Count Financial net profit up 53pc to $17.6m for year09:45,...

Count Financial net profit up 53pc to $17.6m for year
09:45, Tuesday, 15 August 2006

Sydney - Tuesday - August 15: (RWE Australian Business News) -
Count Financial Ltd (ASX code: COU) lifted net profit 53 per cent to
$17.6 million in the year ended June 30 from $11.54 million for the
previous year.
Revenues rose 26 per cent to $106.53 million from $84.45
million.
EBIT rose 49 per cent to $23.2 million, in keeping with Count's
latest profit guidance.
Basic earnings per share were 7.6c, up from 5.12c.
Final dividend has been increased from 1.5c to 3c, fully
franked, payable on October 13 to shareholders registered September 22.
Total payout for the year is 6c, up from 4.5c.
Net interest and investment earnings of $2.37 million were up
from $1.04 million.
Directors said the above trend result was boosted by strong
investment markets and a substantially reduced expense ratio, down 10
per cent to 37 per cent.
They said the strong opening Funds and Loans Under Advice (up
30%) and reduced expense ratio (37%) would produce "another sound
result" but Count's targeted EPS growth of 25% pa in 2006/07 would be
difficult to achieve, whilst establishing Countplus.