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Int'l Business Times
4 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Business Times
Ex-Wales Flanker Popham Wants His Day In Court With Rugby Authorities
Alix Popham, one of hundreds of former rugby players to bring a lawsuit against the sport's authorities for head injuries, told AFP he wants his day in court so he can look in the face some of the officials "who are part of the reason why we are in the mess we are in." The former Wales flanker, who won 33 caps between 2003 and 2008 and played in two World Cups, was diagnosed in 2020 with probable chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the age of 40. CTE is a progressive brain condition that is thought to be caused by repeated blows to the head and episodes of concussion. The basis of the legal case is that rugby's governing bodies failed to provide sufficient protection from the risks caused by concussion. "The press are talking about 500 players, but I can tell you by the end of May, which is the deadline to join the suit, it will be double that," Popham told AFP in a phone interview. "Everyone is in a different situation. However, I want to go to court and eyeball some of the people still involved in the game, who are part of the reason why we are in the mess we are in. "Over the past six years what I have read and the evidence we have got needs to be public and go on the record. "It is very powerful." The sport's governing body World Rugby said the ongoing legal action prevented them from engaging with players "concerned in this story." However, in a statement to AFP, they said: "We would want them to know that we listen, we care and we never stand still on player welfare." Popham, who realised something was seriously wrong when in 2019 he got lost on a bike ride close to his home and had to use an app to find his way back, is not just investing his time in the lawsuit. He has also been going to schools and spreading the word about the risks involved. He hopes the Brainsafe programme -- which is the "baby" of Popham, his wife Mel and two others and endorsed by the charity Head for Change -- will be rolled out nationally in September. "We have seen 350 children, coaches and parents since January and are tweaking it now," he said. "It is not all about doom and gloom, it is sports-specific as any child can have brain traumatic injury. "We inform them of the signs and symptoms." Popham, who is in training for an ironman event later this year, said the lack of knowledge about the risks had astonished him. "Around 90 percent of parents, player and coaches still do not understand that every contact is causing damage," said the 45-year-old. "Key rugby schools do but others less so, and some of the parents unfortunately are not interested." Participation in rugby in schools in England is on the decline. In the 2022-23 school year, 8.3 percent of children aged five to 16 played rugby, down from 9.7 percent four years earlier. The decline was highlighted in last October's Review of Rugby in Schools which said the RFU, which commissioned the report, faced "an urgent issue approaching crisis point." As a result the RFU invested GBP5 million ($6.8 million) into TI, a version of touch rugby that replicates scrums, lineouts and other technical aspects of the 15-a-side game. On the other hand there are those who argue that in the contact format it is better that youngsters learn how to tackle aged nine rather than 14 when they are physically bigger. Popham strongly disagrees. He said it was "easy to say about nine-year-olds the younger they learn the technique the better it is," but equated it to encouraging young children to smoke. "It is better to put measures in place to protect them," he said. In terms of warning about the risks, he believes public health advertisements are the way forward. "Like those used in the past to advocate how bad smoking is for your health or how you can save your life by using seat belts," he said. "That is what needs to happen -- to disabuse people of the attitude of 'oh it won't happen to me'." Alix and Mel Popham are taking their Brainsafe programme into schools to warn people about the risks of rugby AFP
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
IXICO PLC (LSE:IXI) (Q2 2025) Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Revenue Growth and Strategic US ...
Revenue: GBP3.2 million, a 26% growth compared to the first half of last year. Gross Margin: Improved from 40% to 50% compared to the same period last year. EBITDA: Loss of GBP700,000, reduced from GBP1.3 million loss in the previous year. Cash Position: GBP5 million at the end of the first half of the year. Order Book: GBP13.1 million, with full coverage of expected revenues for the year. Capital Investment: GBP300,000 in the first six months, significantly reduced from previous years. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 3 Warning Signs with LSE:IXI. Release Date: May 20, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. IXICO PLC (LSE:IXI) reported a 26% increase in revenue for the first half of 2025, driven by both long-term and short-term contracts. The company achieved a significant improvement in gross margin, increasing from 40% to 50% compared to the same period last year. IXICO PLC has successfully launched a next-generation version of its AI-driven platform, Trial Tracker, which is being deployed with new customers. The company has a strong cash position of GBP5 million and remains debt-free, allowing for strategic investments in innovation and commercial scaling. IXICO PLC has diversified its order book, with 17 clients and 25 different projects, providing a strong foundation for future revenue growth. The biotech sector continues to face macroeconomic challenges, impacting capital access for some clients. Despite revenue growth, IXICO PLC reported an EBITDA loss of GBP700,000 for the first half of the year. The company experienced client descopes or cancellations amounting to GBP2.9 million over the past 12 months. IXICO PLC's order book is heavily reliant on early-phase trials, which carry inherent risks if trials do not progress successfully. The company is still in the process of expanding its presence in the US market, where it faces competition from larger, established players. Q: What percentage of current and future revenue do you expect to be US derived, and how are you positioning against local competitors? A: (Grant Nash, CFO) The majority of clinical trials in neurodegenerative diseases have a significant US element, with over 40% occurring in the US. We are investing in the US market by appointing Terry as our commercial lead and establishing operational and medical capabilities there. While we are smaller in scale compared to US competitors, our technology platform allows us to compete effectively. We are also ensuring a US presence to enhance client perception and engagement. Q: How sticky are your client relationships once a clinical trial begins? Do you typically remain a partner through all phases, or is there a risk of replacement by in-house teams or competitors? A: (Bram Goorden, CEO) Our client relationships are very sticky. Once we start on a Phase 1 or Phase 2 trial, we usually follow our customers into subsequent phases, provided the therapy is successful. There is no risk of replacement by in-house teams, as our analytics of imaging is highly specialized. We also work with large groups that have multiple programs, allowing us to expand within our existing customer base. Q: How much of the GBP3.7 million capital raised in October 2024 has been deployed, and how will future cash be allocated between R&D, platform development, and commercial scaling? A: (Grant Nash, CFO) We have seen a cash outflow of half a million in the first six months of the year. Investments have been made in commercial resources in the US, marketing, corporate development, and medical innovation. Future cash will be allocated to R&D for new analytical capabilities, technology partnerships, and commercial scaling to communicate our innovation effectively to the market. Q: What internal KPIs are most important to management when assessing the success of your innovate, lead, scale strategy? A: (Bram Goorden, CEO) Key KPIs include order book mix, pipeline mix, and financial diversification of deals. We also focus on leading indicators such as innovation productization timelines and resource acquisition. Partnerships and understanding the ecosystem are crucial for identifying new opportunities and ensuring strategic investments align with our goals. Q: How are you addressing the challenge of competing with larger US-based competitors in global trials? A: (Bram Goorden, CEO) We focus on managing global trials effectively, leveraging our experience in handling large Phase 3 trials in the neurodegenerative space. Our strategy includes ensuring we are equipped to manage global trials and maintaining strong client relationships. We emphasize our specialized analytics capabilities, which are not easily replicated by in-house teams or competitors. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Quilter PLC (QUILF) (Q4 2024) Earnings Call Highlights: Strong Financial Performance Amidst ...
Adjusted Profit: Increased 17% to GBP196 million. Operating Margin: Achieved 29%, surpassing the 25% target for 2025. Core Net Flows: Increased to over GBP5 billion. Earnings Per Share (EPS): Rose 13% to 10.6p. Dividend: Proposed at 5.9p, a 13% increase. Revenue Growth: 7% increase in 2024. Revenue Margin: 44 basis points, in line with guidance. Cost Management: Costs increased by 3% to GBP474 million. High Net Worth Profit: Increased 17% to GBP48 million. Affluent Profit: Increased 19% to GBP148 million. Solvency Ratio: Maintained strong solvency and cash position. Final Dividend: 4.2p per share, total for the year 5.9p. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 5 Warning Signs with QUILF. Release Date: March 05, 2025 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. Adjusted profit increased by 17% to GBP196 million, reflecting robust cost management and higher revenues. Operating margin improved to 29%, surpassing the 25% target for 2025 and aligning with the 30% medium-term goal. Core net flows rose significantly to over GBP5 billion, indicating strong flow momentum. Earnings per share increased by 13% to 10.6p, with a proposed dividend increase of 13% to 5.9p. Quilter PLC (QUILF) achieved a 46% increase in adjusted profit before tax over the last two years, demonstrating strong financial performance. A provision of GBP76 million was recognized for potential client remediation related to the ongoing advice review. The Cirilium Active range experienced outflows, impacting the revenue margin on managed assets. High net worth net inflows were at 2%, below the desired mid-single-digit level. The ongoing advice review and potential client remediation could impact future financials. Interest rate benefits on client cash are expected to diminish, potentially reducing platform margins by around 1 basis point annually. Q: Regarding the GBP80 million upstream, should it be considered as offsetting the advice provision? Also, what is the expected growth in adviser headcount from the academy? A: (Steven Levin, CEO) Yes, around two-thirds of the academy participants are expected to become RFPs, contributing to adviser headcount growth. (Mark Satchel, CFO) The upstreaming can be seen as offsetting the provision, although ideally, we would retain the upstreaming without the need for a provision. Debt reduction is a medium-term consideration due to the high premium required for early exit. Q: What percentage of clients were assessed for potential redress in the ongoing advice provision? How is the pipeline for new advisers outside the academy? A: (Steven Levin, CEO) We are confident in the provision set aside for the ongoing advice review. We have a strong pipeline for adviser recruitment, and our retirement program allows for efficient client transitions, maintaining productivity even if adviser numbers fluctuate. Q: Can you elaborate on the 4% to 5% net flow target and the potential for market share growth in the platform space? A: (Steven Levin, CEO) The 4% to 5% target is a through-the-cycle figure. We achieved 7% in Q4 2024, indicating potential for higher performance in strong markets. We believe there is still room for market share growth, although the pace may slow. The platform market is expected to grow, benefiting from increased investments over savings. Q: How do you view the potential for further operating margin improvements across your divisions? A: (Mark Satchel, CFO) We see potential for margin improvements in both high net worth and affluent segments, with the latter having greater capacity for expansion due to its operating leverage. The affluent segment, particularly the platform and fund management business, offers significant opportunities for margin growth. Q: What is Quilter's stance on the FCA's upcoming review of MPS and the potential impact on your business? A: (Steven Levin, CEO) We welcome the FCA's review of MPS, as it is crucial for ensuring robust standards in a growing market. Quilter is well-prepared with a strong team and risk management functions. The review aligns with our commitment to maintaining high standards in our MPS offerings. For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Sign in to access your portfolio
