Interim Results

Braemar Shipping Services PLC 23 October 2007 BRAEMAR SHIPPING SERVICES PLC PRESS RELEASE For immediate release 23 October 2007 Interim Results - 6 months ended 31 August 2007 Braemar Shipping Services plc (the 'Group'), an international provider of shipping services, today announced unaudited half-year results for the six months ended 31 August 2007. HIGHLIGHTS • Revenue £68.7m (2006: £50.5m), a rise of 36% • Pre-tax profit £7.1m (2006: £4.1m), up 75% (up 42% if the impairment charge in 2006 is excluded) • Basic EPS 23.66p (2006: 12.03p), up 97% (up 40% if the impairment charge in 2006 is excluded) • Increased interim dividend declared 8.00p per share (2006: 6.75p) • Net cash £11.1m (31 August 2006: £8.1m, February 2007: £14.6m) • Falconer Bryan acquired and performing well Commenting on the results and outlook, Sir Graham Hearne, Chairman, said: 'Shipbroking has gone from strength to strength with more chartering transactions concluded and more long-term business placed particularly for newbuilding contracts and period charters. Our forward order book of business is at a record level and significantly higher than at the beginning of the year.' 'Our non-broking businesses are now contributing approximately one quarter of the Group's profits.' 'The outlook for the second half of the year remains favourable. The level of business already concluded this year means that we can be confident that the full year out-turn should see good growth over last year.' For further information, contact: Braemar Shipping Services plc Alan Marsh Tel +44 (0) 20 7535 2650 James Kidwell Tel +44 (0) 20 7535 2881 Aquila Financial Peter Reilly Tel +44 (0) 20 7202 2601 Elaborate Communications Sean Moloney Tel +44 (0) 1296 682356 Charles Stanley Securities Philip Davies Tel +44 (0) 20 7149 6457 Notes to Editors Braemar Shipping Services plc (previously known as Braemar Seascope Group plc) is a leading integrated provider of broking and consultancy services to the shipping industry. The Group includes the following businesses: Braemar Seascope Specialised shipbroking and consultancy services to international ship owners and charterers in the sale & purchase, tanker, gas, chemicals, offshore, container and dry bulk markets with offices in UK, Australia, India, China, Brazil and Singapore. www.braemarseascope.com Cory Brothers Shipping Agency Port agency, freight forwarding and logistics services within the UK. www.cory.co.uk Wavespec Marine engineering and naval architecture consultants to the shipping and offshore markets. www.wavespec.com Falconer Bryan Survey, engineering and loss adjusting services to the marine and energy industries. Headquartered in Singapore it operates throughout the Far East from offices in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India and Australia. www.falconer-bryan.com DV Howells Pollution response service primarily in the UK for marine and rail operations. www.dvhowells.co.uk INTERIM ANNOUNCEMENT - SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 AUGUST 2007 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT The Group has performed well in the first half with strong contributions from all business segments. The results reflect this excellent performance, with a 36% increase in revenue to £68.7m, a 75% increase in profit before tax to £7.1m and a 97% increase in earnings per share to 23.66 pence. If these results were adjusted to exclude the impairment charge in the prior half, pre-tax profits would have increased by 42% and earnings per share by 40% on last year. Shipbroking has gone from strength to strength with more chartering transactions concluded and increased long-term business placed, in both newbuilding contracts and period charters. Our forward order book of business is at a record level and significantly higher than at the beginning of the year. The Dry Bulk market has seen record freight rates in recent months and these look set to remain high for some time to come. Tanker rates have been lower this year than last, but our volumes have grown offsetting the rate effect. Both the Container and Offshore markets have also seen conditions which have enabled our teams to thrive. Our recently established environmental services arm - DV Howells - has been instrumental in providing incident response services to the stricken container vessel off the coast of Devon and we are proud of the role it has played in helping to minimise the environmental consequences of this incident. Its business is incident-driven and therefore likely to be variable though there are many opportunities to develop its activities. Cory Brothers and Wavespec both performed steadily over the half. The non-broking businesses of Cory Brothers, Wavespec and DV Howells contributed approximately a quarter of the Group's profits. This proportion is likely to grow as we continue to pursue a strategy of broadening the Group's range of services. Most recently, in July 2007 the Group added to its technical services division through the acquisition of Falconer Bryan Pte for a cash consideration of £5.9m. Falconer Bryan is headquartered in Singapore and employs 90 full time staff. It has a network of offices throughout the Far East from which it provides a range of survey, engineering and loss adjusting services to the marine and energy industries. At the end of the last financial year we stated that we were reviewing options for the bunker business and as a result we have ceased activity in Bunker trading in September 2007 although these results include the activity for the whole of the period. The outlook for the second half of the year remains favourable. The level of business already concluded this year means that we can be confident that the full year out-turn should see good growth over last year. The Board has declared an interim dividend of 8.00 pence, an increase of 19% over 2006/7. The interim dividend will be paid on 11 December 2007 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 9 November 2007, with an ex-dividend date of 7 November 2007. Sir Graham Hearne Chairman 22 October 2007 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S REVIEW OF ACTIVITIES Shipbroking The average Baltic Dry Index for the six months ended 31 August 2007 was 6,146 (first half of 2006/7: 2,837) with all market sectors considerably up on last year. The BDI currently stands at 10,798 which is a record high, driven by high demand for tonnage, particularly for the transportation of iron ore to China. The volume of business transacted by our dry cargo offices has improved markedly. Moreover a significant number of long-term time charters have been concluded such that the dry cargo chartering element of the forward book is now at its highest ever level. We continue to increase our presence in Singapore which has become a major centre for shipowning and a significant hub for cargo interests in Asia. Prospects for the remainder of the financial year remain positive as demand will continue to be strong in the foreseeable future. Our deep-sea tanker chartering desk has increased the number of transactions concluded though rates have generally softened over the course of the half as newbuildings have been delivered into the market. The continuing rise in oil demand by China and India is maintaining crude oil shipments to the region and with western inventories still relatively low an increase in oil shipments is expected. The steady rise of crude oil prices since the beginning of the year has adversely affected refining margins and in turn the product trades and this combined with new tonnage coming on stream has served to reduce the product carrier rates. Activity levels in the specialised chemical chartering market were quite variable during the first quarter of the year as the market came to terms with new regulations, but since then rates have stabilised. Freight rates, particularly for the more sophisticated vessels, have been relatively strong and this is not expected to change significantly over the forthcoming months, but the introduction of new tonnage means that an increase in volumes will be required to maintain current rates. Rates in the LPG chartering market have been strengthening since the beginning of the year due to increasing volumes being moved. Ethylene carried in LPG vessels from the Middle East to South East Asia for the production of plastics has been particularly active. LNG chartering has increased recently and voyage rates have risen from the low levels seen at the beginning of the year. The winter months may create further demand and again improve trading conditions. Looking ahead, many of the delayed LNG facilities projects are now under construction and completion dates are becoming more visible which should absorb the newbuilding tonnage delivering on schedule. We are building a dedicated presence in LNG based on our belief that LNG will be a major energy market in the future. Vessel values have remained very firm particularly for bulk carriers where record prices have been set reflecting the ship's earning capability. Sale and purchase activity has generally favoured newbuildings where we have been involved in placing our highest ever number of orders, a significant proportion of which will be for the benefit of future years' earnings. Second hand and demolition activity has seen a reasonable deal flow though at similarly high prices. Our container desk has enjoyed a period of strong activity for both sale and purchase and chartering business with freight rates and vessel values remaining relatively firm so far in 2007. The rise in container newbuilding tonnage coming into the market should offer plenty of opportunities though conceivably at lower rates if demand growth slows. The offshore desk has continued to perform well benefiting from the high level of oil exploration activity. Day rates for the hire of supply vessels have been at historically high levels and these look set to continue while the price of oil remains high. The rise in earnings in the industry has also provided a stimulus to sale and purchase activity and investment in newbuildings. Technical services - Wavespec and Falconer Bryan Revenue and profits for the half year grew steadily mainly in respect of work on the Qatargas LNG supervision contract which has now been extended until 2010. While LNG carrier construction remains strong we are currently making strenuous efforts to increase our activities in the areas of offshore, dynamic positioning and failure mode and effect analysis where there is potential for long-term growth. We have recently been successful in winning three further projects in these areas. We significantly increased our presence in this market through the acquisition of Falconer Bryan on 7 July 2007. Services provided to the marine and energy industries include loss prevention surveys such as, towage and transport approvals, location approvals and location moves for mobile offshore drilling units and associated naval architectural/structural engineering support and energy loss adjusting investigation services resulting from an insurable incident. The group operates from offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, China, India and Australia with a skilled work force, the majority of whom are either class 1 mariners/engineers, structural engineers, naval architects or loss adjusters. The skill sets are similar to those at Wavespec which should prove advantageous as the business develops within the Group. During its first few months as part of the Group, Falconer Bryan's trading has been in line with expectations and we are encouraged by the new opportunities we are seeing for the development of its business. Logistics - Cory Brothers Cory's forwarding business increased both revenue and profits through increased project work and growth at Planetwide which was acquired at the end of 2005. Ship agency has performed steadily although the recent change of ownership of a refinery saw some reduction in activity in the period. This is expected to improve in the second half due to the opening of a new office at Immingham and the full benefit of new contract business comes through. Environmental services - DV Howells DV Howells has had a very busy period with a significant increase in man hours worked. In addition to its regular business performing specialist environmental clean up and consulting services, mainly in respect of ports, rail and roads in the UK, it has been closely involved with the stricken container ship off the coast of Devon and in particular the protection and clean up of the beaches and of the containers. Most of this work has now been concluded. Bunker trading Bunker trading activities, which were based in Australia, ceased in September 2007. There will be a small revenue contribution in the second half for the final month's trading but thereafter the activity is discontinued. Financial A comparison of the Group's reported profits and earnings and a more meaningful like-for-like comparison is shown in the table below: First half First half 2007/8 2006/7 Change % £000 £000 Profit before impairment charge and tax 7,116 5,023 +42% Impairment charge - (950) Reported profit before tax 7,116 4,073 +75% Pence pence Basic EPS (pre impairment charge) 23.66 16.88 +40% Impairment charge - (4.85) Basic EPS 23.66 12.03 +97% The majority of the Group's income is US$ denominated and the average rate of exchange for conversion of US$ income in the six months to August 2007 was $2.02/£ (Interim 2006/7: $1.81/£, Full Year 2006/7: $1.86/£). The rate of translation at 31 August 2007 was $2.02/£. Net cash was £11.1m at 31 August 2007 compared with net cash of £14.6m as at 28 February 2007. Cash balances increased by £1.7m in respect of amounts held within Falconer Bryan at acquisition. In September 2007, the Group paid £3.4m, being the balance of consideration due to the Falconer Bryan vendors in respect of cash and working capital acquired with the business. The Group normally generates most of its annual cash flow in the second half of the year and the reduction in cash principally reflects the payment of the annual broking bonus and full year dividend relating to the prior year. Alan Marsh Chief Executive 22 October 2007 Braemar Shipping Services PLC Consolidated Income Statement (unaudited) Six months to Six months to Year ended 31 Aug 2007 31 Aug 2006 28 Feb 2007 Continuing operations Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 Revenue 4 68,686 50,512 107,200 Cost of sales (35,719) (27,194) (53,529) Gross profit 32,967 23,318 53,671 Operating costs (26,188) (19,531) (44,121) Impairment of goodwill - (950) (950) Operating costs excluding impairment of (26,188) (18,581) (43,171) goodwill Operating profit 4 6,779 3,787 9,550 Finance income 245 148 335 Finance costs (8) (4) (16) Share of post-tax profit from joint ventures 100 142 207 Profit before taxation 7,116 4,073 10,076 Taxation 5 (2,323) (1,657) (3,604) Profit for the period 4,793 2,416 6,472 Attributable to: Equity holders of the parent 4,713 2,357 6,367 Minority interest 80 59 105 4,793 2,416 6,472 Earnings per ordinary share 7 Basic - pence 23.66p 12.03p 32.29p Diluted - pence 23.48p 11.84p 31.87p Braemar Shipping Services PLC Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited) As at As at As at 31 Aug 07 31 Aug 06 28 Feb 07 Assets Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 Non-current assets Goodwill 24,218 22,259 22,606 Other intangible assets 2,254 1,462 1,582 Property, plant and equipment 5,771 5,349 5,478 Investments 1,535 1,481 1,538 Deferred tax assets 644 566 642 Other receivables 60 76 81 34,482 31,193 31,927 Current assets Inventories 70 - 70 Trade and other receivables 28,394 18,732 21,750 Financial assets - Derivative financial instruments 77 473 27 Restricted cash - 4,946 - Cash and cash equivalents 11,122 8,134 14,634 39,663 32,285 36,481 Total assets 74,145 63,478 68,408 Liabilities Current liabilities Trade and other payables 32,264 21,831 29,011 Current tax payable 3,099 2,362 2,402 Provisions 9 277 210 294 Client monies held as escrow agent - 4,946 - 35,640 29,349 31,707 Non-current liabilities Deferred tax liabilities 287 239 283 Provisions 9 40 433 169 327 672 452 Total liabilities 35,967 30,021 32,159 Net assets 38,178 33,457 36,249 Equity Share capital 10 2,049 2,014 2,023 Capital redemption reserve 396 396 396 Share premium 10 9,001 8,434 8,554 Merger reserve 21,346 21,346 21,346 Shares to be issued (1,844) (997) (1,047) Other reserves (936) (344) (722) Retained earnings 7,842 2,278 5,390 Total shareholders' equity 37,854 33,127 35,940 Minority interest 324 330 309 Total Equity 38,178 33,457 36,249 Braemar Shipping Services PLC Consolidated Cash Flow Statement (unaudited) Six months Six months Year ended 31 Aug 07 31 Aug 06 28 Feb 07 Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 Profit before tax for the period 7,116 4,073 10,076 Adjustments for: -Depreciation 312 232 518 -Amortisation 189 62 284 -Goodwill impairment charge - 950 950 -Profit on sale of investments (93) - - -Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment - - (12) -Finance income (245) (148) (335) -Finance expense 8 4 16 -Share of post-tax profit of joint ventures (100) (142) (207) -Share based payments 190 145 309 Changes in working capital -Inventory - - 7 -Trade and other receivables (4,166) (625) (3,874) -Trade and other payables (747) (5,336) 2,098 -Provisions (145) 14 (162) Cash generated from operations 2,319 (771) 9,668 Interest received 245 148 335 Interest paid (8) (4) (16) Tax paid (1,904) (1,670) (3,413) Net cash generated from / (used in) operating 652 (2,297) 6,574 activities Cash flows from investing activities Dividends received from joint ventures - 145 263 Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash 11 (931) (1,132) (1,844) acquired Purchase of property, plant and 8 (561) (246) (654) equipment Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 7 - 25 Sale of investments 191 - - Other long-term receivables 21 (18) (23) Net cash used in investing activities (1,273) (1,251) (2,233) Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares 473 414 569 Dividends paid 6 (2,451) (2,255) (3,595) Dividends paid to minority (65) - (100) Purchase of own shares (797) - (50) Payment of principal under finance leases - (11) (11) Net cash used in financing activities (2,840) (1,852) (3,187) (Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents (3,461) (5,400) 1,154 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period 14,634 13,567 13,567 Foreign exchange differences (51) (33) (87) Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 11,122 8,134 14,634 Braemar Shipping Services PLC Condensed consolidated half-yearly statement of changes in equity (unaudited) Share capital, Merger share premium reserve, and capital shares to be redemption issued and Retained Total Minority Total reserve other reserves earnings interest equity Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 At 28 February 2006 10,430 20,396 2,031 32,857 - 32,857 Cash flow hedges - 364 - 364 - 364 Exchange differences - (17) - (17) - (17) Net income recognised directly in equity - 347 - 347 - 347 Profit for the period - - 2,357 2,357 59 2,416 Total recognised income for the half year - 347 2,357 2,704 59 2,763 Acquisition - - - - 271 271 Dividends paid 6 - - (2,255) (2,255) - (2,255) Issue of shares 414 - - 414 - 414 Consideration to be - (738) - (738) - (738) paid Credit in respect of share option schemes - - 145 145 - 145 At 31 August 2006 10,844 20,005 2,278 33,127 330 33,457 At 28 February 2007 10,973 19,577 5,390 35,940 309 36,249 Cash flow hedges - 43 - 43 - 43 Exchange differences - (36) - (36) - (36) Net income recognised directly in equity - 7 - 7 - 7 Profit for the period - - 4,713 4,713 80 4,793 Total recognised income for the half year - 7 4,713 4,720 80 4,800 Dividends paid 6 - - (2,451) (2,451) (65) (2,516) Issue of shares 473 - - 473 - 473 Purchase of shares - (797) - (797) - (797) Consideration to be - (221) - (221) - (221) paid Credit in respect of share option schemes - - 190 190 - 190 At 31 August 2007 11,446 18,566 7,842 37,854 324 38,178 BRAEMAR SHIPPING SERVICES PLC UNAUDITED NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 AUGUST 2007 1. General Information The Company is a limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in the UK and listed on the London Stock Exchange. The address of its registered office is 35 Cosway Street, London NW1 5BT. The condensed consolidated half-yearly financial information was approved on 22 October 2007 for issue on 23 October 2007. These interim financial results do not compromise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the year ended 28 February 2007 were approved by the Board of Directors on 10 May 2007 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain any statement under Section 237 of the Companies Act 1985. 2. Basis of preparation This condensed consolidated half-yearly financial information for the half-year ended 31 August 2007 has been prepared in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and with IAS34, 'Interim financial reporting ' as adopted by the European Union. The half-yearly condensed consolidated financial report should be read in conjunction with the annual financial statements for the year ended 28 February 2007, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. 3. Accounting Policies The accounting policies are consistent with those of the annual financial statements for the year ended 28 February 2007, as described in those annual financial statements. The following new standards, amendments to standards or interpretations are mandatory for the first time for the financial year ending 29 February 2008. • IFRIC 8, 'Scope of IFRS 2', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 May 2006. This interpretation has not had any impact on the recognition of share-based payments in the group. • IFRIC 9, 'Reassessment of embedded derivatives', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 June 2006. This interpretation has not had a significant impact on the reassessment of embedded derivatives as the group already assessed if embedded derivatives should be separated using principles consistent with IFRIC 9. • IFRIC 10, 'Interims and impairment', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 November 2006. This interpretation has not had any impact on the timing or recognition of impairment losses as the group already accounted for such amounts using principles consistent with IFRIC 10. • IFRS 7, 'Financial instruments: Disclosures', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2007. IAS 1, 'Amendments to capital disclosures', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2007. IFRS 4, 'Insurance contracts', revised implementation guidance, effective when an entity adopts IFRS7. As this interim report only contains condensed financial statements, and as there are no material financial instrument related transactions in the period, full IFRS 7 disclosures are not required at this stage. The full IFRS 7 disclosures, including the sensitivity analysis to market risk and capital disclosures required by the amendment of IAS 1, will be given in the annual financial statements. • IFRIC 11, 'IFRS 2 - Group and treasury share transactions', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 March 2007. Management do not expect this interpretation to be relevant for the group. The following new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations have been issued, but are not effective for the financial year ending 29 February 2008 and have not been early adopted: • IFRS 8, 'Operating segments', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009, subject to EU endorsement. Management are currently gathering information to make a revision to the group's geographical segments. Management do not currently foresee any changes to the group's business segments. • IAS1 (Revised) - 'Presentation of Financial Statements', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009. • IAS23 (Revised) - 'Borrowing costs', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2009. • IFRIC 12, 'Service concession arrangements', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2008. Management do not expect this interpretation to be relevant for the group. • IFRIC 13, 'Customer loyalty programmes', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2008. • IFRIC 14, 'IAS19 - The limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction', effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2008. None of the above standards are expected to have any impact on the group. 4. Segmental information Revenue Six months to Six months to Year ended 31 Aug 2007 31 Aug 2006 28 Feb 2007 £'000 £'000 £'000 Shipbroking 23,879 17,348 40,530 Logistics 12,013 10,904 23,449 Technical services (1) 3,774 3,191 6,623 Environmental services 7,004 1,121 3,229 46,670 32,564 73,831 Bunker trading 22,016 17,948 33,369 68,686 50,512 107,200 Operating profit Shipbroking 4,793 3,828 8,749 Goodwill impairment charge - shipbroking - (950) (950) 4,793 2,878 7,799 Logistics 432 588 911 Technical services (1) 316 245 553 Environmental services 1,226 68 225 Bunker trading 12 8 62 6,779 3,787 9,550 (1) The results for Falconer Bryan Pte Limited for the period from the date of acquisition to 31 August 2007 are included in Technical Services (see Note 11). 5. Taxation The taxation charge for the half-year is calculated using the estimated effective tax rate for the full year applied to the pre-tax profits at the half year. 6. Dividends The following dividends were paid by the Group: Six months to Six months to Year ended 31 Aug 2007 31 Aug 2006 28 Feb 2007 £000 £000 £000 Interim dividend 6.75 pence per share - - 1,340 Final dividend 12.25 pence (2006: 11.5 pence) per 2,451 2,255 2,255 share 2,451 2,255 3,595 The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 8.00 pence per ordinary share, payable on 11 December 2007 to shareholders on the register on 9 November 2007. 7. Earnings per share Six months to Six months to Year ended 31 Aug 2007 31 Aug 2006 28 Feb 2007 £'000 £'000 £'000 Earnings - continuing operations 4,713 2,357 6,367 Goodwill impairment charge - 950 950 Earnings before goodwill impairment charge 4,713 3,307 7,317 pence Pence Pence Earnings per share 23.66 12.03 32.29 Goodwill impairment - 4.85 4.82 Earnings before goodwill impairment charge 23.66 16.88 37.11 Shares Shares Shares Weighted average number of ordinary shares 19,922,544 19,586,694 19,715,846 Dilutive effect of share options 153,532 326,503 264,693 Diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares 20,076,076 19,913,197 19,980,539 8. Capital expenditure Goodwill, tangible and intangible Assets Six months ended 31 August 2006 £000 Opening net book amount at 1 March 2006 27,976 Acquisition of a subsidiary 2,103 Additions 246 Depreciation, amortisation, impairment and other movements (1,255) Closing net book amount at 31 August 2006 29,070 Six months ended 31 August 2007 Opening net book amount at 1 March 2007 29,666 Acquisition of a subsidiary (see note 11) 2,524 Additions 561 Disposals (7) Depreciation, amortisation, impairment and other movements (501) Closing net book amount at 31 August 2007 32,243 In addition to the movements disclosed above, in the six months ended 31 August 2007, the Group reduced its interest in London Tankers Brokers Panel to 16.7% following the sale of 200 shares for consideration of £200,000. 9. Provisions Onerous Employee lease entitlements Total £'000 £'000 £'000 At 1 March 2006 577 54 631 Foreign exchange - (3) (3) Charged in the year 36 - 36 Utilised in the year (21) - (21) At 31 August 2006 592 51 643 Onerous Employee lease entitlements Total £'000 £'000 £'000 At 1 March 2007 418 45 463 Foreign exchange - (4) (4) Released in the year (86) (25) (111) Utilised in the year (132) - (132) Reclassification from accruals - 101 101 At 31 August 2007 200 117 317 Provisions have been analysed between current and non-current as follows: 31 Aug 2007 31 Aug 2006 28 Feb 2007 £'000 £'000 £'000 Current 277 210 294 Non-current 40 433 169 317 643 463 10. Share capital Number of Ordinary Share shares Shares Premium Total (thousands) £000 £000 £000 At 1 March 2006 19,877 1,988 8,046 10,034 Issues - share option schemes 275 26 388 414 At 31 August 2006 20,152 2,014 8,434 10,448 At 1 March 2007 20,231 2,023 8,554 10,577 Issues - share option schemes 263 26 447 473 At 31 August 2007 20,494 2,049 9,001 11,050 The Group's ESOP trust acquired 197,900 of the company's shares through purchases on the London Stock Exchange at dates between 15 May 2007 and 27 July 2007 at prices ranging between 383 and 417 pence. The total amount paid to acquire the shares was £797,000 and has been deducted from shareholders' equity. During the six months ended 31 August 2007, 262,916 shares were issued at prices ranging between 137.5 pence and 314 pence between 9 March 2007 and 31 August 2007 for aggregate proceeds of £473,000. 11. Acquisitions On 7 July 2007 the Company acquired 100% of the share capital of Falconer Bryan Pte Limited for a cash consideration of £5.9m. The acquired business contributed revenues of £647k and a net profit before amortisation of £66k to the group for the period from acquisition to 31 August 2007. The results of operations as if the acquisition had been made at the beginning of the year would have been revenues of £2,507k and profit before tax of £335k. Details of net assets acquired and goodwill are set out below. The goodwill is attributable to Falconer Bryan's skilled engineering staff. The group has yet to finalise the amount of the fair value of the identifiable assets acquired. Purchase consideration £'000 - cash paid 2,443 - cash payable 3,370 - acquisition expenses 96 Total purchase consideration 5,909 - fair value of identifiable assets acquired (see below) 4,296 Goodwill 1,613 Acquiree's Provisional Carrying Fair Amount value £'000 £'000 Cash and cash equivalents 1,732 1,732 Property, plant and equipment 50 50 Customer relationships - 861 Receivables 2,538 2,538 Payables (900) (900) Net deferred tax 15 15 assets Net identifiable assets acquired 3,435 4,296 Outflow of cash to acquire the business, net of cash acquired: - cash consideration 2,443 - cash and cash equivalents in subsidiary acquired (1,732) - acquisition expenses 96 Cash outflow on acquisition 806 In addition, £125,000 was paid in respect of deferred cash consideration on previous acquisitions. On 28 September 2007, the Group paid £3.4m, being the balance of consideration due to the Falconer Bryan vendors in respect of cash and working capital acquired with the business. In respect of the businesses acquired by the Group in the year ended 28 February 2007, the only adjustment since the publication of the accounts for that year is to adjust the Gorman Cory deferred contingent consideration to £959,000 (2007: £738,000). 12. Related party transactions Key management compensation amounted to £0.7m for the six months ended 31 August 2007 (31 August 2006 - £0.5m). 31 Aug 2007 31 Aug 2006 £000 £000 Salaries and other short term benefits 603 424 Social security costs 66 49 Pension contributions 27 26 Share-based payments 27 7 723 506 The above table does not include any bonus awards as they have not been individually determined. Statement of Directors' responsibilities The Directors confirm that this set of financial statements has been prepared in accordance with IAS34 as adopted by the European Union, and that the interim management report herein includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7 and DTR 4.2.8. The Directors of Braemar Shipping Services PLC are listed in the Braemar Shipping Services PLC Annual Report for 28 February 2007. By order of the Board A R. W. Marsh, Chief Executive J. R.V. Kidwell, Finance Director Independent review report to Braemar Shipping Services plc Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information for the six months ended 31 August 2007 which comprises the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 August 2007 and the related consolidated income statement, consolidated cash flow statement and condensed consolidated half-yearly statement of changes in equity for the six months then ended and related notes. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. Directors' responsibilities The half-yearly report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the half-yearly financial report in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the United Kingdom's Financial Services Authority. As disclosed in note 1, the annual financial statements of Braemar Shipping Services plc are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The financial information included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with International Accounting Standard 34, ' Interim Financial Reporting,' as adopted by the European Union. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review consists principally of making enquiries of group management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and, based thereon, assessing whether the disclosed accounting policies have been applied. 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 and therefore provides a lower level of assurance. Accordingly we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. This report, including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the company for the purpose of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Services Authority and for no other purpose. We do not, in producing this report, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months ended 31 August 2007. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Chartered Accountants West London 22 October 2007 1 The maintenance and integrity of the Braemar Shipping Services plc web site is the responsibility of the directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters and, accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially presented on the website. 2 Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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