This press release is not for publication or distribution, directly or indirectly in the United States of America, Australia, Canada and Japan, or any other country in which its publication or distribution is prohibited by the applicable legislation. This press release does not constitute an offer of securities. The securities referred to in this press release are not, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933. Certain financial information may not have been audited, reviewed or verified by any independent accounting firm.

***

INTERMONTE PARTNERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS APPROVES 2021

CONSOLIDATED ACCOUNTS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

THE INTERMONTE GROUP CLOSED 2021 WITH

REVENUES UP 7.7% TO Eu43.8mn FROM 2020

GROUP ADJUSTED NET PROFIT ROSE 17.0% TO Eu9.1mn

CAPITAL RATIOS AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE ITALIAN FINANCIAL SECTOR

(TOTAL CAPITAL RATIO 44.0%)

APPROVAL OF Eu0.26 PER SHARE DIVIDEND PROPOSAL, RESOLUTION TO START

BUYBACK PLAN ON UP TO 340,000 SHARES FOR A MAXIMUM OF Eu1,2mn

Milan, 17.03.2022 - on 16th March 2022 the Board of Directors of Intermonte Partners SIM S.p.A. (hereafter the "Company" and, together with its subsidiaries, "Intermonte" or the "Group") approved the Company's financial statements and the consolidated accounts of the Intermonte Group for the financial year ending 31st December 2021.

During 2021, the Intermonte Group increased its revenues by 7.7% to Eu43.8mn (Eu40.7mn in FY20) thanks to positive contributions from all areas, especially Investment Banking and Sales & Trading. Costs, net of extraordinary expenses related to the IPO, were up 3.5%, highlighting a cost/income ratio of 67.2% and a compensation to revenue ratio of 45.3%. Consolidated net profit adjusted for extraordinary items was up 17.0%, closing at Eu9.1mn (from Eu7.8mn in FY20). Including the extraordinary costs, consolidated net profit came to Eu7.2mn. The Group closed 2021 with a Total Capital Ratio of 44.0%, highlighting the significant available capital to support both the distribution of dividends and the launch of new initiatives. The Intermonte Partners Board of Directors will propose to the shareholders' meeting the distribution of a Eu0.26 per share dividend, with a payout ratio in excess of 90% of adjusted net profit. The Company's Board of Directors also resolved to launch a buyback plan for up to 340,000 shares for a maximum amount of Eu1.2mn, as outlined in more detail hereafter.

"2021 confirmed the validity of our growth strategy - commented Guglielmo Manetti, Chief Executive Officer of Intermonte Partners when presenting the accounts - we are particularly pleased that all of our strategic business lines delivered growth, in a market environment that changed greatly from the previous year. 2021 was also the year in which we listed on the stock exchange, which we consider as the starting point for our future growth strategy, including through external growth, bolstered by a solid capital position that allows us to retain a strong focus on remunerating our shareholders. In the current tough macro and market environment, the Group is confident of achieving good levels of profitability, while keeping a tight rein on risks and costs. The first two months of this year closed with good revenue growth, led by the Investment Banking and Sales & Trading divisions."

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Reclassified Consolidated Income Statement

Consolidated Net Revenues

(Eu mn)

FY2020

FY2021

% 2021 Revenues

FY21 YoY

Sales & Trading

14.5

15.9

36.4%

10.1%

Investment Banking

9.6

11.4

26.1%

19.5%

Global Markets

13.6

13.0

29.7%

(4.1)%

o/w Client Driven & Market Making

12.7

12.8

98%

0.3%

o/w Directional Trading

0.8

0.2

2%

(72.1)%

Digital Division & Advisory

3.1

3.4

7.9%

11.6%

o/w Digital Division

2.1

2.6

77%

22.9%

Total net revenues

40.7

43.8

100.0%

7.7%

Note: 1. Calculated as a percentage of total business unit revenues

  • SALES & TRADING
    The division closed 2021 with revenues of Eu15.9mn (36.4% of total revenues) up 10.1% year on year (from Eu14.5mn in FY20). Specifically, we highlight a positive trend in the cash equity business, which grew much more than was the case for the total value traded on Borsa Italiana (EXM + EGM), up 1.3% in 2021.
    As for Research team activity, the Company continued to invest in expanding its coverage of Italian listed companies, which reached 122 in total (corresponding to ~95% of the total capitalisation of the Italian market), including 11 new coverages, thanks in part to the ongoing reinforcement of the team, which now numbers 15 equity analysts. Intermonte has confirmed its focus on the mid/small cap segment, dedicated both to investors and listed companies, with the publication of over 740 research reports in 2021.
    Among the external recognition gained by the Equity Research team, the second place obtained in Institutional Investors' Italian Mid Small Caps Research rankings was a particular highlight.
    During the year, Intermonte continued its intense marketing activity in favour of Investors and in support of Issuers, organising over 210 roadshows and some 2,800 meetings with investors.
  • INVESTMENT BANKING
    The Investment Banking business unit (26.1% of revenues) saw revenues grow 19.5% to reach Eu11.4mn (Eu9.6mn in FY2020). Intermonte acted as Sponsor and Global Coordinator in the IPO of luxury yacht builder The Italian Sea Group on MTA/Euronext Milan and as Global Coordinator on the listings of train interiors supplier Omer and cyber security services supplier Sababa on AIM Italia/Euronext Growth. Intermonte also assisted Abitare In as Sponsor in the process of translisting on Euronext Milan. In 2021 Intermonte successfully completed various institutional placements (Accelerated Book Building), including WIIT, LUVE, Seri, Alkemy and Cyberoo.
    In the field of M&A advisory, Intermonte has fulfilled a number of prominent roles, cementing its position as the go-to independent advisor on the Italian market. Amongst the main transactions we highlight the role of advisor to Credito Valtellinese in the takeover launched by Credit Agricole Italia, assistance as advisor to Ambienthesis in the transfer of the environmental sector businesses of Greenthesis, and assistance to Investindustrial in the tender offer on Guala Closures. Finally,

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Intermonte is solidly positioned as a Corporate Broker and Specialist thanks to coverage of over 50 companies of which 18 listed on the STAR segment.

  • GLOBAL MARKETS (G&M)
    The business unit closed 2021 with revenues of Eu13.0mn (29.7% of total revenues) down 4.1% from FY20 (Eu13.6mn), a year marked by extreme volatility and exceptionally high spreads. Specifically, for 2021 we highlight growth in Client-Driven business, especially in the Market Making segment on equity derivatives. The divisional result was obtained while maintaining a very low risk profile, as demonstrated by the low proportion of revenues from Directional Trading, which came to less than 2% of total business unit revenues.
  • DIGITAL DIVISION & ADVISORY
    Revenues from the DD&A business unit (7.9% of total revenues), rose 11.6% to Eu3.4mn (from Eu3.1mn in FY20), driven by the excellent performance of the digital division, which grew 22.9% thanks to both commercial activity with the financial advisor segment and increasing adherence from this segment to the digital services offered.

Reclassified Consolidated Income Statement

FY20

FY21

FY21 vs

(Eu mn)

FY20 %

Total net revenues

40.7

43.8

7.7%

Personnel expenses1

(19.6)

(19.8)

1.5%

Operating expenses2

(8.9)

(9.6)

7.8%

Total expenses

(28.5)

(29.5)

3.5%

IPO one off

-

(2.5)

n.m.

Consolidated pre-tax profit

12.2

11.8

(3.3)%

Adjusted consolidated pre-tax profit

12.2

14.4

17.4%

Taxes

(3.2)

(3.1)

(2.7)%

Tax rate

25.9%

26.1%

Consolidated net profit pre-minorities

9.1

8.7

(3.5)%

Net profit pertaining to minority shareholders

(1.3)

(1.5)

18.1%

Consolidated net profit post-minorities

7.8

7.2

(7.2)%

Adjusted consolidated net profit

7.8

9.1

17.0%

Note: 1. This item includes compensation for Executive Directors, but excludes compensation for Non-Executive Directors and the Board of Statutory Auditors; 2. This item includes compensation for Non-Executive Directors, the Board of Statutory Auditors, depreciation and amortisation or net impairment losses on property and equipment and intangible assets and other operating income and expense

  • COSTS
    Intermonte closed 2021 with costs, net of one-off costs associated with the IPO, up 3.5% to Eu29.5mn (Eu28.5mn in FY20), a much lower increase than for revenues. One-off IPO costs incurred in 2021 came to Eu2.5mn. Personnel expenses showed growth in the fixed component that was lower than the growth in total revenues, which takes into account new recruits joining the company over the course of the year (a net change of 5 additional employees, following the recruitment of 14 new hires). The

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compensation/ revenues ratio, net of one-off costs relating to the IPO, came to 45.3%, in line with the trend witnessed in the first half of the year.

Other operating expenses rose 7.8%, net of one-off IPO costs. Specifically, IT costs and trading fees rose slightly, by 2.0% and 3.4% respectively, and other costs were up 15.1% due mainly to increased marketing activity and initiatives relating to Covid-19 to safeguard employees' health.

  • CONSOLIDATED NET PROFIT
    The group closed 2021 with consolidated net profit, net of extraordinary charges, of Eu9.1mn, up 17.0% from FY20 (Eu7.8mn). Group net profit, including extraordinary costs, was Eu7.2mn. The tax rate of 26.1% was broadly in line with the previous year.
  • CONSOLIDATED SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Consolidated shareholders' equity as at 31st December 2021 was Eu63.9mn (Eu53.8mn net of minorities). This figure does not include any goodwill booked on the balance sheet.
    The group closed 2021 with adjusted ROE of 19.5%. The group's capital position is particularly strong, having achieved a Total Capital Ratio of 44.0%, much higher than the SREP requirement assigned by the Bank of Italy.
    As of June 2021 the SIM benefited from the introduction of new European regulations for financial intermediaries1 which introduced capital requirements more in line with financial intermediary activities.

1 Change to the calculation of Risk Weighted Assets (RWA) for financial intermediaries: Regulation (EU) 2019/876 of the European Parliament and of the Council (amending Regulation (EU) No 575/2013 (CRR)) and Regulation (EU) 2019/2033 of the European Parliament and of the Council

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PROPOSAL FOR THE ALLOCATION OF PROFIT FOR THE YEAR, DIVIDEND AND BUYBACK PLAN

As well as presenting 2021 financial statements for approval, the Intermonte Partners Board of Directors will propose to the next Shareholders Meeting the distribution of a dividend of Euro 0.2600 per share. This dividend proposal represents a payout of over 90% of adjusted consolidated net profit and a dividend yield of c.10.7% (calculated on the official closing price as at 16th March 2021). No dividend will be distributed to any treasury shares that the group may hold on the record date. This distribution, if approved by shareholders, will take place as of 11th May 2022 (stock to go ex-dividend on 9th May, record date 10th May).

The Board of Directors has also resolved to launch the share buyback programme ("Buyback Plan") approved by shareholders on 1st October 2021 and authorised by the Bank of Italy.

It is hereby noted that as at today's date Intermonte Partners SIM S.p.A. holds 4,051,003 treasury shares, corresponding to 11.2% of the share capital.

Here below, pursuant to art. 113-ter of Legislative Decree no.58 of 24th February 1998 (TUF) and art. 144- bis of Consob Resolution n. 11971/99 (Issuers Regulation), are details of the Buyback Plan:

  • The Buyback Plan will involve a maximum of 340,000 ordinary shares (corresponding to c.0.9% of the share capital) and in any case the overall outlay will not exceed Eu1.2mn;
  • The Buyback Plan will begin on 18th March 2022 and end on 31st October 2022, it being understood that the Plan may be implemented partially, interrupted and/ or revoked at any time, subject to due and timely communication to the public according to the procedures and time limits laid down by the regulations in force;
  • The aim of the Buyback Plan is to create a portfolio of treasury shares to be used for:
    1. Acquisitions of equity stakes and/ or property and/ or completion of agreements (including commercial agreements) with strategic partners, and/ or for the execution of industrial projects or extraordinary financial transactions, or to serve capital transactions or other corporate and/ or financial and/ or financing transactions (including the issue of debt instruments convertible into equity securities), at a price set by the Board of Directors on a case-by-case basis, as deemed appropriate, on the condition that the price set will have

to optimise the economic impact on the Company;

    1. Stock incentive plans, according to the method and terms indicated in the rules of the plans in question;
    1. In all other cases, according to the price decided by the Board of Directors on a case-by- case basis in the best interests of the Company.
  • On 16th March the company gave a mandate to Intesa Sanpaolo S.p.A. to act as specialist intermediary that will make decisions on purchases completely independently, including in relation to the timing of the transactions, within contractually-defined parameters and criteria, as well as the applicable legislation and the above-mentioned shareholders' resolution;

The per-share purchase price will be set on a case-by-case basis for each transaction. Nevertheless, the shares may be acquired at a price no higher than the price of the latest independent transaction or the highest current independent bid price on the Euronext Growth Milan - EGM- whichever is higher, on the understanding that (i) in any case the per share price will be no more than 10% below the minimum and

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Intermonte Partners Sim S.p.A. published this content on 17 March 2022 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 17 March 2022 07:30:00 UTC.