Preliminary unaudited results
Elektron PLC
25 May 2006
Embargoed for release: 7:00 a.m. 25 May 2006
ELEKTRON PLC
Preliminary unaudited results for the year ended 31st January 2006
Elektron PLC ('Elektron'), the AIM quoted Engineered Components company
announces its preliminary results for the year ended 31st January 2006.
Key Points:
• Profit before taxation, excluding goodwill and discontinued items UP 14%
to £1,771,000
• Earnings per share, before goodwill, UP 10% to 1.65p
• Proposed final dividend UP 17% to 0.35p per share
• Current order intake UP 15%
• Share buyback programme commenced with 2.1 million shares purchased to
date
• A number of growth initiatives in hand including new sales subsidiary in
China and portfolio of new products
For further information please contact:
Adrian Girling Roland Cornish
Executive Chairman Chairman
Elektron PLC Beaumont Cornish Limited
Tel: 020 8979 3232 Tel: 020 7628 3396
Chairman's Statement
Last year was hard work, but great fun.
We are beginning to see the ongoing benefits of our relentless efforts to reduce
costs by moving manufacturing offshore, coupled with the enthusiasm of our
global distribution partners as they embrace our determined efforts to re-invent
the business by developing innovative products beyond our traditional
electromechanical experience.
At our exhibition stand at Domotechnica in Koeln, the premier European
Exhibition for Home Appliances, we displayed a range of new products, including
smart indicators, temperature logging devices, cooker hood controls and timer
switches. Most important, our distributors as well as OEM customers old and new
are starting to recognise Elektron as a forward looking engineering innovator.
To date we have invested in excess of £100k in developing electronic products.
Whilst it will be some while before the sales of these higher margin products
have a significant impact on the bottom line, we are already seeing the positive
effects on customer order levels for traditional products, through a
distribution chain motivated by the prospect of something new.
With a strong balance sheet, we are well positioned to cope with the recent
dramatic increases in material prices, especially metals. Where we already
maintain good price levels achievable because of high quality and service
levels, we are not so squeezed as some of our competitors who are now forced to
raise prices. Also, owing to a strategy of global procurement and manufacturing,
we have some natural hedging to offset the decline in the US dollar. The ability
to 'ride out' the currency and commodity price fluctuations gives us
opportunities to win market share.
Recognising the ever growing opportunities in China and Asia Pacific in general,
we are taking steps to transition our business there from a factory primarily
structured for export, to a 'Wholly Owned Foreign Enterprise' which will allow
us to trade directly into that market. We are hiring and training sales
personnel to be based at the major cities. We have transferred the first
auto-assembly machine to our factory in China, as part of the programme to
enable the factory to function as a wholly independent designer and manufacturer
of Elektron products.
Results
Turnover on continuing operations was £22,467,000 (2005: £22,683,000). Last
year's figure included a one-off benefit of around £800,000 relating to the
order backlog following the acquisition of Arcolectric.
Gross margins rose from 36.4% to 37.5%, in the face of metal and plastics price
increases which were more than offset by the transfer of hand assembly to
Tunisia.
Operating profit margins before goodwill rose to 8.0% compared with 6.9% the
previous year. With continued cash generation the net interest charges have
reduced to £16,000 compared to £101,000 in the year ended 31 January 2005.
In accordance with FRS 21 the comparative figures have been restated to show
dividends in the period in which they were paid.
Balance sheet & cashflow
Robust trading has continued to strengthen the balance sheet with net funds
increasing to £443,000 after repayment of £589,000 of lease finance obligations.
All existing asset loan finance will be repaid by the end of the financial year.
Because of the increase in profitability the Group now has to pay UK Corporation
tax by instalments instead of in arrears. Consequently £203,000 on account of
the liability arising in the year has been paid as well as the liability for the
previous year, giving a total tax paid of £814,000.
Capital expenditure of £546,000 was paid from cash reserves rather than by
taking on asset finance and cash of £309,000 was paid for provisions previously
made relating to the transfer of assembly to Tunisia.
£150,000 was received from maturing loan notes on the sale of a previous
subsidiary.
£205,000 was spent on the consolidation and purchase of our own shares which was
almost offset by the issue of new shares following the exercise of a third party
option to sell a cash shell to us in exchange for shares.
Earnings per share, dividends and purchase of own shares
Basic earnings per share for the year ended 31 January 2006, were 1.65p (year
ended 31 January 2005: 1.50p before goodwill).
The Board is proposing a final dividend of 0.35p per share (2005: 0.3p) payable
on 8 August 2006.
The Board will also look for opportunities to purchase the Company's shares on
market subject to funds not being required elsewhere.
Future strategy
Whilst continuing to develop new electromechanical products to maintain and grow
our market share, we are exploiting our position in existing markets to
introduce innovative electronic solutions to existing customers. By winning more
of the wallet of our customers we see the opportunity to grow faster than the
markets we serve.
We are strengthening our distribution organisation to grow faster in Asia
Pacific, North America and Eastern Europe.
The Bulgin business, which has been located in Barking for many decades, is
expected to move its moulding, press, plating and logistics operations by the
first quarter of 2007 and the lease on the existing site will be surrendered in
accordance with the break clause. This move will be a significant one-time cost
with excellent payback.
Elektron continues to be active in searching for and assessing suitable
acquisition targets. Some proposals have included manufacturers of engineered
products operating outside its traditional sphere of activity. The Board is
optimistic about concluding a transaction in the current year.
Outlook
The current year has started well with orders up 15% to £6,447,000 in the first
quarter compared with the same period last year.
Adrian Girling
Executive Chairman
Group Profit and Loss Account
Preliminary unaudited results for year ended 31 January 2006
As restated
2006 2005
2004
£'000 £'000
Turnover - continuing operations 22,467 22,683
- discontinued operations 0 333
22,467 23,016
Cost of sales (14,041) (14,635)
Gross profit 8,426 8,381
Net operating expenses (6,639) (5,711)
Operating profit/(loss) - continuing 1,787 1,653
operations
- negative goodwill
release 0 1,080
1,787 2,733
- discontinued
operations 0 (63)
Operating profit 1,787 2,670
Profit on disposal of discontinued operations 0 33
Profit on ordinary activities before interest 1,787 2,703
Net interest payable (16) (101)
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 1,771 2,602
Taxation on profit on ordinary activities (485) (574)
Profit attributable to shareholders 1,286 2,028
Earnings per ordinary share - basic 1.65p 2.67p
Earnings per ordinary share before goodwill - 1.65p 1.50p
basic
Amo
Group Balance Sheet
Preliminary unaudited results as at 31 January
2006
As
restated
31 January 31 January
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 2,165 2,528
Current assets
Stocks 3,266 3,000
Debtors 4,661 3,946
Cash at bank and in hand 1,714 1,581
9,641 8,527
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (4,818) (4,363)
Net current assets 4,823 4,164
Total assets less current liabilities 6,988 6,692
Creditors: amounts falling due after more than 0 (512)
one year
Provisions for liabilities and charges (435) (729)
Net assets 6,553 5,451
Capital and reserves
Called - up share capital 3,954 3,821
Share premium 244 244
Capital redemption reserve 68 0
Other reserves 2 20
Profit and loss account 2,285 1,386
Own shares 0 (20)
Shareholders' funds 6,553 5,451
Group Cash Flow Statement
Preliminary unaudited results for the year ended
31 January 2006
31 January 31 January
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
Cash flow from operating activities 1,636 1,849
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest received 66 62
Interest paid (32) (53)
Interest element of hire purchase and
finance lease payments (49) (110)
(15) (101)
Taxation
UK Corporation tax paid (763) (17)
Overseas tax paid (51) (41)
(814) (58)
Capital expenditure and financial investment
Payments to acquire tangible fixed
assets (546) (558)
Proceeds of sale of tangible fixed
assets 28 11
(518) (547)
Acquisitions and disposals
Sale of subsidiaries 150 671
Cash disposed of on sale of subsidiary 0 (13)
150 658
Equity dividends paid (241) 0
Net cash flow before financing 198 1,801
Financing
Issue of shares 200 100
Purchase of own shares (205) 0
Debt due beyond a year:
Capital element of hire purchase and
finance lease payments (589) (848)
Net cash outflow from financing (594) (748)
(Decrease)/Increase in net cash (396) 1,053
Notes to the cashflow statement: 31 January 31 January
2006 2005
£'000 £'000
1. Reconciliation of operating profit to net
cash inflow from operating activities
Operating profit 1,787 2,670
Release of negative goodwill 0 (1,080)
Depreciation charges 902 847
Loss/(profit) on disposal of
fixed assets (18) 9
Increase in stocks (236) (436)
Increase in debtors (748) (496)
Increase in creditors 243 130
Exchange adjustments 0 4
(Decrease)/increase in
provisions (294) 201
Cashflow from operating
activities 1,636 1,849
2. Analysis of net funds/(debt) 1 February Cashflow 31 January
2005 2006
£'000 £'000 £'000
Cash at bank and in hand 1,581 133 1,714
Bank overdrafts and invoice
discounting facilities (229) (529) (758)
1,352 (396) 956
Finance leases and hire purchase
contracts (1,102) 589 (513)
Net funds 250 193 443
3. Reconciliation of net cashflow to movement 31 January 31 January
in net funds 2006 2005
£'000 £'000
(Decrease)/Increase in cash (396) 1,053
Cash outflow from decrease in
net debt and lease financing 589 848
Change in net funds resulting
from cashflows 193 1,901
Opening net funds/(debt) 250 (1,651)
Closing net funds 443 250
Notes:
1. Audited financial statements will be sent to shareholders towards the
end of June 2006. Copies of this announcement are available free of charge from
the Company's registered office at Alfreds Way, Barking, Essex IG11 0AZ for a
period of one month from the date hereof and copies of the audited financial
statements will be so available for at least 14 days from date of publication.
2. The Company's financial statements for 2006, from which the figures
contained in this statement have been extracted, have not yet been reported on
by the Company's auditors or filed with the Registrar of Companies. The
financial statements for 2005, from which the figures contained in this
preliminary statement have been extracted, have been filed and contain an
unqualified audit report with no reference to section 237 of the Companies Act
1985.
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