Kingston Communications is an established UK communications company. The Group's national business-to-business capabilities encompass the provision of fully integrated and managed network solutions, complemented by the delivery of voice, data and call handling services in the towns and cities served by the Kingston Communications network. This infrastructure comprises twenty-five metropolitan fibre networks and a long distance broadband network, which was initiated for service in May 2001. Kingston's new media activities include the DSL-based interactive television service, KIT, and satellite broadband content, storage and distribution arm, Kingston inmedia. The Group's East Yorkshire network operation has served business and residential customers since 1904.

KCOM strengthens its board

StockMarketWire.com

KCOM Group has appointed Patrick De Smedt as a non-executive director with effect from 28 January and as senior independent director from Tony Illsley's retirement in July.

De Smedt held a number of senior positions in Microsoft between 1983 and 2006. During this time he founded the Benelux subsidiaries, led the development of its Western European business and served as chairman of Microsoft for Europe, Middle East and Africa. He has subsequently undertaken a range of non-executive roles with a number of European and private organisations.

The group said Illsley has indicated his intention to retire from the board at the annual general meeting on 22 July after seven years with the business. De Smedt will be appointed as SID with effect from Tony's retirement.

Final Results

Highlights
· Progress in all key focus areas leads to year on year growth
· Important progress with our enterprise customers, increasing our services to HMRC and securing further new business including ATOC, BUPA and Shoosmiths
· Accelerated fibre deployment and strong take-up, making ultra-fast broadband available in Hull and East Yorkshire. Approximately 150,000 premises will be passed by December 2017
· Successful launch of single business under new KCOM brand
· National network asset disposal for £90.0 million strengthening the balance sheet, supporting accelerated investment and underpinning medium term dividend commitment
· Pre-exceptional EBITDA ahead of prior year at £74.9 million. Depreciation and amortisation from increased investment reduces pre-exceptional operating profit to £50.9 million (2015: £57.2 million). Reported operating profit is £91.8 million (2014: £22.4 million)
· Adjusted basic EPS 7.54 pence (2015: 7.91pence)
· Proposed final dividend of 3.94 pence (2015: 3.58 pence), resulting in full year dividend of 5.91 pence (2015: 5.37 pence). Dividend guidance of no less than 6.00 pence per annum for each of the next two financial years reiterated
· Strong year end net funds position of £7.4 million, reflecting network sale proceeds and increase in net cash inflow from operations

Consistent!

finnCap Corporate 105.88 130.00 130.00 Reiterates

Peel Hunt Buy 115.00 - 150.00 Initiates/Starts

KCOM Group appoints Jane Aikman as Chief Financial Officer


KCOM Group today announces that Jane Aikman has been appointed as Chief Financial Officer and will join the Board with immediate effect.

Jane has held a number of Executive level positions, including her most recent role as Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Phoenix IT Group Plc up until its acquisition by, and merger with, Daisy Group.

Previously, she was Chief Financial Officer of Infinis plc, Wilson Bowden plc and Pressac plc. She spent five years in South East Asia with Asia Pulp and Paper Co Limited and three years as an internal audit manager with GEC Alsthom. She qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young.

Bill Halbert, Chief Executive said "I am delighted to welcome Jane to the company and to the Board. She brings with her a wealth of relevant industry experience and will give fresh perspectives to discussions at both a Board and senior leadership level. I look forward to working with her."

Jane will stand for election by the shareholders at the company's AGM in July 2017.

As previously announced, Paul Simpson resigned from the company's Board as planned on 30 September 2016. The Group will announce its interim results on 29 November 2016.

For the purposes of Listing Rule 9.6.13, Jane was a Director of Infinis Plc from July 2007 to March 2012, Halma Plc from August 2007 to July 2016 and Phoenix IT Group Plc from August 2012 to July 2015. Jane was a Director of Pressac plc and Pressac Investments Limited when an administrative receiver was appointed to each of those companies on 17 March 2006. Jane has confirmed that, other than as set out in this announcement, there are no further disclosures to be made under Listing Rule 9.6.13.


- ends -

From yesterday :- KCOM GROUP PLC (KCOM.L) ANNOUNCES UNAUDITED INTERIM RESULTS TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2016


Highlights

· Further progress with our strategy:
· Shift in Enterprise focus towards high value integration and cloud based solutions
· Accelerated fibre deployment in Hull and East Yorkshire, with market leading take-up
· Integration of the business behind a single brand, enabled by investment in systems and processes
· Banking facility extended giving 5 year period on existing terms
· Interim dividend of 2.00 pence (2015: 1.97 pence)
· Reconfirming dividend commitment of no less than 6.00 pence per annum for current and next financial year

30 Nov finnCap Corporate 100.25 130.00 130.00 Reiterates


29 Nov Peel Hunt Buy 100.25 150.00 150.00 Reiterates

Barclays Capital Equal weight 90.25 105.00 105.00 Upgrades

From yesterday :-

The Board of KCOM is pleased to announce that it has appointed Investec Bank plc ("Investec") as the Group's Joint Financial Adviser and Joint Corporate Broker with immediate effect. Investec will act alongside Joint Broker Peel Hunt LLP.

Preliminary results 6th June.

Final Results

Highlights

· Results in line with expectations, reduction from last year largely due to continuing decline in legacy business and additional cost of the national fibre network outsource
· Continued investment in fibre network in Hull & East Yorkshire ahead of schedule, supporting a 3% increase in consumer sales
· Enterprise revenue grown by 5%, with top five customers growing by 16%
· Continued focus on optimising cost base with year-on-year reduction in indirect costs
· Strengthened management team and organisation, aligned to deliver our medium term strategy
· Strong cash management with favourable year-on-year underlying working capital movement
· Recommended final dividend of 4.00p to make 6.00p per share for the full year

finnCap Corporate 92.38 130.00 130.00 Reiterates

Peel Hunt Buy 92.38 150.00 150.00 Reiterates

Decision time.

Get ready to sell, imo. (Bearing in mind that contrarians are generally correct when I give trading tips!).

Peel Hunt Buy 98.13 150.00 150.00 Reiterates

The problem is that KCOM brokers have been reiterating similar for years.

Fill the gap!

28 November 2017 Interim results

Filled!

Confirmation :-

KCOM Group plc, a leading provider of communications services and IT solutions to organisations and consumers, will announce interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2017 on Tuesday 28 November 2017.

Half-year Report

KCOM Group PLC (KCOM.L) announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended
30 September 2017.

Key points

· Hull & East Yorkshire revenue increased by 1% compared to first half last year
― Growth in each of its core channels, 4% revenue growth in Consumer
· Enterprise revenue has grown by 1%
― Further growth impacted by the UK General election and proposed exit of a previously identified software contract
· Group revenue reduced by 8% driven by expected decline in its legacy activities within National Network Services
· Continued focus on cost base - indirect costs 12% lower than first half last year
· Profit before tax reduced by 8%
― Expected decline in legacy activities and the impact of the previously identified software contracts in Enterprise, which resulted in the recognition of both incurred losses of
£1.7 million and provisions of £4.5 million
― Ongoing depreciation and amortisation impact of continued investments in Hull & East Yorkshire infrastructure
· On track to make fibre available to the final 25% of premises in Hull & East Yorkshire addressable market by March 2019
· Net debt stands at £67.8 million, driven predominantly by continued capital investment
· Interim dividend of 2.00p, consistent with stated dividend commitment

more.....

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Group has a number of risks and uncertainties which have been identified through the risk management framework. The risks set out below could have a material adverse impact on the Group:

· growing revenue in our Enterprise segment to offset the decline of network-based revenue - revenue from legacy activities may decline faster than the revenue from new services grows;

· substitute technologies entering the consumer market - the development of substitute technologies without the need for a fixed line could present a competitive threat within the consumer part of our business;

· upgrading of our network equipment - our equipment requires upgrading as demand for broadband and cloud-based services increases;

· accuracy, security and confidentiality of customer data - security of customer data is of paramount importance to our customers and therefore to us;

· customer service, contract governance and delivery - the delivery of our complex contracts is a key part of the success our Enterprise segment and providing exceptional service to our customers is one of our key strategic aims. Failure to govern contracts sufficiently may have reputational or financial impact.

· security and resilience of our networks and IT systems - our networks and IT systems are key to all that we do and are crucial in delivering service to our customers;

· a breach of our regulatory obligations - we take our regulatory responsibilities extremely seriously and seek to ensure we are compliant;

· health and safety - it is important to mitigate health and safety risks as far as possible to prevent incidents from occurring; and

· flooding - flooding (particularly in Hull) has become an increasingly regular occurrence and could impact our business if we don't take appropriate steps to mitigate the risks.


More detail of the Group's risks are shown on pages 26 to 29 of the Annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 March 2017 and it is the view of the directors that these risks and uncertainties remain appropriate for this interim statement.

Forward looking statements

Certain statements in this interim statement are forward looking. Although the Group believes that the expectations reflected in these forward looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Because these statements involve risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward looking statements.

We undertake no obligation to update any forward looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.