Revenue falls 4% as  deals delayed by uncertainty surrounding troubled broker

Down arrow loss

Towergate reported earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation of £110m in the full 2014 year, down 24% on the £145m it reported in the same period last year.

Revenues fell 4% to £426m (2013: £443m) and the company’s EBITDA margin fell by 6.9 percentage points to 25.8% (2013: 32.7%)

The company’s results suffered in the fourth quarter because a number of deals were not completed with insurers before the year end because of uncertainty about Towergate’s future.

The company revealed in its third-quarter results that it faced a cash-flow problem that could threaten its future, but this morning has agreed a restructuring and refinancing with its senior creditors.

Excluding the impact of the delayed deals, organic revenue fell by 5%.

Divisional breakdown

Profit in Towergate’s insurance brokers division was worst-hit. EBITDA was down 32% to £31m in 2014 (2013: £45m). This came despite a £2m contribution from the sale of Haywards Aviation to JLT.

The company’s direct, Paymentshield and network divisions saw their EBITDA decline by 15%, 16% and 17% respectively (see table).

Towergate Underwriting was the best performing division. Its EBITDA fell by 2% to £38m (2013: £39m).

Towergate divisional performance

Revenue

Revenue2014 (£m)2013 (£m)change (%)
    
Insurance brokers189199-5
Underwriting94904
Direct68671
Paymentshield5968-13
Network1415-5

 

EBITDA

EBITDA2014 (£m)2013 (£m)change (%)
    
Insurance brokers3145-32
Underwriting3839-2
Direct2731-15
Paymentshield4453-16
Network56-17

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