Stockbroker Panmure Gordon swings back into profit

Panmure Gordon, the City stockbroker being taken over by a consortium which includes former Barclays boss Bob Diamond, has swung back into profit.
The City of London skyline at dusk  Photo : Jonathan Brady/PA WireThe City of London skyline at dusk  Photo : Jonathan Brady/PA Wire
The City of London skyline at dusk Photo : Jonathan Brady/PA Wire

The firm said full-year pre-tax profit came in at £1.5 million, compared with an £18.8 million loss last year.

Growth was driven by a 41 per cent increase in corporate finance and other fee income to £18 million and a 22 per cent rise in net commission and fee income to £28 million.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Chief executive Patric Johnson said: “2016 was a year of consolidation and focus for the core business as we continued implementing our sector-based corporate-driven model accompanied by our unwavering commitment to quality in everything that we do.

“We have returned four successive quarters of profitability, made a significant strategic investment, re-established our US broker dealer and concentrated on ensuring we match our service expectations with our clients’ requirements.”

However, Mr Johnson added that the 2017 macro landscape continues to be “challenging”.

Last month Panmure revealed that Mr Diamond is making a bid for the firm through his private equity firm Atlas Merchant Capital, alongside Qatari bank QInvest, which holds around 43 per cent of Panmure.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The deal, for 100p per share, values Panmure at £15.5 million and represents a 68 per cent premium.

Panmure’s board has recommended the offer to shareholders who will vote on the deal.

Once complete, the deal will see Panmure, one of the country’s oldest stockbrokers, delisted from the London market and taken private.