Aug 2010 this was 35p - yet now it's 2.6p

Anyone understand this, or was the earlier sp too much "hope" -
I understand the other hire co Ashtead is down also.
Any views - ?

to new highs today

and a follow through this morning 5.77p now

Results due any day now.

Final Results

Operational and financial headlines

· Adjusted* operating profit of £8.0m (2012: £1.4m)
· Adjusted* profit before taxation of £4.3m (2012: loss of £4.1m)
· Adjusted* basic EPS 1.25p (2012: EPS 1.13p loss)
· Net cash inflow from operating activities of £31.2m (2012: £21.1m)
· Net cash inflow to EBITDA ratio of 197.7% (2012:140.7%)
· Debtor days reduced to a record 126 days from 165 days
· Net cash of £1.1m (2012: net debt of £110.8m)
· Open case count reduced by a further 10,000 cases to 39,000 cases
· Return to dividend list - special dividend for the year of 0.165 pence paid on 24 July 2013
· First interim dividend for 2014 declared of 0.110 pence and payable on 25 October 2013
· £4.3m in dividends paid or declared since raising £25.6m in March 2013 placing

Commenting on the Group's results and prospects, Martin Ward, Chief Executive Officer, said:



"We are pleased to report that the business has completed some significant changes to its financial structure, business model and cash profile during the year. The Group is now generating cash, is profitable and has shareholders' funds of over £77m. Significantly, we have returned to the dividend list with total dividends of £4.3m paid or declared. This is an outcome of the implementation of a number of changes made to build a more sustainable business model which has better secured the margins in the business as well as a renewed confidence from our long-standing shareholders who supported our financial restructuring plans in March 2013. Our people have played an important part in driving this change and we look forward to making further improvements going forward.



In a market that has remained challenging and competitive against a background of falling national accident rates our focus on providing a quality service to all of our Partners and their customers has been a key driver in our goal for success. The improvements in our operational systems and processes together with the efficiency and transparency achieved when presenting claims to insurers has also contributed to reducing debtor days to a record 126 days which is probably one of the best in the industry."

On the road to recovery with these results - mind the gap on skinny's chart, post 24!

From Paul Scott:

Helphire management pulled off a remarkable turnaround, somehow persuading the Bank to write off a large chunk of the bank debt, plus they have drastically reduced debtor days, and pretty much fixed all the other legacy issues (e.g. surplus properties), and even resumed dividends. I was expecting about £7.5m underlying profit, but they have delivered £8.0m, so these results are good.

With 1.561m shares in issue by the year end, following a Placing, you need to be careful when looking at EPS, because that has been calculated using a weighted average number of shares of 653.8m for basic EPS, and 780.1m for diluted. So you cannot just take the 1.25p basic EPS and say that it's on a PER of 4.5, at 5.6p per share, since that would give a misleading result for the future, given the larger number of shares now in issue.

I cannot find any broker forecasts for the current year, so it's not the easiest share to value at the moment. However, the way I look at it, is that in a turnaround year they made an underlying profit of £8.0m, so there should be upside on that figure going forwards. Also, it is now completely debt-free, including vehicle finance, and paying dividends again, so taking that all into account the market cap of £87m at 5.6p per share doesn't look expensive to me.

Debtor days are at a record low of 126 days, since Helphire now work collaboratively with insurance companies. Indeed I note that their largest shareholder is Aviva. Another dividend has been declared, for 0.11p which goes ex-divi on 9 Oct 2013. The strength of the Bal Sheet is now such that I would expect another special dividend in due course.

There is further upside from the eventual settlement of the Autofocus dispute, where insurers relied on false data on hire pricing rates, and are now liable to pay compensation to companies such as HelpHire. I am not sure of the likely amount there, but it's just icing on the cake, and some of the figures being talked about are pretty substantial. So all in all, it looks like a solid hold to me, although I am keen to see some up-to-date broker research, if anyone has any.



I see that the market is not really sure how to react to the Helphire figures, and after initially being up, the shares are now down 11% to just over 5p. I think that is a pretty good entry price actually - perhaps some investors have been spooked by all the exceptionals (none of which were new though, all previously disclosed), or the outlook statement?
- See more at: http://www.-.co.uk/content/small-cap-value-report-27-sep-hhr-77637/#sthash.hqLsscNF.dpuf

Director Shareholders

Hawk Investment Holdings Limited* 17.95%
Raymond McKeeve 2.20%
David Wright 1.68%
Brian Blasdale 1.10%
Gene Golembiewski 0%
* A Company beneficially owned by Bob Morton and his wife.

Other Shareholders

Hargreave Hale 11.18%
Graham Herring 5.59%
Gary Wyatt 4.75%
Michael Richards 3.55%

Looks ready to bounce from here.

On the move now, immediate target 6p - and then there's a nice gap!

Something has sparked this off now - tipped somewhere?

Almost there .

AGM Statement

At today's AGM, Avril Palmer-Baunack, chairman of Helphire Group plc will be
making the following statement by way of an update on current trading of the
business in respect of the period from 1 July to 27 November 2013. Unless
otherwise stated, the financial and operational data, where identified, relates
to the 4 month period that ended on 31 October 2013.

Current Trading

The Group's new financial year has begun well. Trading profits for the first
four months of the year are ahead of the corresponding period last year. Early
indications are that this trend has continued during November and the Board is
confident about the Group's prospects for the financial year as a whole.

Cash generation has continued to be positive and debtor days at 31 October 2013
were in accordance with our expectations at 128 days, reflecting seasonal
variations (30 June 2013: 126 days) and compare to 153 days at 31 October 2012.
Net cash was £4.3 million at 31 October 2013, (30 June 2013: net cash of £1.1
million), and compares to net debt of £101.0 million at 31 October 2012.

As previously reported, the refinancing of the Group that was completed on 28
March 2013 has put the Group on a much stronger footing and has raised the
Group's stature in the marketplace. As a consequence, the Group is being
invited to participate in an increasing number of commercial and other
opportunities which, if consummated, could provide a platform for more
significant growth in the future.

Autofocus

The Group has made good progress in the preparatory stages of the Autofocus
litigation and we have now identified several thousand cases that may have been
compromised as a result of unreliable evidence used by defendant insurers.
These cases are going through due process, which will allow the Group to
represent its losses to insurers. Subject to being satisfied that we have
identified the full extent of our losses, we expect to begin settlement
negotiations with insurers over the coming months. We intend, where possible,
to resolve matters with insurers without litigation. It would not be
appropriate to speculate on the outcome of any negotiations at this stage, but
we will provide an update when we are able to do so.

Dividends

The Group paid a first interim dividend for the year to 30 June 2014 of 0.110
pence per ordinary share (approximately £1.7 million in aggregate) on 25
October 2013. A total of £4.3 million has been paid in dividends since the
completion of the refinancing in March 2013.

In the absence of unforeseen circumstances, the Board intends to announce a
second interim dividend for the current year as part of its announcement of
results for the six months ending 31 December 2013. The Board expects the
second interim dividend to be 0.171 pence per ordinary share (approximately £
2.7 million in aggregate).

The Group's dividend policy is unchanged since the refinancing and remains to
distribute as much of the Group's profits by way of dividend as it can, taking
account of prevailing circumstances and other requirements or commitments.

£60M Placing to Fund Strategic Growth and Notice of GM

£60M PLACING TO FUND STRATEGIC GROWTH

Introduction

The Board of Helphire is pleased to announce that it has conditionally raised
£60 million (before expenses) by the proposed issue of 1,153,846,160 Ordinary
Shares at 5.2 pence per share. The net proceeds of the Placing of approximately
£57.5 million will be used to allow Helphire to continue its development as a
leading accident management services group.

The Placing is conditional upon, among other things, the approval of
Shareholders at the General Meeting. A circular relating to the Placing
containing a notice convening the General Meeting is expected to be posted to
Shareholders today.

Background and reasons for the Placing

Helphire's financial position has improved markedly through its refinancing,
which was completed in March 2013, and improved trading. The Group's financial
position has been transformed, it has returned to profitability and it has
recommenced dividend payments. Helphire is now in a position to grow its
business and intends to use the net proceeds of the Placing to fund its
strategic growth plans.

The Group is firmly established as a leader in the motor vehicle accident
management market. For many years the Group has provided its customers with a
comprehensive replacement vehicle and repair service, managed incidents for its
customers and arranged personal injury legal services for them. Using ABS
licensed entities, the Group intends to develop a top tier UK personal injury
legal services business in order to provide a comprehensive range of services
to its referral partners. The Group is actively considering acquiring
additional businesses in the accident management supply chain, including (but
not limited to) legal businesses, in order to build its presence in the market
more rapidly and has identified a shortlist of potential targets.

Dividends

The Company has decided to accelerate the date for payment of the second
interim dividend for the current year so that it is paid by reference to the
pre-Placing shareholder register. The second interim dividend will be paid on
10 January 2014 to those Shareholders on the register at the close of business
on 13 December 2013.

In addition, in the absence of unforeseen circumstances, the Board intends to
announce a third interim dividend for the current year in late February 2014 as
part of its announcement of results for the six months ending 31 December 2013.
Any third interim dividend will be payable in March 2014.

Placing

The Placing is not underwritten, but the Placing Shares have been conditionally
placed by Cenkos Securities, as agent for the Company, with institutional and
other investors in accordance with the terms of the Placing Agreement.

The Placing Agreement is conditional upon, among other things, certain
resolutions being passed at the General Meeting, Admission of the Placing
Shares becoming effective before 8.00 a.m. on 24 December 2013 (or such later
time and/or date as the Company and Cenkos Securities may agree, but in any
event by no later than 8.00 a.m. on 7 January 2014), the performance by the
Company of its obligations under the Placing Agreement and the satisfaction or,
where appropriate, the waiver of certain other conditions set out in the
Placing Agreement.

Subject to Admission, the Company will issue 1,153,846,160 Ordinary Shares to
raise £60 million before the expenses of the Placing (approximately £57.5
million after expenses).

The Placing Shares will represent approximately 42.3 per cent. of the Enlarged
Share Capital. The Placing Shares will, following Admission, rank in full for
all dividends and distributions declared, made or paid in respect of the issued
Ordinary Share capital of the Company by reference to record dates falling on
or after their date of issue and otherwise rank pari passu in all other
respects with the Existing Ordinary Shares. The Placing Shares will not qualify
for the second interim dividend.

The Placing Price represents a premium to the closing mid-market price of 0.2
per cent. per Ordinary Share as at 4 December 2013 (being the latest
practicable date prior to the date of this document).

Dividend Declaration Payment of Second Interim Dividend

Accelerated Payment of Second Interim Dividend

In connection with the Group's proposed fundraising, which was announced today,
the Group has decided to accelerate the payment of the second interim dividend
for the current year so that it is paid by reference to the pre-placing
shareholder register.

On 27 November 2013, Helphire indicated its intention to announce a second
interim dividend for the current year with the publication of its results for
the six months ending 31 December 2013 and that the Board expected the second
interim dividend to be 0.171 pence per ordinary share (approximately £2.7
million in aggregate).

The Board confirms that the second interim dividend will be 0.171 pence per
ordinary share and that it will now be brought forward so that it is paid on 10
January 2014 to those shareholders on the register at the close of business on
13 December 2013.

In addition, in the absence of unforeseen circumstances, the Board intends to
announce a third interim dividend for the current year in late February 2014
when releasing its results for the six months ending 31 December 2013. Any
third interim dividend will be payable in March 2014.

Henderson Global Investors > 5%

Moore Europe Capital Management, LLP > 8%

Invesco Limited > 29%

Zooming ahead today.

Trying 6p again and then the gap.

Tipped in the Sunday papers.