Sweett also says it expects to complete sale of Asia Pacific division by June
Quitting the Middle East and a fine for a bribery offence in the region will cost Sweett around 拢5.1m for its 2015/16 financial year, the firm has revealed.
In a trading update published this morning, the consultant said it expected to make a writedown of around 拢5.1m for the year to March 2016 due to the combined cost of leaving the region and incurring a 拢2.3m fine in February for a bribery offence in 2013.
Sweett also said it expects the multi-million pound sale of its Asia Pacific business to rival consultant Currie & Brown to complete by early June. The sale has been delayed by a dispute between the two parties over the impact of currency exchange rate changes on the agreed sale price for the business.
The sale price was originally agreed last October at 拢9.3m. Currie & Brown wants a 拢1.7m reduction while Sweett believes the price should be cut by just 拢500,000.
In its trading update, Sweett said the matter is currently being examined by external experts, with a binding resolution expected in June and payment shortly after. Currie & Brown declined to comment.
Sweett - which posted a 拢1.1m pre-tax loss in its last set of results to March 2015 - said it is set to report an adjusted pre-tax profit of 拢2.2m for the year to March 2016 once exceptional costs were stripped out, down on last year鈥檚 adjusted pre-tax profit of 拢2.9m. The firm also expects to report revenue of 拢54.9m, up 6.6% on last year鈥檚 拢51.5m.
Sweett said its profit for the period has been hit by one-off property costs of 拢300,000, legal costs from a historical arbitration claim in Ireland of 拢200,000 and costs associated with the refinancing of the group鈥檚 banking facilities of 拢300,000.
Sweett said its withdrawal from the Middle East was progressing well and at a lower cost than previously anticipated. The firm expects the process to be largely complete by next March.
The withdrawal from the Middle East came after an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office that saw Sweett sentenced for a bribery offence in the Middle East.
Sweett chief executive Douglas McCormick (pictured) said the group had made 鈥渧ery significant progress鈥� during the year to meet strategic objectives.
鈥淚 have been particularly appreciative of the considerable client and colleague loyalty we have seen as we have worked through and resolved the Group鈥檚 legacy issues.
The reorganisation of the remaining business into five regions has rejuvenated energy levels within the Group and I believe we are well positioned for the future,鈥� he added.
No comments yet