in the second quarter (Q1 2024: £0.2 billion). There has been both stronger client interest in the Rathbone Global Opportunities Fund and a pickup in interest in the Rathbone UK Opportunities Fund, following strong recent performance and renewed interest in UK equities as an asset class. The small but consistent outflows from the single strategy funds have been offset by flows into our in-house and multi-asset fund range, supported by good performance, particularly over the medium and longer-term.

Underlying financial business performance

Total operating income for the group increased by 88.0% to £447.4 million (30 June 2023: £238.0 million). Legacy Rathbones operating income grew by 11.6% to £265.7 million on a like-for-like basis, driven by recurring investment management and asset management fees on higher average FUMA.

Net interest income also contributed £32.7 million to operating income in the first half, up from £23.0 million during the same period last year, reflecting the continuing higher interest rate environment and higher returns on treasury investments.

Total underlying operating expenses for the period were £335.3 million (30 June 2023: £187.2 million). The increase year-on-year reflects the impact of the integration, as well as annual salary increases, in addition to variable costs increasing in line with underlying profitability. Total underlying expenses also include £7.1 million of planned investment in our digital programme (30 June 2023: £6.0 million) with the remainder of the £15 million guided for the year to be spent in the second half of the year, as we undertake the planned post-implementation phase of system enhancement and complete the £45 million spend. An FSCS levy of £4.5 million was expensed in full in the first half, returning to what we currently expect to be more normal levels.

Underlying profit before tax totalled £112.1 million at 30 June 2024 (30 June 2023: £50.8 million), reflecting the inclusion of IW&I for the current six-month period, with an underlying operating margin of 25.1% (30 June 2023: 21.3%). This strong development from a lower 20s% margin last year to mid-20s% this year exhibits our progression towards a 30%+ margin target which we remain confident can be achieved within previously guided timescales.

Integration costs and statutory profit

Statutory profit before tax increased by 151.2% to £65.3 million (30 June 2023: £26.0 million), after expensing amortisation of client relationship intangible assets of £22.0 million (30 June 2023: £9.5 million) and integration related costs of £24.8 million (30 June 2023: £15.3 million) in the period. We continue to expect that total acquisition-related and integration costs of £177 million will be expensed over the next 2 - 3 years, partially funded by £45 million of capital left in IW&I by Investec at completion.

The successful assignment of our London head office lease at 8 Finsbury Circus, without incurring penalties or void rental periods, removes what was previously an area of risk to the overall cost of the integration. Employee incentive run-rates also remain in line with expectations. A full reconciliation between profit before tax and underlying profit before tax can be found in note 4 of the interim financial statements.

Our balance sheet remains strong and robust with a consistent Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 18.1% at 30 June 2024 (FY 2023: 17.8%), evidencing our resilient capital position. Our capital surplus of own funds (excluding year-to-date post-tax profits) over our regulatory capital requirement was £145.6 million at 30 June 2024 (FY 2023: £134.5 million). This significant surplus puts us in a strong position to fund integration costs over 2024/2025 and maintain our progressive dividend policy. As mentioned in our Q1 2024 update, the Trustees of Rathbones' two defined benefit pension schemes entered into an agreement with Canada Life to fully insure the benefits of members of both schemes in a "Buy-In" arrangement. This arrangement removes the future obligation on the group to fund these benefits and substantially de-risks the group's balance sheet. Subject to regulatory approval, we expect to be able to confirm the associated capital benefit by the end of this financial year.

INTERIM DIVIDEND

As with previous integrations, our progressive dividend policy looks through short-term events and we have therefore increased our interim dividend by 3.4% to 30p (30 June 2023: 29p), reflecting the strength of our balance sheet and our confidence in the future. The record date will be 6 September 2024 and the dividend will be paid on 1 October 2024.

INVESTEC WEALTH & INVESTMENT

The integration of IW&I is progressing well, and we continue to balance the execution of the integration with business-as-usual activity to deliver both our operational and strategic objectives.

The process of seeking clients' consent to move their accounts to RIM from IW&I is well underway. This process started with small pilots and has now moved to the full-scale process of communication which is currently ongoing. We have now written to circa 45% of clients, with the remainder to be contacted in the coming weeks. Response rates have been positive and in line with our expectations. Work will continue in earnest for the remainder of this year, and we remain confident in our ability to migrate clients in the first quarter of 2025. In preparation for client migration, our data teams have also carried out successful test migrations to ensure the smooth migration of client records following the completion of the consent process.

During the first half of the year, we successfully combined six of our dual sites across the UK, where both Rathbones and IW&I have offices, thereby significantly reducing property cost exposure and delivering the expected synergies. Our colleagues in Birmingham, Cheltenham, Exeter, Glasgow, and Edinburgh have been working in combined premises following their moves during the first half of the year, and our London colleagues have now also combined premises, moving out of Finsbury Circus and into Gresham Street earlier this month. Further regional office moves, including Bristol and Liverpool, will follow during the second half of the year. Associated costs to achieve this change are broadly as expected and the opportunity for teams to work collaboratively under one roof has been widely welcomed.

The combination presents the opportunity to provide a compelling range of services. In the first half we adopted IW&I's structured product and SIPP administration capabilities, and we are working to streamline MPS offerings across the combined group by leveraging the capability in Rathbones Asset Management. Greenbank is now being offered across the group, and our partnership with Investec Bank is working well, as we continue to see leads referred into the business.

There is a great deal of similarity in the core services of RIM and IW&I, and we are making tangible progress in the alignment of our marketing and distribution teams to ensure that we deliver propositions to market consistently across the wider group.

Investment manager turnover remains low across the combined business. In addition, work to bring client facing and support teams together is also progressing well with several key leadership changes below group executive level successfully enacted during the period. Each organisational change is subject to a strong governance and decision-making process that considers structure, capability, and diversity as well as adherence to synergy targets. This is a unique opportunity to leverage the considerable talent that exists across our combined business.

In our first quarter update in May 2024, we noted that we had achieved £10.6 million of the £15.0 million of run-rate synergies targeted for 2024. As at 30 June 2024, the run-rate synergies achieved had increased to £20 million, which represents a significant acceleration of delivery. These synergies have delivered a benefit to underlying operating profit for the six-month period of £8 million.

While it is reassuring to have delivered synergies ahead of expectations so far, our focus remains on the delivery of the remaining synergies, the total value of which we expect to remain consistent with our original objective of £60 million once the integration process is complete.

SAUNDERSON HOUSE

The migration of Saunderson House Limited ('SHL') is now substantially complete, with £4.3 billion of SHL connected FUMA as at 30 June 2024. Of assets of £0.8 billion not yet fully migrated, only £0.2 billion relates to clients that are yet to engage with the consent process.

This has been an important strategic deal for Rathbones, as our Saunderson House colleagues have significantly increased our capacity to offer financial planning services to more of our client base. Revenue generated on migrated assets totalled £17.2 million across the group in the first half as assets moved into both investment management and asset management solutions, with annualised revenue of £37.3 million. Run rate revenue margins were 114bps at 30 June 2024. In the second half of the year we expect to largely complete all systems integrations and closures that will enable us to deliver anticipated cost synergies.

The Saunderson House brand has now been decommissioned and the combined Rathbone Financial Planning business is now operating under the Rathbones brand.

IMPROVING OUR DIGITAL CAPABILITY

In June 2024, we launched successfully the InvestCloud Client Lifecycle Management ('CLM') system into the business with first stage functionality. We can now add improved capability throughout the rest of 2024 in advance of the IW&I migration in the first quarter of 2025. This has enabled us to leverage a modern solution that we can now build on to improve efficiency and client service. Improvements throughout 2024 will be to both digital onboarding and servicing.

As part of the overall integration with IW&I and our intention to adopt the best of both business' capabilities, we have also incorporated Salesforce and IRESS XPlan to provide common groupwide sales enablement and financial planning solutions. By blending MyRathbones provided by Objectway, InvestCloud, Salesforce and Charles River, we will have a modern and comprehensive suite of applications that will enable us to manage our client and adviser base more efficiently and effectively. Project costs for the full year ended 31 December 2024 are expected to be circa £15 million, bringing the total cost to £45 million over the project period, in-line with guidance. Following project completion in 2024, further developments in the capabilities will be met from normal change budgets, under the same approach that applies to our other applications.

MyRathbones continues to be used by an increasing portion of our client base, with 60% of clients now registered users, with an expectation these numbers will increase further as we move through the integration process.

INSPIRING OUR PEOPLE

I am sure that shareholders will recognise the amount of work involved in an integration of this size. We are proud of the substantial effort, commitment and skill that has been demonstrated by our colleagues in the business throughout the period, and, in particular, their success in maintaining the high standards of service that we continually strive to deliver for our clients. Aside from the inevitable uncertainties that are created over a period of change, we continue to prioritise timely communication, continual feedback, and engagement with colleagues as we work through the operational detail that supports progress toward our objectives.

Rathbones and IW&I teams are working closely and collaboratively, building relationships that will lay the foundations of the firm for many years to come. We remain committed to our DE&I objectives and to creating teams across the group that reflect both the best talent the business has to offer and the right balance for the combined organisation, supported by executive-sponsored working groups focussing on key areas where we think we will make a difference.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The most important external changes to the group's principal risks and uncertainties relate to the changing economic and political landscape under a new government. Otherwise, the principal risks and uncertainties set out in our 2023 annual report and accounts remain current and continue to receive management attention.

These are set out in the strategic report and group risk committee report in pages 82 to 86 and pages 107 to 109 of the 2023 annual report and accounts. Although we have not added any new material risks to our taxonomy this half year, there have been changes in how these risks are perceived. Change risk and integration risk remain elevated as we move through integration, and people risk is expected to increase as our teams set out their integration plans. These risks continue to receive a high degree of focus and management through our integration planning and governance processes. Pension risk exposure has reduced as a result of action taken by the pension scheme trustees to complete the buy-in process to insure the future liabilities of the schemes.

REGULATION

We remain committed to ensuring that the interests of our clients are at the forefront of everything we do. Our ongoing efforts to meet and exceed regulatory requirements are central to our commitment to maintaining client trust and long-term sustainable growth. We continue to have an ongoing constructive dialogue with all regulators and fully support the principles underlying Consumer Duty as we continue to proactively respond to regulatory requirements and changes.

GOING CONCERN

As set out in the statement of directors' responsibilities of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements, the directors believe that the group is well positioned to manage its business risks successfully. The group's financial projections, and the capital adequacy and liquidity assessment, which is required to apply severe but plausible stress scenarios to these projections, provide comfort that the group has adequate financial and regulatory resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

In forming their view, the directors have considered the group's prospects for a period exceeding 12 months from the date the condensed consolidated interim financial statements are approved.

OUTLOOK

The UK wealth market has continued to consolidate over the first half of the year. We continue to believe in the benefits of scale for enduring success in this industry, and the scale that our combined business now has, affords us independence, stability, more capacity to invest and a higher level of efficiency and optionality in how we operate and deliver for our clients, as well as being the employer of choice for the skills and talent we require for our future success.

Although our focus as a business, and for clients, is over the long term, the broader outlook for flows in the shorter-term is improving as client confidence to invest increases, helped by a more certain UK political backdrop, lower inflation and the increased likelihood of a reduction in interest rates. Our breadth of proposition, growing marketing and distribution capability and robust balance sheet will be the foundation on which we will take advantage of a structurally growing sector and achieve the financial objectives we aspire to.

Paul Stockton

Group Chief Executive Officer

1 This measure is considered an alternative performance measure (APM). Please refer to page 32 for more details on APMs.

CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2024

NoteUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Interest and similar income74.365.9128.8
Interest expense and similar charges(41.6)(42.9)(77.1)
Net interest income32.723.051.7
Fee and commission income415.7228.5538.6
Fee and commission expense(16.7)(14.1)(29.7)
Net fee and commission income399.0214.4508.9
Other operating income15.70.610.5
Operating income447.4238.0571.1
Charges in relation to client relationship intangible assets and goodwill14(22.0)(9.5)(25.2)
Acquisition-related and integration costs6(24.8)(15.3)(44.3)
Other operating expenses(335.3)(187.2)(444.0)
Operating expenses(382.1)(212.0)(513.5)
Profit before tax65.326.057.6
Taxation8(19.8)(6.3)(20.1)
Profit after tax45.519.737.5
Profit for the period attributable to equity holders of the company45.519.737.5

Other comprehensive income:

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

NoteUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Net remeasurement of defined benefit asset(10.4)(2.8)(5.8)
Deferred tax relating to the net remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme asset2.60.71.5
Other comprehensive income net of tax(7.8)(2.1)(4.3)
Total comprehensive income for the period net of tax attributable to equity holders of the company37.717.633.2
Dividends paid in and proposed for the period per ordinary share930.0p29.0p87.0p
Dividends paid in and proposed for the period31.017.062.9
Earnings per share for the period attributable to equity holders of the company:10
- basic43.9p33.6p52.6p
- diluted42.8p32.8p50.8p

The accompanying notes form an integral part of the condensed consolidated interim financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED INTERIM STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

As at 30 June 2024

NoteShare capital £mShare premium £mMerger reserve £mOwn shares £mRetained earnings £mTotal equity £m
At 1 January 20233.2310.077.0(52.6)297.2634.8
Profit for the period----19.719.7
Net remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme asset----(2.8)(2.8)
Deferred tax relating to components of other comprehensive income----0.70.7
Other comprehensive income net of tax----(2.1)(2.1)
Dividends paid----(33.4)(33.4)
Issue of share capital18-0.8---0.8
Share-based payments:
- cost of share-based payment arrangements----10.710.7
- cost of vested employee remuneration and share plans----(5.6)(5.6)
- cost of own shares vesting---11.4(11.4)-
- cost of own shares acquired---(6.7)-(6.7)
- tax on share-based payments----0.10.1
At 30 June 2023 (unaudited)3.2310.877.0(47.9)275.2618.3
Profit for the period----17.817.8
Net remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme asset----(3.0)(3.0)
Deferred tax relating to components of other comprehensive income----0.80.8
Other comprehensive income net of tax----(2.2)(2.2)
Dividends paid----(38.0)(38.0)
Issue of share capital182.21.5747.4--751.1
Share-based payments:
- cost of share-based payment arrangements----13.313.3
- cost of vested employee remuneration and share plans----(0.4)(0.4)
- cost of own shares vesting---1.6(1.6)-
- cost of own shares acquired---(9.3)-(9.3)
- tax on share-based payments----(0.4)(0.4)
At 31 December 2023 (audited)5.4312.3824.4(55.6)263.71,350.2
Profit for the period----45.545.5
Net remeasurement of defined benefit pension scheme asset----(10.4)(10.4)
Deferred tax relating to components of other comprehensive income----2.62.6
Other comprehensive income net of tax----(7.8)(7.8)
Dividends paid----(25.2)(25.2)
Issue of share capital18-2.4---2.4
Share-based payments:
- cost of share-based payment arrangements----14.814.5
- cost of vested employee remuneration and share plans----(4.4)(4.1)
- cost of own shares vesting---3.4(3.4)-
- cost of own shares acquired---(8.9)-(8.9)
- tax on share-based payments----0.70.7
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)5.4314.7824.4(61.1)283.91,367.3
Consolidated statement of financial position
AS AT 30 JUNE 2024
NoteUnaudited 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited 30 June 2023 £mAudited 31 December 2023 £m
Assets
Cash and balances with central banks1,033.01,141.91,038.3
Settlement balances371.7215.1165.7
Loans and advances to banks230.3139.5266.9
Loans and advances to customers11120.3143.4115.6
Investment securities:
- fair value through profit or loss-3.11.2
- amortised cost1,392.91,233.81,294.6
Prepayments, accrued income and other assets244.2152.2225.3
Property, plant and equipment1239.410.916.1
Right-of-use assets1351.637.364.5
Current tax assets6.49.23.9
Intangible assets14997.8347.21,025.3
Defined benefit pension scheme asset170.47.07.0
Total assets4,488.03,440.64,224.4
Liabilities
Deposits by banks19.417.212.4
Settlement balances406.4211.2172.1
Due to customers2,298.82,377.12,253.3
Accruals and other liabilities194.098.5209.6
Lease liabilities48.348.974.9
Current tax liabilities0.90.40.5
Net deferred tax liabilities79.89.986.0
Provisions for liabilities and charges1533.219.225.5
Subordinated loan notes1639.939.939.9
Total liabilities3,120.72,822.32,874.2
Equity
Share capital185.43.25.4
Share premium18314.7310.8312.3
Merger reserve18824.477.0824.4
Own shares(61.1)(47.9)(55.6)
Retained earnings283.9275.2263.7
Total equity1,367.3618.31,350.2
Total liabilities and equity4,488.03,440.64,224.4

The condensed consolidated interim financial statements were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 30 July 2024 and were signed on its behalf by:

Paul Stockton Iain Hooley

Group Chief Executive Officer Group Chief Financial Officer

Company registered number: 01000403

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2023

NoteUnaudited 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited 30 June 2023 £mAudited 31 December 2023 £m
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit before tax65.326.057.6
Change in fair value through profit or loss--(1.0)
Net interest income(32.7)(23.0)(51.7)
Net (recoveries)/impairment charges on loans and advances(0.1)(0.1)0.1
Net charge to income statement for provisions1510.17.39.4
Gain on modification of leases(12.9)--
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment36.817.047.1
Foreign exchange movements(0.2)3.93.4
Defined benefit pension scheme charges(0.2)(0.2)(0.5)
Defined benefit pension contributions paid(3.7)(0.2)(2.9)
Share-based payment charges1914.810.724.0
Interest paid(39.6)(34.5)(67.7)
Interest received104.549.6111.9
142.156.5129.7
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
- net (increase)/decrease in loans and advances to banks and customers(2.3)17.387.4
- net (increase)/decrease in settlement balance debtors(206.0)(149.3)133.3
- net increase in prepayments, accrued income and other assets(40.2)(14.9)(36.2)
- net increase/(decrease) in amounts due to customers and deposits by banks52.5(122.9)(251.5)
- net increase/(decrease) in settlement balance creditors234.3141.3(123.6)
- net increase/(decrease) in accruals, provisions and other liabilities(23.6)(20.9)1.0
Cash generated from/(used in) operations156.8(92.9)(59.9)
Tax paid(24.7)(8.7)(29.5)
Net cash inflow/(outflow) from operating activities132.1(101.6)(89.4)
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash acquired on acquisition of subsidiaries--172.6
Purchase of property, plant, equipment and intangible assets(35.6)(3.7)(10.7)
Purchase of investment securities(1,040.6)(1,083.9)(2,059.9)
Proceeds from sale and redemption of investment securities943.6899.61,818.1
Net cash used in investing activities(132.6)(188.0)(79.9)
Cash flows from financing activities
Issue of ordinary shares222.40.8-
Repurchase of ordinary shares22(8.9)(6.7)(16.0)
Dividends paid(25.2)(33.4)(71.4)
Payment of lease liabilities(5.3)(3.9)(7.5)
Interest paid(2.1)(2.6)(5.6)
Net cash used in financing activities(39.1)(45.8)(100.5)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents(39.6)(335.4)(269.8)
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period1,302.91,572.71,572.7
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period221,263.31,237.31,302.9

NOTES TO THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED interim financial statements

1 BASIS OF PREPARATION

Rathbones Group Plc ('the company') is the parent company of a group of companies ('the group') that is a leading provider of high-quality, personalised investment and wealth management services for private clients, charities and trustees. This includes discretionary investment management, unit trust management, tax planning, trust services, pension advice and banking services. The products and services from which the group derives its revenues are described on page 2 of the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 and have not materially changed since that date.

These condensed consolidated interim financial statements, on pages 7 to 29, are presented in accordance with United Kingdom adopted International Accounting Standard 34. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, using the accounting policies, methods of computation and presentation set out in the group's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. The condensed consolidated interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the group's audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

The information in these interim financial statements does not comprise statutory financial statements within the meaning of section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The comparative figures for the financial year ended 31 December 2023 are not the group's statutory accounts for that financial year. The group's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 have been reported on by its auditors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor on those financial statements was unqualified and did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis. It also did not contain a statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.

DEVELOPMENTS IN REPORTING STANDARDS AND INTERPRETATIONS

Standards and interpretations adopted during the current reporting period

  • Lease Liability in a Sale and Leaseback - Amendments to IFRS 16
  • Classification of liabilities as current or non-current (Amendments to IAS 1)
  • International Tax Reform - Pillar Two Model Rules (Amendments to IAS 12)

Future new standards and interpretations

The following standards are effective for annual periods beginning after 1 January 2025 and earlier application is permitted; however, the group has not early-adopted the amended standards in preparing these consolidated financial statements.

Standards available for early adoptionEffective date
Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Join Venture (Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28)Optional
Lack of Exchangeability (Amendments to IAS 21)01 January 2025
Amendments to the Classification and Measurement of Financial Instruments (Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS7)01 January 2026

None of the standards not yet effective are expected to have a material impact on the group's financial statements.

2 CHANGES IN SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accounting policies applied in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements are the same as those applied in the group's consolidated financial statements as at, and for the year ended, 31 December 2023.

3 CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION AND UNCERTAINTY

The group has reviewed the judgements and estimates that affect its accounting policies and amounts reported in its financial statements. Other than those noted below, these are unchanged from those reported in the group's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023.

3.1 BUSINESS COMBINATIONS (NOTE 5)

3.1.1 Investec Wealth & Investment

Intangible assets

In 2023, the group acquired the entire share capital of Investec Wealth & Investment Limited ('IW&I'). The group has accounted for the transaction as a business combination as set out in note 5.

The fair value of net assets acquired was determined to be £411.8 million. Goodwill of £340.1 million was recognised at acquisition, and represents the future economic benefit expected from an acquired workforce, expected future growth and future client relationships, as well as operational and revenue synergies. Goodwill was revalued in the period to £332.6 million. A reduction in goodwill of £8.2 million was attributable to the recognition of contingent consideration receivable owed to the group by the seller (see below for further detail). This was partially offset by a £0.7 million increase in goodwill attributable to a re-measurement of the acquired client relationship intangible assets and the related deferred tax liability (see below for further detail).

The allocation of goodwill between the group's cash-generating units has been based on their respective relative values. The allocation of goodwill is provisional and shall be reviewed and completed before the end of the first annual period after the acquisition. See note 14.

Client relationship intangible assets of £350.3 million were recognised at acquisition. A multi-period earnings model was used to value the intangible assets by using estimates of client longevity and investment performance to derive a series of discounted cash flows. This was determined with reference to management's best estimates of future performance and estimates of the return required to determine an appropriate discount rate. These assets are being amortised over an average useful economic life of 14 years. During the period, the intangible assets were remeasured in line with IFRS 3 and adjusted downwards by £1.2 million to reflect new information about facts and circumstances in existence at the acquisition date. The related deferred tax liability was also reduced accordingly by £0.5 million.

Contingent consideration receivable

At acquisition, the seller, Investec Bank plc, agreed to indemnify the cost of the fit-out works (in excess of any landlord incentives) to be carried out at 30 Gresham Street, which operates as the new London head-office for the enlarged group. Sufficient capital was to be left in IW&I at the time of completion to fund this. The costs of the fit-out are now expected to be higher than the original estimate at completion. The exact amount of the indemnified excess costs is not quantifiable until the fit-out works are completed and new lease terms are entered into. The current estimate leaves a shortfall of £8.2 million to be paid by Investec Bank plc.

In accordance with IFRS 3, as this amount is payable by the seller to the buyer under the acquisition agreements and is dependent on a future event, we consider the indemnification of the additional fit-out costs to be contingent consideration receivable. The standard notes that contingent consideration may include an acquirer's right to the return of previously transferred consideration. At the date of acquisition, the fair value of this receivable was assessed as nil, as the amount of excess capital left in IW&I was assumed to exactly cover the future fit-out costs. As the reassessment of the fair value at the reporting date is within the IFRS 3 measurement period, being 12 months from the date of acquisition, this is an adjustment to the acquisition accounting; recognition of a £8.2 million contingent consideration receivable has led to a corresponding reduction in goodwill.

Subsequent changes in the expected fit-out costs or lease incentives will require further re-measurement of the contingent consideration receivable; should these arise outside of the 12-month measurement period, these will be reflected through profit or loss.

Best expectations for the fit-out costs and landlord incentives have been used to arrive at the current estimate of £8.2 million. A range of outcomes for the value of the contingent consideration receivable is currently expected to be between £6.0 million and £12.0 million.

3.1.2 Saunderson House

Estimation uncertainty

In 2021, the group acquired the entire share capital of Saunderson House Limited as part of a business combination. The equity-settled deferred payments that are contingent on the recipients remaining employees of the group for a specific period under the Saunderson House Transaction Incentive Plan are accounted for as remuneration for ongoing services from employment. The group's estimate of the amounts ultimately payable will be expensed over the deferral period.

The amount payable under the Saunderson House Transaction Incentive Plan 2021 is subject to the achievement of certain operational and performance targets which are to be measured at 31 December 2024 ('the measurement date'). A profit or loss charge has been recognised in equity for the expected consideration payable.

Under the terms of the agreements, the award is calculated as 0.1% of funds under management ('FUM') at the measurement date of 31 December 2024. The key estimation uncertainty for this award is the value of the FUM at the measurement date. The key inputs to the estimated value of FUM at the measurement date are forecast market movements and estimated net inflows and outflows of FUM. In addition to the FUM-based award are integration and discretionary awards. The total of all awards payable under the scheme ranges from nil to a maximum possible award, payable in shares, of £7.5 million.

Should the maximum total award of £7.5 million become payable, it would result in an additional charge to profit or loss in the period of £0.9 million. A payment of nil would result in a reversal of the accumulated profit or loss charge recognised since commencement of the scheme of £4.3 million in the period.

3.2 RETIREMENT BENEFIT OBLIGATIONS (NOTE 17)

An insurance buy-in of the group's retirement benefits was completed during the period. An asset for the insurance contract was subsequently recognised at a fair value equivalent to the liabilities in the scheme. The liabilities continue to be revalued on a monthly basis in line with IAS 19, and the insurance asset is revalued accordingly by an equal and offsetting amount. The net impact on equity and total comprehensive income from future revaluations is expected to be nil. We therefore no longer consider this to be an area of estimation uncertainty.

4 SEGMENTAL INFORMATION

The group is organised into two reporting segments: Wealth Management and Asset Management. IW&I has been identified as a separate operating segment of the group. The results of this segment have been reported in aggregate with the group's previously existing Wealth Management segment, on the basis that their long-term characteristics are expected to align following the initial integration period of the business.

The principal activity of the Wealth Management segment is the provision of personalised discretionary investment management solutions to a range of clients. Wealth Management services offered to clients include bespoke portfolio management, managed service of ready-made diversified multi-asset portfolios and direct access to range of ready-made multi-asset funds. The Wealth Management segment also generates revenue through the provision of financial planning and advisory services.

The Asset Management segment offers a range of single-strategy and multi-asset funds to both retail and institutional investors. The range of funds available are designed to meet investors' core investment needs, or provide 'building blocks' for wealth solutions, with distribution primarily through UK advisors.

Centrally incurred shared service costs are allocated to these operating segments on the basis of the cost drivers that generate the expenditure; principally, these are the headcount of staff directly involved in providing those services from which the segment earns revenues and the value of funds under management and administration.

The allocation of these costs is shown in a separate column in the table opposite, alongside the information presented for internal reporting. Wealth Management Segmental Assets relate to assets held within the Investment Management, Banking and Trust businesses. Asset Management Segmental Assets are assets held solely within the Asset Management business. Unallocated Segmental Assets relate to the Net Defined Benefit Asset held on the statement of financial position.

Six months ended 30 June 2024 (unaudited)Wealth Management £mAsset Management £mShared Services £mTotal £m
Net investment management fee income285.538.5-324.0
Net commission income47.2--47.2
Net interest income31.80.9-32.7
Fees from advisory services and other income43.10.4-43.5
Operating income407.639.8-447.4
Staff costs - fixed(118.1)(3.9)(27.6)(149.6)
Staff costs - variable(64.4)(9.6)(9.8)(83.8)
Total staff costs(182.5)(13.5)(37.4)(233.4)
Other direct expenses(55.1)(7.4)(39.4)(101.9)
Allocation of shared services(70.6)(6.2)76.8-
Underlying operating expenses(308.2)(27.1)-(335.3)
Underlying profit before tax99.412.7-112.1
Charges in relation to client relationship intangible assets and goodwill (note 14)(22.0)--(22.0)
Acquisition-related and integration costs (note 6)(24.8)--(24.8)
Segment profit before tax52.612.7-65.3
Taxation (note 8)---(19.8)
Profit for the period attributable to equity holders of the company---45.5
Wealth Management £mAsset Management £mUnallocated Assets £mTotal £m
Segment total assets4,394.992.70.44,488.0
4 SEGMENTAL INFORMATION COntinued
Six months ended 30 June 2023 (unaudited)Wealth Management £mAsset Management £mShared Services £mTotal £m
Net investment management fee income138.831.1-169.9
Net commission income23.7--23.7
Net interest income22.20.8-23.0
Fees from advisory services and other income21.00.4-21.4
Operating income205.732.3-238.0
Staff costs - fixed(59.5)(3.7)(25.1)(88.3)
Staff costs - variable(31.6)(5.3)(7.0)(43.9)
Total staff costs(91.1)(9.0)(32.1)(132.2)
Other direct expenses(20.5)(6.2)(28.3)(55.0)
Allocation of shared services(53.0)(7.4)60.4-
Underlying operating expenses(164.6)(22.6)-(187.2)
Underlying profit before tax41.19.7-50.8
Charges in relation to client relationship intangible assets and goodwill (note 14)(9.5)--(9.5)
Acquisition-related and integration costs (note 6)(2.2)-(13.1)(15.3)
Segment profit before tax29.49.7(13.1)26.0
Taxation (note 8)---(6.3)
Profit for the period attributable to equity holders of the company---19.7
Wealth Management £mAsset Management £mUnallocated Assets £mTotal £m
Segment total assets3,276.0157.67.03,440.6
Year ended 31 December 2023 (audited)Wealth Management £mAsset Management £mShared Services £mTotal £m
Net investment management fee income350.164.7-414.8
Net commission income53.6--53.6
Net interest income49.91.8-51.7
Fees from advisory services and other income50.30.7-51.0
Operating income503.967.2-571.1
Staff costs − fixed(147.2)(7.1)(51.8)(206.1)
Staff costs − variable(78.2)(13.4)(15.9)(107.5)
Total staff costs(225.4)(20.5)(67.7)(313.6)
Other direct expenses(53.7)(12.2)(64.5)(130.4)
Allocation of shared services(119.4)(12.8)132.2-
Underlying operating expenses(398.5)(45.5)-(444.0)
Underlying profit before tax105.421.7-127.1
Charges in relation to client relationship intangible assets and goodwill (note 14)(25.2)--(25.2)
Acquisition-related and integration costs (note 6)(11.0)-(33.3)(44.3)
Segment profit before tax69.221.7(33.3)57.6
Taxation (note 8)---(20.1)
Profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the company---37.5
Wealth Management £mAsset Management £mUnallocated Assets £mTotal £m
Segment total assets4,099.6117.87.04,224.4

Included within Wealth Management operating income is £0.8 million (30 June 2023: £0.8 million; 31 December 2023: £1.5 million) of fees and commissions receivable from the Asset Management business. Inter-segment sales are charged on an arm's length basis.

The following table reconciles underlying operating expenses to operating expenses:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Underlying operating expenses335.3187.2444.0
Charges in relation to client relationships and goodwill (note 14)22.09.525.2
Acquisition-related and integration costs (note 6)24.815.344.3
Operating expenses382.1212.0513.5
GEOGRAPHIC ANALYSIS
Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
United Kingdom436.7229.7553.4
Channel Islands10.78.317.7
Operating income447.4238.0571.1

The group's non-current assets are substantially all located in the United Kingdom.

Timing of revenue recognition

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2023Audited Year to 31 December 2023
Wealth Management £mAsset Management £mWealth Management £mAsset Management £mWealth Management £mAsset Management £m
Products and services transferred at a point in time48.8-16.9-44.4-
Products and services transferred over time358.839.8188.832.3459.567.2
Operating income407.639.8205.732.3503.967.2

MAJOR CLIENTS

The group is not reliant on any one client or group of connected clients for generation of revenues. At 30 June 2024, the group provided wealth management services to 114,294 clients (30 June 2023: 68,629; 31 December 2023: 114,200).

5 BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

INVESTEC WEALTH & INVESTMENT

Total consideration transferred to Investec Bank plc of £751.9 million comprised a share issue of 27,056,463 ordinary shares and 17,481,868 convertible non-voting ordinary shares. Based on Rathbones' issued share capital at completion, the total shares transferred to Investec Bank plc amounted to an economic interest in Rathbones Group Plc of 41.25%, but in accordance with the terms of the acquisition 29.9% of the total voting rights in Rathbones.

As set out in note 3, at 30 June 2024, a £8.2 million contingent consideration receivable is due from Investec Bank plc to fund the fit-out costs at 30 Gresham Street, which were indemnified at the time of the acquisition. Sufficient capital was to be left in IW&I at the time of completion to fund this. The costs of the fit-out are now expected to be higher than the original estimate.

As this change has occurred within the 12-month IFRS 3 measurement period post-completion, this is an adjustment to the acquisition accounting; recognition of a £8.2 million contingent consideration receivable has led to a corresponding reduction in goodwill.

Deferred Incentive awards

Deferred awards and contingent payments were granted to a group of IW&I employees under the Rathbones Integration Incentive Scheme. These payments require the recipients of the awards to remain in employment with the group for the duration of the respective deferral periods, and therefore these amounts have not been included in the accounting for the acquisition under IFRS 3 Business Combinations. The cost for these equity-settled awards is being charged to profit or loss in line with IFRS 2 and spread over their vesting periods.

In May and June 2024, two additional awards were granted to a group of employees from Rathbones Group Plc, conditional upon the delivery of the integration plan for Rathbones clients. The integration awards are payable in cash in 2025 and 2027 and have been recognised in line with IAS 19.

The charge recognised in profit or loss for the above elements is as follows:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Incentivisation awards5.1-4.8

SAUNDERSON HOUSE LIMITED

Deferred payments

The group continues to provide for the cost of other deferred and contingent payments to be made to individuals required to remain in employment with the group for the duration of the respective deferral periods, as set out in note 8 of the 2023 annual report and accounts.

All of these payments are to be made entirely in shares and are being accounted for as equity-settled share-based payments under IFRS 2.

The charge recognised in profit or loss for the above elements is as follows:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Initial share consideration0.90.91.8
Incentivisation awards0.50.72.1
Total consideration1.41.63.9
6 ACQUISITION-RELATED AND INTEGRATION COSTS
Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Acquisition of Investec Wealth & Investment UK22.111.236.5
Acquisition of Saunderson House2.73.56.8
Acquisition of Speirs & Jeffrey-0.61.0
Acquisition and integration related costs24.815.344.3

COSTS RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION OF INVESTEC WEALTH & INVESTMENT

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Acquisition costs:
Acquisition-related legal and advisory costs-11.221.3
Integration costs:
Integration related staff costs15.5-6.2
Other integration costs6.6-9.0
22.111.236.5

Non-staff acquisition costs (Legal and Advisory fees) of £nil (30 June 2023: £11.2 million; 31 December 2023: £21.3 million) and integration costs of £nil (30 June 2023: £nil million; 31 December 2023: £9.0 million) have not been allocated to a specific operating segment (note 4).

COSTS RELATING TO THE ACQUISITION OF SAUNDERSON HOUSE

The group has incurred the following costs in relation to the acquisition of Saunderson House:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Acquisition costs:
Staff costs1.41.63.9
Integration costs1.31.92.9
2.73.56.8

Non-staff acquisition and integration costs of £nil (30 June 2023: £1.9 million; 31 December 2023: £2.9 million) have not been allocated to a specific operating segment (note 4).

7 EMPLOYEE NUMBERS

The average number of employees during the period, on a full time equivalent basis, was as follows:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2023Audited Year to 31 December 2023
Wealth Management2,2401,4931,686
Asset Management565252
Shared services1,226594760
3,5222,1392,498

8 TAXATION

The tax expense for the six months ended 30 June 2024 was calculated based on the estimated average annual effective tax rate. The overall effective tax rate for this period was 30.3% (six months ended 30 June 2023: 24.2%; year ended 31 December 2023: 34.9%).

The effective tax rate reflects the disallowable costs of the deferred consideration payments in relation to the acquisitions of Speirs & Jeffrey, Saunderson House and IW&I, as well as property related costs arising on the lease assignment of 8 Finsbury Circus.

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
United Kingdom taxation22.23.523.4
Overseas taxation excluding Pillar II income tax0.30.30.5
Overseas taxation relating to Pillar II income tax0.1--
Deferred taxation(2.8)2.5(3.8)
19.86.320.1

The statutory UK corporation tax rate for the year ending 31 December 2024 is 25.0% (2023: average rate of 23.5%).

The UK Government legislated in the Finance Act 2021 to increase the UK corporation tax rate from 19.0% to 25.0% from 1 April 2023. This has been reflected in the deferred tax calculations. Deferred income taxes are calculated on all temporary differences under the liability method using the rate expected to apply when the relevant timing differences are forecast to unwind.

On 11 July 2023, the government of the United Kingdom, being the jurisdiction where the parent company is incorporated, enacted the Pillar II income taxes legislation effective from 1 January 2024. Under the legislation, the parent company will be required to pay, in the United Kingdom, top-up tax on profits of its subsidiaries located in territories outside the United Kingdom that are taxed at an effective tax rate of less than 15.0%. As required by IAS 12 Income Taxes, Rathbones Group Plc has applied the exception to recognising and disclosing information about deferred tax assets and liabilities related to Pillar II income taxes.

9 DIVIDENDS

An interim dividend of 30.0p per share is payable on 1 October 2024 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 6 September 2024. The interim dividend has not been included as a liability in this interim statement. A final dividend for 2023 of 24.0p per share was paid on 14 May 2024.

10 EARNINGS PER SHARE

Earnings used to calculate earnings per share on the bases reported in these condensed consolidated interim financial statements were:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2023Audited Year to 31 December 2023
Pre-tax £mPost-tax £mPre-tax £mPost-tax £mPre-tax £mPost-tax £m
Underlying profit attributable to equity holders112.183.450.838.9127.196.8
Charges in relation to client relationships and goodwill (note 14)(22.0)(16.5)(9.5)(7.3)(25.2)(19.3)
Acquisition-related and integration costs (note 6)(24.8)(21.4)(15.3)(11.9)(44.3)(40.0)
Profit attributable to equity holders65.345.526.019.757.637.5

Basic earnings per share has been calculated by dividing profit attributable to equity holders by the weighted average number of shares in issue throughout the period, excluding own shares, of 103,695,582 (30 June 2023: 58,538,625; 31 December 2023: 71,269,129). This includes 17,481,868 convertible non-voting shares issued as consideration for the IW&I transaction. In total, 44,538,331 shares were issued as a result of the IW&I transaction on 21 September 2023.

Diluted earnings per share is the basic earnings per share, adjusted for the effect of contingently issuable shares under the Saunderson House initial share consideration and Executive Incentive Plan, Executive Share Performance Plan, employee share options remaining capable of exercise, expected shares to be issued under the Key Employee Equity Plan Support Function award, expected shares to be issued within the Rathbones Integration Incentive Award Scheme and any dilutive shares to be issued under the Share Incentive Plan, all weighted for the relevant period.

Unaudited 30 June 2024Unaudited 30 June 2023Audited 31 December 2023
Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period103,695,58258,538,62571,269,129
Effect of ordinary share options/Save As You Earn495,639558,416443,865
Effect of dilutive shares issuable under the Share Incentive Plan2,2331,4772,517
Effect of contingently issuable ordinary shares under the Executive Incentive Plan/Executive Share Performance Plan195,773597,431294,770
Effect of contingently issuable shares under Saunderson House initial share consideration272,952272,952272,952
Effect of expected shares to be issued under the Key Employee Equity Plan Support Function Award314,600-314,600
Effect of expected shares to be issued under the Rathbones Integration Incentive Scheme Award1,276,744-1,276,744
Diluted ordinary shares106,253,52359,968,90173,874,577
Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2023Audited Year to 31 December 2023

Earnings per share for the period attributable to equity holders of the company:

Unaudited 30 June 2024Unaudited 30 June 2023Audited 31 December 2023
- basic43.9p33.6p52.6p
- diluted42.8p32.8p50.8p

Underlying earnings per share for the period attributable to equity holders of the company:

Unaudited 30 June 2024Unaudited 30 June 2023Audited 31 December 2023
- basic80.4p66.4p135.8p
- diluted78.5p64.8p131.0p

Underlying earnings per share is calculated in the same way as earnings per share, but by reference to underlying profit after tax attributable to shareholders. The tax rate applied has been adjusted for tax deductible non-underlying costs, resulting in an adjusted tax rate of 25.6% (30 June 2023: 23.4%; 31 December 2023: 23.8%).

11 LOANS AND ADVANCES TO CUSTOMERS

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Overdrafts23.615.19.7
Wealth Management loan book93.5124.6101.7
Trust and financial planning debtors2.93.62.6
Other debtors0.30.11.6
120.3143.4115.6

12 PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

During the six months ended 30 June 2024, the group purchased assets with a cost of £28.5 million (six months ended 30 June 2023: £0.6 million; year ended 31 December 2023: £5.1 million), relating to office fit-out and refurbishment costs.

Due to the shortened useful economic life of the fixtures and fittings at 8 Finsbury Circus following the assignment of the property lease, impairment charges of £0.6 million have been recognised within non-underlying costs in the period. In addition to this, additional depreciation charges of £1.1 million (31 December 2023: £1.7 million) have been recognised within non-underlying costs, which represents the net uplift in costs against the previous monthly charges prior to the lease assignment taking place.

13 RIGHT-OF-USE ASSETS

Property £mMotor vehicles and equipment £mTotal £m
Cost
1 January 202490.10.390.4
Additions16.2-16.2
Disposals(38.5)-(38.5)
At 30 June 202467.80.368.1
Depreciation and impairment
1 January 202425.70.225.9
Charge in the period5.9-5.9
Disposals(15.3)-(15.3)
At 30 June 202416.30.216.5
Carrying amount at 30 June 2024 (unaudited)51.50.151.6
Carrying amount at 30 June 2023 (unaudited)37.10.237.3
Carrying amount at 31 December 2023 (audited)64.40.164.5

Following the acquisition of IW&I, the group's enlarged property portfolio was reviewed for leases that would require early termination. The most material impact is in relation to the London properties, where the group will vacate the property at 8 Finsbury Circus by 31 July 2024, prior to it's termination date, and relocate to office space at 30 Gresham Street. At the 2023 year end, the right-of-use asset in respect of the property at 8 Finsbury Circus was reviewed for impairment. An impairment charge of £2.1 million was recognised in non-underlying costs in 2023, and a further £0.4 million was recognised in the current period.

On 6 March 2024, the lease at 8 Finsbury Circus was assigned to a new tenant. As the original terms and conditions of the lease did not include an option to terminate the lease or reduce the lease term, this was treated as a lease modification. At the effective date of the modification, the lease liability was remeasured based on the remaining rental payments, the revised lease term and a revised incremental borrowing rate. The right-of-use asset was also revalued to reflect its reduced useful economic life. This resulted in a net gain to profit or loss of £12.9 million, which has been recognised in non-underlying costs.

In March 2024, the group entered into a lease agreement for additional floor space in the property at 30 Gresham Street. The cost of this lease represents a double-running of costs with 8 Finsbury Circus until that property is vacated. The property costs for the vacant properties which are not occupied by staff are recognised within non-underlying expenditure until the existing properties cease to be used and are vacated. At 30 June 2024, the IFRS 16 related property costs net of synergies for the group's London-based properties recognised as non-underlying comprised £0.2 million of depreciation charged on the right-of-use assets, and a net £0.2 million saving on interest charged on the lease liabilities. There were £0.8 million of ancillary property costs recognised within non-underlying costs in the period.

14 INTANGIBLE ASSETS

In 2023, goodwill of £340.1 million was recognised as part of the acquisition of IW&I (see note 5). During the period, goodwill was revalued to £332.6 million. A reduction of £8.2 million was attributable to the recognition of a contingent consideration receivable owed to the group by the seller (see note 2 for further detail). This was partially offset by a 0.7 million increase in goodwill attributable to a reduction in the acquired client relationship intangible assets and the related deferred tax liability (see below for further detail).

Goodwill has been provisionally allocated between the IW&I cash-generating unit ('CGU') and the Wealth Management group of CGUs in the year, before being reviewed for impairment. This allocation will be reviewed at 31 December 2024.

Client relationship intangible assets of £350.3 million were recognised as part of the acquisition of IW&I (see note 5). An average useful life of 14 years was assigned to these relationships, based on observed historic attrition rates. During the period, the intangible assets recognised on acquisition were re-measured in line with IFRS 3 and adjusted downwards by £1.2 million to reflect new information about facts and circumstances in existence at the acquisition date. The related deferred tax liability was reduced accordingly by £0.5 million.

Goodwill £mClient relationships £mSoftware development costs £mPurchased software £mTotal Intangible assets £m
Cost
At 1 January 2024509.7651.016.259.11,236.0
Internally developed in the period--0.4-0.4
Purchased in the period-5.0-1.56.5
Remeasurement of business combination (note 5)(7.5)(1.2)--(8.7)
Disposals-(0.9)--(0.9)
At 30 June 2024502.2653.916.660.61,233.3
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 January 20241.9148.311.848.7210.7
Charge in the period-22.01.12.625.7
Disposals-(0.9)--(0.9)
At 30 June 20241.9169.412.951.3235.5
Carrying value at 30 June 2024 (unaudited)500.3484.53.79.3997.8
Carrying value at 30 June 2023 (unaudited)167.7167.13.19.3347.2
Carrying value at 31 December 2023 (audited)507.8502.74.410.41,025.3

The total amount charged to profit or loss in the period, in relation to goodwill and client relationship intangible assets, was £22.0 million (six months ended 30 June 2023: £9.5 million; year ended 31 December 2023: £25.2 million)

IMPAIRMENT

The recoverable amounts of the operating segments to which goodwill is allocated are assessed for impairment using value-in-use calculations. The group prepares cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent financial budgets approved by the board, which cover the three year period from the end of the current financial year. This is extrapolated for five years based on recent historic annual revenue and cost growth for each group of CGUs, adjusted for significant historic fluctuations in industry growth rates where relevant, as well as the group's expectation of future growth.

A five-year extrapolation period is chosen as this aligns with the period covered by the group's Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process ('ICAAP') modelling. A terminal growth rate is applied to year five cash flows, which takes into account the net growth forecasts over the extrapolation period and the long-term average growth rate for the industry. The group estimates discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the operating segments.

At 31 December 2023, the pre-tax rate used to discount the forecast cash flows was 14.1% for the Wealth Management operating segment and 15.0% for the IW&I operating segment. These are based on a risk-adjusted weighted average cost of capital. The group judges that these discount rates appropriately reflect the markets in which each operating segment operates.

There was no indication of impairment to the goodwill allocated to the Wealth Management operating segment or to the IW&I operating segment during the period. The group has considered any reasonably foreseeable changes to the assumptions used in the value-in-use calculations and the level of risk associated with the cash flow projections. Based on this assessment, no such change would result in an impairment of goodwill.

15 PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES

Deferred, variable costs to acquire client relationship intangibles £mDeferred and contingent consideration in business combinations £mLegal and professional, and compensation £mProperty- related £mOnerous Contract £mTotal £m
At 1 January 20234.4-2.75.8-12.9
Charged to profit or loss--7.30.2-7.5
Unused amount credited to profit or loss--(0.3)--(0.3)
Net charge to profit or loss--7.00.2-7.2
Other movements1.6----1.6
Utilised/paid during the period(1.7)-(0.8)--(2.5)
At 30 June 2023 (unaudited)4.3-8.96.0-19.2
Charged to profit or loss--1.8-1.23.0
Unused amount credited to profit or loss-(0.1)(0.8)--(0.9)
Net charge to profit or loss-(0.1)1.0-1.22.1
Acquisitions through business combinations (Note 5)-3.41.95.4-10.7
Other movements1.0----1.0
Utilised/paid during the period(0.6)-(6.9)--(7.5)
At 31 December 2023 (audited)4.73.34.911.41.225.5
Charged to profit or loss--(0.2)12.9-12.7
Unused amount credited to profit or loss--(0.3)(2.3)-(2.6)
Net charge to profit or loss--(0.5)10.6-10.1
Other movements5.0-0.4--5.4
Utilised/paid during the period(5.2)(0.7)(0.7)-(1.2)(7.8)
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)4.52.64.122.0-33.2
Payable within one year0.22.63.515.0-21.3
Payable after one year4.3-0.67.0-11.9
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)4.52.64.122.0-33.2

DEFERRED, VARIABLE COSTS TO ACQUIRE CLIENT RELATIONSHIP INTANGIBLE ASSETS

DEFERRED CONSIDERATION IN BUSINESS COMBINATIONS

Deferred Consideration in Business Combinations relates to Investec Wealth & Investment's deferred consideration provision on their acquisition of Murray Asset Management. The Share Centre deferred consideration provision was settled in March 2024, on transfer of the assets to Rathbones Asset Management Limited.

LEGAL AND PROFESSIONAL, AND COMPENSATION

During the ordinary course of business the group may, from time to time, be subject to complaints, as well as threatened and actual legal proceedings (which may include lawsuits brought on behalf of clients or other third parties) both in the UK and overseas. Any such material matters are periodically reassessed, with the assistance of external professional advisers where appropriate, to determine the likelihood of the group incurring a liability. In those instances where it is concluded that it is more likely than not that a payment will be made, a provision is established to the group's best estimate of the amount required to settle the obligation at the relevant statement of financial position date. The group's best estimate is based on legal advice and management's expectation of the most likely settlement outcome, which in some cases is calculated by external professional advisers. The timing of settlement of provisions for client compensation or litigation is dependent, in part, on the duration of negotiations with third parties.

PROPERTY-RELATED

Property-related provisions of £22.0 million relate to dilapidation provisions expected to arise on leasehold premises held by the group and a lease incentive payable in respect of 8 Finsbury Circus, which is discussed in further detail below (30 June 2023: £6.0 million; 31 December 2023: £11.4 million).

During the six months ended 30 June 2024, the group utilised £nil in relation to dilapidations (30 June 2023: £nil; 31 December 2024: £nil). The impact of discounting led to an additional charge of £1.8 million (30 June 2023: additional charge of £0.2 million; 31 December 2023: additional charge of £0.2 million) being recognised during the period.

On 6 March 2024, the group assigned its lease at 8 Finsbury Circus to a new tenant. As part of the sale contract, the group agreed to pay a reverse premium of £11.2 million to the new tenant when the property is vacated on completion. £7.5 million of this total is to be held in escrow and drawn down by the tenant over 2 years on the anniversary of the completion date. As payment is probable and the group has a present obligation to fulfil the obligation, a provision for the full amount was recognised in the period. The charge to profit or loss has been recognised within non-underlying costs.

At the date the lease was assigned, all existing liabilities transferred to the new tenant, including the group's £2.3 million dilapidations obligation relating to the property. As payment by the group is no longer probable, a present obligation to recognise a provision no longer exists. Therefore, this liability was released to profit or loss in the period; this gain has been recognised in non-underlying costs.

As part of the lease assignment, the group agreed to enter into an Authorised Guarantee Agreement, which holds the group liable to the landlord for any rental payments that the new tenant may default on over the remaining nine-year lease term. Due to the assumed low probability of default by the tenant and the option for the group to reassign the lease in case of a default, no liability has been recognised in relation to this agreement.

See note 13 for further detail of lease modifications in the period relating to the group's London properties.

ONEROUS CONTRACT

In 2023, the group terminated a support agreement with a third-party service provider. The onerous element of the contract represented a cost of £1.2 million to the group, which was recognised as a provision at the year end. This provision has been settled in full during the period.

AMOUNTS PAYABLE AFTER ONE YEAR

Property-related provisions of £7.0 million are expected to be settled within 11 years of the statement of financial position date, which corresponds to the longest lease for which a dilapidations provision is being held. Remaining provisions payable after one year are expected to be settled within ten years of the statement of financial position date.

16 SUBORDINATED LOAN NOTES

Unaudited 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited 30 June 2023 £mAudited 31 December 2023 £m
Subordinated loan notes
- face value40.040.040.0
- carrying value39.939.939.9

Rathbones Group Plc holds £39.9 million of 10-year tier 2 notes with a call option in October 2026 and annually thereafter. Interest is payable at a fixed rate of 5.642% per annum until the first call option date in 2026, and at a fixed rate of 4.893% over Compounded Daily SONIA thereafter. Legal fees of £0.1m were incurred in issuing the notes, which have been accounted for in the carrying value of amortised cost.

17 LONG-TERM EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

The group operates two defined benefit pension schemes providing benefits based on pensionable salary for staff employed by the company. For the purposes of calculating the pension benefit obligations, the following assumptions have been used:

Unaudited 30 June 2024 % p.a.Unaudited 30 June 2023 % p.a.Audited 31 December 2023 % p.a.
Rate of increase of pensions in payment:
- Laurence Keen Scheme3.703.603.70
- Rathbone 1987 Scheme3.003.202.90
Rate of increase of deferred pensions3.203.303.10
Discount rate5.105.104.40
Inflation*3.203.303.10
Percentage of members transferring out of the schemes per annum2.002.002.00
Average age of members at date of transferring out (years)52.5052.5052.50
Average duration of defined benefit obligation (years):
- Laurence Keen Scheme12.0012.0012.00
- Rathbone 1987 Scheme16.0016.0016.00

* Inflation assumptions are based on the Retail Price Index

Unaudited 30 June 2024Unaudited 30 June 2023Audited 31 December 2023
MalesFemalesMalesFemalesMalesFemales
Retiring today22.924.623.425.022.824.5
Retiring in 20 years24.426.224.926.724.326.1

The amount included in the statement of financial position arising from the group's obligations in respect of the schemes is as follows:

Unaudited 30 June 2024Unaudited 30 June 2023Audited 31 December 2023
Rathbone 1987 Scheme £mLaurence Keen Scheme £mRathbone 1987 Scheme £mLaurence Keen Scheme £mRathbone 1987 Scheme £mLaurence Keen Scheme £m
Present value of defined benefit obligations(85.1)(6.6)(85.8)(6.9)(93.8)(7.3)
Fair value of scheme assets85.36.891.97.899.98.2
Total surplus0.20.26.10.96.10.9

On 9 April 2024 both Schemes invested in a bulk annuity policy to match their liabilities as part of a "buy-in" process. The Schemes' assets are now therefore almost entirely invested in the bulk policies, with some residual funds in the Schemes' bank accounts. In accordance with IAS 19, the fair value of the bulk annuity policies has been calculated to be equal to the value of the liabilities the policies cover.

The group made lump sum contributions into its pension schemes totalling £3.7 million during the period (30 June 2023: £0.2 million; 31 December 2023: £3.0 million).

Following the purchase of the bulk annuities which match the Schemes' liabilities, the risks relating to interest rates, inflation and mortality, have been transferred to the insurer. The residual risks to the group arising from both schemes are in respect of counterparty default risk and the risk that there are changes to the premium.

The analysis of the scheme assets, measured at bid prices, at the statement of financial position date was as follows;

Rathbone 1987 SchemeUnaudited six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited year to 31 December 2023 £mUnaudited six months to 30 June 2024 %Unaudited six months to 30 June 2023 %Audited year to 31 December 2023 %
Equity instruments------
Debt instruments------
Self Sufficiency Credit Funds-90.098.4-98.099.0
Cash0.21.91.50.22.01.0
Annuities85.1--99.8--
At period end85.391.999.9100.0100.0100.0
Laurence Keen SchemeUnaudited six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited year to 31 December 2023 £mUnaudited six months to 30 June 2024 %Unaudited six months to 30 June 2023 %Audited year to 31 December 2023 %
Equity instruments------
Debt instruments - United Kingdom corporate bonds-0.30.4-4.05.0
Self Sufficiency Credit Funds-7.37.7-93.093.0
Cash0.30.20.14.43.02.0
Annuities6.5--95.6--
At period end6.87.88.2100.0100.0100.0

18 SHARE CAPITAL, SHARE PREMIUM AND MERGER RESERVE

The following movements in share capital, share premium and the merger reserve occurred during the period:

Number of voting ordinary sharesNumber of non-voting ordinary sharesExercise price penceShare capital £mShare premium £mMerger reserve £mTotal £m
At 1 January 202363,394,837-3.2310.077.0390.1
Shares issued:
- to Share Incentive Plan38,544-1,574.0 - 2,160.0-0.8-0.8
- to Save As You Earn scheme-------
- to Employee Benefit Trust-------
At 30 June 2023 (unaudited)63,433,381--3.2310.877.0390.9
Shares issued:
- in relation to business combinations27,056,46317,481,8681,635.9 - 1,722.02.2-747.4749.6
- to Share Incentive Plan94,285-1,574.0 - 2,160.0-1.5-1.5
- to Save As You Earn scheme-------
At 31 December 2023 (audited)90,584,12917,481,868-5.4312.3824.41,142.1
Shares issued:
- to Share Incentive Plan139,206-1,556.0 - 1,790.0-2.3-2.3
- to Save As You Earn scheme4,809-1,365.0-0.1-0.1
- to Employee Benefit Trust69,000-5.0----
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)90,797,14417,481,868-5.4314.7824.41,144.5

On 21 September 2023, the company issued to Investec Bank plc 27,056,463 of ordinary shares at £17.22 per share, and 17,481,868 of convertible non-voting ordinary shares at £16.36 per share.

Share issue costs of £2.2 million were offset against the merger reserve.

At 30 June 2024, the group held 4,612,655 own shares (30 June 2023: 4,122,553; 31 December 2023: 4,443,517).

19 SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

The group recognised total expenses of £14.8 million (30 June 2023: £10.7 million, 31 December 2023: £24.0 million) in relation to share-based payment transactions in the period. This includes the staff costs in relation to the acquisitions of Speirs & Jeffrey, Saunderson House and IW&I, reported within acquisition-related costs (note 6).

20 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENT

The table below analyses the group's financial instruments measured at fair value into a fair value hierarchy based on the valuation technique used to determine the fair value.

  • Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.
  • Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data.
At 30 June 2024 (unaudited)Level 1 £mLevel 2 £mLevel 3 £mTotal £m
Financial assets
Fair value through profit or loss:
- equity securities----
----
At 30 June 2023 (unaudited)Level 1 £mLevel 2 £mLevel 3 £mTotal £m
Financial assets
Fair value through profit or loss:
- equity securities--3.13.1
--3.13.1
At 31 December 2023 (audited)Level 1 £mLevel 2 £mLevel 3 £mTotal £m
Financial assets
Fair value through profit or loss:
- equity securities--1.21.2
--1.21.2

The group recognises transfers between levels of the fair value hierarchy at the end of the reporting period during which the change has occurred. There have been no transfers between levels during the period.

The fair values of the group's other financial assets and liabilities not measured at fair value are not materially different from their carrying values with the exception of the following:

  • Debt securities that are classified and measured at amortised cost comprise bank and building society certificates of deposit, which have fixed coupons, and treasury bills. The fair value of debt securities at 30 June 2024 was £1,393.4 million (30 June 2023: £1,234.2 million; 31 December 2023: £1,296.8 million) and the carrying value was £1,392.9 million (30 June 2023: £1,233.8 million; 31 December 2023: £1,294.6 million). Fair value is based on market bid prices and hence would be categorised as level 1 within the fair value hierarchy.
  • Subordinated loan notes (note 16) represent Tier 2 capital for regulatory capital purposes. The fair value of the loan notes at 30 June 2024 was £35.5 million (30 June 2023: £37.3 million; 31 December 2023: £37.4 million) and the carrying value was £39.9 million (30 June 2023: £39.9 million; 31 December 2023: £39.9 million). Fair value of the loan notes is based on discounted future cash flows using current market rates for debts with similar remaining maturity, and hence would be categorised as level 2 within the fair value hierarchy.

LEVEL 3 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Fair value through profit or loss

At 31 December 2023, the group held 517 shares in Euroclear Holdings SA (which were valued at £1.2 million by reference to the price secured from the sale of 1,292 of the group's shares during 2023), which are classed as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy, since readily available observable market data is not available.

During the six months to 30 June 2024, the group sold its total remaining shares in Euroclear at the same price used to value its shareholding at 31 December 2023.

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
At 1 January1.23.23.1
Total unrealised gains/(losses) recognised in profit or loss-(0.1)1.0
Total disposals(1.2)-(2.9)
At end of period-3.11.2

EXPECTED CREDIT LOSS PROVISION

The expected credit loss provision is recalculated on a quarterly basis and recognised in the statement of financial position. The provision calculated is immaterial.

21 CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND COMMITMENTS

  • Indemnities are provided in the normal course of business to a number of directors and employees who provide tax and trust advisory services in connection with them acting as trustees and/or directors of client companies and providing other services.
  • Capital expenditure authorised and contracted for at 30 June 2024 but not provided for in the condensed consolidated interim financial statements amounted to £14.2 million (30 June 2023: £0.5 million; 31 December 2023: £14.0 million).
  • The contractual amounts of the group's commitments to extend credit to its clients are as follows:
Unaudited 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited 30 June 2023 £mAudited 31 December 2023 £m
Undrawn commitments to lend of one year or less14.515.911.8
Undrawn commitments to lend of more than one year0.65.63.6
15.121.515.4
  • The arrangements put in place by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) to protect depositors and investors from loss in the event of failure of financial institutions may result in significant levies on the industry. The financial impact of unexpected FSCS levies is largely out of the group's control as they result from other industry failures.

There is uncertainty over the level of future FSCS levies as they depend on the ultimate cost to the FSCS of industry failures. The group contributes to the deposit class, investment fund management class and investment intermediation levy classes, and accrues levy costs for future levy years when the obligation arises.

22 CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

For the purpose of the consolidated interim statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents comprise the following balances with less than three months until maturity from the date of acquisition:

Unaudited 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited 30 June 2023 £mAudited 31 December 2023 £m
Cash and balances at central banks1,033.01,139.01,036.0
Loans and advances to banks230.398.3266.9
1,263.31,237.31,302.9
Cash flows arising from issue of ordinary shares comprise:
Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Share capital issued (note 18)--2.2
Share premium on shares issued (note 18)2.40.82.3
Merger reserve on shares issued (note 18)--747.4
Shares issued in relation to share-based schemes for which no cash consideration was received--(751.9)
Proceeds from issue of share capital2.40.8-
Shares repurchased and placed into the employee benefit trust(8.9)(6.7)(16.0)
Net repurchase of ordinary shares(6.5)(5.9)(16.0)

In 2023, £751.9 million of shares were issued as consideration of the IW&I transaction. There was no cash consideration received for this transaction.

During the current period, £8.9 million of shares were repurchased and placed into the group employee benefit trust (30 June 2022: £6.7 million; 31 December 2023: £16.0 million).

23 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

The key management personnel of the group are defined as the company's directors and other members of senior management who are responsible for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the group.

Dividends totalling £0.1 million were paid in the period (six months ended 30 June 2023: £0.2 million; year ended 31 December 2023: £0.3 million) in respect of ordinary shares held by key management personnel.

At 30 June 2024, key management personnel and their close family members had gross outstanding deposits of £2.2 million (30 June 2023: £2.0 million; 31 December 2023: £1.0 million). A number of the company's directors and their close family members make use of the services provided by companies within the group. Charges for such services are made at various staff rates.

As at 30 June 2024 there was a net payable balance with Investec Bank plc of £16.9 million (30 June 2023: £nil; 31 December 2023: £8.3 million). The balance outstanding as at the reporting date is predominantly related to IW&I employee salary costs and associated payroll taxes which are outsourced to Investec Bank plc under the TSA.

The total expense recognised for TSA and OSA services in the period are as follows:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Expense incurred under TSA6.5-4.8
Expense incurred under OSA4.5--
11.0-4.8

IW&I partially sublets certain regional office space to Investec Bank plc subsidiary companies and charges Investec Bank plc for the use of research. Total fees receivable under these arrangements at 30 June 2024 are as follows:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Research fees0.3-0.3
Property fees0.2-0.1
0.5-0.4

One group subsidiary, Rathbones Asset Management Limited, has authority to manage the investments within a number of unit trusts. During the first half of 2024, the group managed 28 unit trusts, Sociétés d'Investissement à Capital Variable (SICAVs) and open-ended investment companies (OEICs) (together, 'collectives') (six months ended 30 June 2023: 26 collectives; year ended 31 December 2023: 28 collectives).

The following transactions and balances relate to the group's interest in the unit trusts:

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Total management fees40.433.869.6

Total management fees are included within 'fee and commission income' in the consolidated interim statement of comprehensive income.

Unaudited Six months to 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited Six months to 30 June 2023 £mAudited Year to 31 December 2023 £m
Management fees owed to the group6.95.96.5

Management fees owed to the group are included within 'accrued income' and holdings in unit trusts were classified as 'fair value through profit or loss' in the consolidated interim statement of financial position. The maximum exposure to loss is limited to the carrying amount on the consolidated interim statement of financial position as disclosed above.

All amounts outstanding with related parties are unsecured and will be settled in cash. No guarantees have been given or received. No provisions have been made for doubtful debts in respect of the amounts owed by related parties.

24 EVENTS AFTER THE BALANCE SHEET DATE

An interim dividend of 30.0p per share was declared on 30 July 2024 (note 9).

There have been no other material events occurring between the balance sheet date and 30 July 2024.

REGULATORY CAPITAL

As a banking group, Rathbones is required to operate in accordance with the requirements relating to capital resources and banking exposures prescribed by the Capital Requirements Regulation, as applied in the UK by the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA).

The group is required to ensure it maintains adequate capital resources to meet its combined Pillar 1, Pillar 2 requirements and buffer requirements.

The increase in own funds in the period of £16.2 million was largely attributable to a reduction in intangible assets (£22.5 million) and the pension asset (£6.6 million). This was offset by a £9.8 million reduction in reserves, which resulted from share-based awards vesting, and an increase of £5.5 million in own shares held. This resulted in a capital surplus at 30 June 2024 of £145.6 million, up from £134.5 million at 31 December 2023.

REGULATORY OWN FUNDS

The group's regulatory own funds (excluding profits for the six months ended 30 June, which have not yet been independently verified, but including independently verified profits to 31 December) are shown in the table below:

Unaudited 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited 30 June 2023 £mUnaudited 31 December 2023 £m
Share capital and share premium320.1314.0317.7
- Reserves1,078.3337.31,088.1
Less:
- prudent valuation of assets held at fair value through profit or loss---
- own shares(61.1)(47.9)(55.6)
- intangible assets (net of deferred tax)(889.3)(318.6)(911.8)
- pension asset(0.4)(7.0)(7.0)
Total Common Equity Tier 1 capital447.6277.8431.4
Tier 2 capital40.040.040.0
Total own funds487.6317.8471.4
The group's own funds requirements were as follows:
Unaudited 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited 30 June 2023 £mUnaudited 31 December 2023 £m
Own funds requirement for credit risk, counterparty credit risk and settlement risk75.660.172.3
Own funds requirement for market risk---
Own funds requirement for operational risk121.865.9121.7
Pillar 1 own funds requirement197.4126.0194.0
Pillar 2A own funds requirement39.539.639.4
Total Pillar 1 and 2A own funds requirement236.9165.6233.4
CRD IV buffers:
- capital conservation buffer (CCB)61.739.460.6
- countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB)43.414.742.9
Total Pillar 1 and 2A own funds requirement and CRD IV buffers342.0219.7336.9
Total capital surplus145.698.1134.5

OWN FUNDS REQUIREMENTS

The group is required to hold capital to cover a range of own funds requirements, classified as Pillar 1, Pillar 2 and buffers.

PILLAR 1 - OWN FUNDS REQUIREMENT

Pillar 1 determines a total risk exposure amount (also known as 'risk-weighted assets') for the group, taking into account expected losses in respect of the group's exposure to credit, counterparty credit, market and operational risks, and sets a minimum requirement for the amount of capital the group must hold.

At 30 June 2024, the group's risk-weighted assets were £2,467.4 million (30 June 2023: £1,575.7 million; 31 December 2023: £2,425.6 million).

PILLAR 2A - OWN FUNDS REQUIREMENT

The Pillar 2A own funds requirement is set by the PRA as part of its supervisory review process and the calculation of it remains confidential to the PRA. The requirement reflects those risks that are specific to the firm that are not fully captured under the Pillar 1 own funds requirement. The group-specific risks that are reflected in the Pillar 2A requirement are set out below:

Pension obligation risk

The potential for additional unplanned capital strain or costs that the group would incur in the event of a significant deterioration in the funding position of the group's defined benefit pension schemes. See note 17 for further detail on the movement in the year to the net defined benefit pension asset and the pension buy-in in the period.

Interest rate risk in the banking book

Concentration risk

Greater potential exposure as a result of the concentration of borrowers located in the UK than other overseas jurisdictions.

The group is also required to maintain a number of regulatory capital buffers, all of which must be met with CET1 capital.

Capital conservation buffer (CCB)

The CCB is a general buffer, designed to provide for losses in the event of a stress, and is set by the PRA. The CCB is set at 2.5% of the group's total risk exposure amount as at 30 June 2024.

Countercyclical capital buffer (CCyB)

The CCyB is designed to act as an incentive for banks to constrain credit growth in times of heightened systemic risk. The value of the buffer is calculated as a percentage of the group's total risk exposure amount. For UK credit risk exposures, the percentage rate that applies is set by the Financial Policy Committee ('FPC'). For other jurisdictions where the group has exposures, the percentage rate applicable to each jurisdiction is applied.

The percentage buffer rate for UK exposures is currently 2.0%. The group has relevant credit exposures in other jurisdictions where a different rate applies, resulting in a weighted rate of 1.76% as at 30 June 2024.

ALTERNATIVE PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Alternative Performance Measures (APM) are financial measures of historical or future financial performance, financial position, or cash flow, other than a financial measure under IFRS.

The following table provides a reconciliation of underlying performance measures to the closest equivalent IFRS measure;

Unaudited 30 June 2024 £mUnaudited 30 June 2023 £mAudited 31 December 2023 £m
Operating income447.4238.0571.1
Underlying operating expenses(335.3)(187.2)(444.0)
Underlying profit before tax 1112.150.8127.1
Charges in relation to client relationships and goodwill(22.0)(9.5)(25.2)
Acquisition-related costs(24.8)(15.3)(44.3)
Profit before tax65.326.057.6
Taxation(19.8)(6.3)(20.1)
Profit after tax45.519.737.5
Operating margin14.6%10.9%10.1%
Underlying operating margin 225.1%21.3%22.3%
Weighted average number of shares in issue103.7m58.5m71.3m
Earnings per share (p)43.933.652.6
Underlying earnings per share (p) 380.466.4135.8
  • Operating income less underlying operating expense
  • Underlying profit before tax as a percentage of operating income
  • Underlying profit after tax divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue

integration synergies (group ceo's review)

Cost synergies arising in relation to the integration of Rathbones and IW&I are quantified by reference to the cost base for the 2022 financial year, being the baseline for synergy measurement. Synergies are deemed to have been delivered at the point the related action has been implemented. The term 'run rate' refers to the annual cost saving that will arise from the point of delivery onwards.

Charges in relation to client relationship intangible assets and goodwill (note 14)

As explained in notes 1.14 and 2.1 of the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023, client relationship intangible assets are recognised when the group acquires a business or investment management contracts as a result of the recruitment of experienced investment managers who have the capability to attract significant FUMA to the group.

These intangible assets are amortised over the expected duration of the respective client relationships. The amortisation is charged to the income statement each year. This represents a significant non-cash profit and loss item which is therefore excluded from underlying profit in order to present an alternative measure that represents largely cash-based results of the financial reporting period. Research analysts commonly exclude these amortisation costs when comparing the performance of firms in the wealth management industry.

Acquisition-related costs (note 6)

Acquisition and integration related costs are significant non-recurring costs which arise from strategic investments to grow the business rather than from the business' operating activities and are therefore excluded from underlying results.

These costs primarily comprise professional fees directly related to the execution of the relevant transaction, certain elements of deferred consideration which are conditional upon continuing employment with the group and the costs of integrating the acquired businesses with those of the existing group.

During the six months ending 30 June 2024, £6.5 million of deferred consideration payments (30 June 2023: £2.2 million; 31 December 2023: £9.7 million) and £18.3 million of integration costs (30 June 2023: £13.1 million; 31 December 2023: £34.6 million) were charged to the income statement.

Taxation (note 8)

The corporation tax charge for the six months ended 30 June 2024 was £19.8 million (30 June 2022: £6.3 million; 31 December 2023: £20.1 million) (see note 8). The effective tax rate for the period ended 30 June 2024 is 30.3% (30 June 2023: 24.2%; 31 December 2023 34.9%). The effective tax rate reflects the disallowable costs of the deferred consideration payments in relation to the acquisitions of Speirs & Jeffrey, Saunderson House and IW&I, as well as property related costs arising on the lease assignment of 8 Finsbury Circus.

Basic earnings per share (note 10)

Basic earnings per share for the six months ended 30 June 2024 were 43.9p (30 June 2023: 33.6p; 31 December 2023: 52.6p). The increase in the period reflects the growth in profit as a result of the IW&I merger which has been partially offset by the increased number of shares and the increase in the statutory rate of tax.

On an underlying basis, basic earnings per share were 80.4p at 30 June 2024, compared to 66.4p at 30 June 2023 (31 December 2023: 135.8p). The increase in the period is due to increased underlying profit after tax which has been partially offset by the increased number of shares and the increase in the statutory rate of tax.

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES

IN RESPECT OF THE INTERIM STATEMENT

CONFIRMATIONS BY THE BOARD

We confirm to the best of our knowledge:

  • the condensed set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with United Kingdom adopted International Accounting Standard 34;
  • the interim management report includes a fair view of the information required by:

GOING CONCERN BASIS OF PREPARATION

Details of the group's results, cash flows and resources, together with an update on the risks it faces and other factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position, are set out in this interim management report.

Group companies are regulated by the PRA and FCA and perform annual capital adequacy and liquidity assessments, which include the modelling of certain extreme stress scenarios. The group publishes Pillar 3 disclosures annually on its website, which provide further detail about its regulatory capital resources and requirements. During the first half of 2024, and as at 30 June 2024, the group was primarily equity-financed, with a small amount of gearing in the form of the Tier 2 debt.

The group's financial projections and the capital adequacy and liquidity assessments provide comfort that the group has adequate financial and regulatory resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, we continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the condensed consolidated interim financial statements. In forming our view, we have considered the company's prospects for a period exceeding 12 months from the date the condensed consolidated interim financial statements are approved.

By order of the board

Paul Stockton

Group Chief Executive Officer

INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO

RATHBONES GROUP PLC

CONCLUSION

We have been engaged by the company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 June 2024 which comprises the consolidated interim statement of comprehensive income, consolidated interim statement of changes in equity, consolidated interim statement of financial position and consolidated interim statement of cash flows and related notes 1 to 24.

BASIS FOR CONCLUSION

As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with United Kingdom adopted international financial reporting standards. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with United Kingdom adopted International Accounting Standard 34, "Interim Financial Reporting".

CONCLUSION RELATING TO GOING CONCERN

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE DIRECTORS

AUDITOR'S RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION

USE OF OUR REPORT

Deloitte LLP

Statutory Auditor

London, United Kingdom

Cleaned text: letterheads, contacts and legal notices removed. View the original announcement ↗ · Company filings. Not investment advice.

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