Interim Results

DawMed Systems PLC 19 June 2003 Strictly Embargoed until: 07.00, 19 June 2003 DawMed Systems plc Interim Results DawMed Systems plc ('DawMed' or 'the Company'), the medical devices company which designs, manufactures, sells and services washer disinfectors used by NHS Trust hospitals, private hospitals and clinics, today announces results for the six month period to 31 March 2003. Key Points (Six months from 1 October 2002 to 31 March 2003) * Turnover increased by 65% to £2.18m (2002: £1.32m) * Gross profit increased by 51% to £0.70m (2002: £0.46m) * Net loss of £0.21m (2002: £0.10m) largely due to pre-production marketing costs of 'Clinic' Bench Top * Gross margin fell by 3% due to pressure on pricing in traditional market and strengthening Euro impacting on import costs of Wassenburg products * Equity share capital raised, £0.25m; shareholders' funds £0.63m (2002: £0.63m) * Prototype 'Clinic' Bench Top well received and launch anticipated in the fourth quarter of 2003 Kevin Gilmore, Executive Chairman commented 'The Company continues to be proactive in its traditional business of washer disinfectors for Sterile Service Departments in acute hospitals as well as its Wassenburg flexible endoscope washer disinfector business and we expect sales across the whole product range to show an improvement in the second half of the year. It is the Directors' opinion that the 'Clinic' machine will offer the Company real opportunities and that the anticipated emergence, within this calendar year, of the first ever NHS engineering specification for washer disinfectors for use in primary care decontamination in the UK, will add considerable impetus to its market potential.' For further information please visit www.dawmed.com or contact: Kevin Gilmore, Chairman Roland Cornish Rosie Brown/Claire Melly DawMed Systems plc Beaumont Cornish Limited Tavistock Communications Tel: 01789 450075 Tel: 020 7628 3396 Tel: 020 7600 2288 Chairman's Statement The first six months of the year have seen significant growth in sales with total turnover increasing by 65% to £2.18 million, compared to £1.32 million for the same period last year and gross profit growing by 51% to £0.70 million. However, the gross margin fell by 3% due to a combination of both increased competition in tendering for hospital Sterile Service Department ('SSD') contracts, leading to pressure on pricing and to the recent strengthening of the Euro, which has impacted on the cost of importing products from Wassenburg & Co. b.v. As a result of this and a necessary increase in overheads, largely related to the costs of pre-production marketing of the new 'Clinic' Bench Top machine, there was a net loss for the half-year of £0.21 million (2002: £0.10 million). Balance Sheet Shareholders' funds at the half-year were £0.63 million. A new ordinary share issue of £0.05 million was made in October 2002, coinciding with the Company's admission to AIM. A further ordinary share issue of £0.20 million was arranged at the same time, but implemented in April 2003, thus helping to restore the balance sheet to its previous opening position, despite the interim losses. Products We have achieved a substantial increase in our traditional business of washer disinfector sales to hospital SSDs in the UK through direct sales and via the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency and sales in the second half of the year are expected to show improvement over the first half across this product range. The Wassenburg flexible endoscope washer disinfector business also continued to show strong growth over the half-year. As this business has developed it has become clear that end users increasingly want to choose the particular type of cleaning/disinfection fluid they favour. The Company has responded by collaborating with Wassenburg & Co. b.v., to enable the machines to operate satisfactorily with this wider range of solutions, thus helping to ensure that the product maintains and consolidates its current strong position in the market place. It is anticipated that the sales performance of this product in the second half of the year will be more buoyant than in the first half. 'Clinic' Bench Top The research and development phase of DawMed's new purpose designed and regulatory compliant 'Clinic' Bench Top Washer Disinfector Dryer machine for the primary care market is now coming to an end and 'productionisation' has commenced. Pre-production marketing through advertising and promotions incorporating displays at several trade exhibitions in the UK and overseas, together with initial presentations to end users and intermediaries, have elicited very favourable responses. It is anticipated that the 'Clinic' will be launched in the fourth quarter of this calendar year and, although the Directors had originally anticipated that it would start to have a positive effect in the second half of this financial year, the delayed timetable of the outsourced design contract means that we now expect the initial financial impact of this product to be in the first half of the next financial year. Service Organisation Our service organisation now comprises twelve operational field engineers and is growing from strength to strength under a newly recruited Service Manager. The number of service and maintenance contracts, the volume of regulatory testing, the organisational turnover and the organisational profitability are all increasing in a satisfactory manner and the Directors look forward to continuing improvements in the current financial year and in the longer term future. Infrastructure The Company has continued to invest in additional infrastructure, particularly with regard to the service organisation and the marketing of the 'Clinic'. In consequence, although overheads before depreciation and financing costs have increased by 59% compared with the same period last year and by 40% compared with the second half of last year, a significant proportion of these increases relates to the costs of the pre-production marketing of the 'Clinic'. The major structural overhead spend programme, representing investment for the future, is drawing towards conclusion by the end of this financial year. Future Prospects Over the last three years, we have been heavily committed to investing in the Company, successfully growing the service organisation, the Wassenburg side of the business and launching new and improved machines. Looking forward, whilst research and development will remain important to DawMed, the launch of the 'Clinic' will draw the current programme and the structural overhead spend to a close. It is the Directors' opinion that the 'Clinic' machine will offer the Company real opportunities. The anticipated emergence within this calendar year of the first ever NHS engineering specification for washer disinfectors for use in primary care decontamination in the UK will add considerable impetus to its market potential and the Directors also perceive opportunities for export sales in the reasonably foreseeable future. That said, the Company continues to be proactive in its traditional business of washer disinfectors for Sterile Service Departments in acute hospitals and we expect sales across the whole product range, including the Wassenburg flexible endoscope washer disinfectors, to show an improvement in the second half of the year over the first half. Kevin M Gilmore Chairman Unaudited Consolidated profit and loss account for the half year ended 31 March 2003 Unaudited Unaudited 31 March 2003 31 March 2002 £'000 £'000 Turnover 2,179.7 1,317.8 Cost of Sales (1) 1,476.1 853.1 Gross profit 703.6 464.7 Administrative Expenses 906.9 557.9 Operating (Loss) (203.3) (93.2) Interest Receivable 1.8 1.4 Interest Payable 10.5 11.2 (Loss) on ordinary activities before taxation (212.0) (103.0) Taxation - - (Loss) for the half year (212.0) (103.0) Profit/(Loss) per share (1.39p) (0.75p) Diluted Profit/(Loss) per share (1.31p) (0.71p) Unaudited Group Balance Sheet as at 31 March 2003 Unaudited Unaudited 31 March 2003 31 March 2002 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets 533.1 118.1 Current assets Stocks 583.3 545.1 Debtors 1,089.8 711.8 Cash at Bank & in hand - 200.7 1,673.1 1,457.6 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 1,504.1 938.0 Net current assets 169.0 519.6 Total assets less current liabilities 702.1 637.7 Creditors: amounts falling due after more 71.5 3.3 than one year Net assets 630.6 634.4 Capital & Reserves Called up share capital 763.2 723.2 Share premium account 1,171.7 1,115.4 Merger reserve (350.5) (350.5) Profit and loss account (953.8) (853.7) Shareholders' funds 630.6 634.4 Notes to the accounts: (1) Cost of Sales now includes variable costs of carriage outwards and warranty provisions previously included in overheads. Comparative figures have been amended accordingly. (2) The calculation of loss per share is based upon the loss of £212,000 (2002: loss £103,000) and on 15,252,301 shares (2002: 13,797,296 shares) being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. The diluted loss per share shows the effect on the calculation as if the share options granted in each period had been converted to shares. A copy of this announcement is available from Beaumont Cornish Limited, 63 Coleman Street, London EC2R 5BB, for a period of one month free of charge. Review Report by the Auditors to DawMed Systems plc Six months ended 31 March 2003 Introduction We have been instructed by the company, to review the consolidated profit and loss account for the six months to 31 March 2003 and the Group Balance Sheet at 31 March 2003 and have read the other information contained in the interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board. A review consists principally of making enquiries of management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with Auditing Standards and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly we do not express any audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review, which does not constitute an audit, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months ended 31 March 2003. Baker Tilly Chartered Accountants Birmingham 19 June 2003 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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