Final Results

Concurrent Technologies PLC 10 March 2004 CONCURRENT TECHNOLOGIES PLC Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2003 Clear market upturn - competitive position maintained Concurrent Technologies Plc, which manufactures high end embedded computer products for critical applications in the defence, transportation, communications and industrial markets, announces preliminary results for the year to 31 December 2003. Main points • Profits in-line with stock market expectations: Pre-tax profit £280k (2002: £553k), turnover £7.3m (2002: £7.5m) • Strong net cash position - £3.3 million • Established recovery in all markets, particularly communications and defence • Increased investment in R&D - extension of existing computer ranges, introduction of high temperature versions, consolidation of switched fabric technologies • Increasing trend towards customer outsourcing of engineering function presents Concurrent Technologies with opportunities Michael Collins, Chairman, commented: 'Our target markets are showing strong signs of recovery, driven in particular by the increase in expenditure in the USA on defence and homeland security projects, and the upturn in design activity within new telecoms and internet security applications in the USA and China. Our latest products ensure that we are positioned to take advantage of this business upturn; our recent acceptance into the Intel(R) Communications Alliance should also assist us to increase our profile within our industry sector.' 'Whilst the component supply problem we encountered last year has been resolved through the introduction of the new generation boards, we still expect it to have some impact on the first half of the current year. We are, however, optimistic with regards to the prospects for 2004 as a whole.' 10 March 2004 Enquiries Company Name Tel ---------- ------------ -------------- ------------ Concurrent Technologies Glen Fawcett Managing Director 01206 752626 ---------- ------------ -------------- ------------ College Hill Nicholas Nelson 020 7457 2020 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Business Summary Concurrent Technologies designs, builds and supplies high end embedded computer products to the defence, transportation, communication and industrial markets. These computer products are integrated into a variety of applications which require very high levels of processing power and superior levels of reliability; applications include communications, networking, medical imaging, industrial automation, scientific research and military systems. The main product range includes single and dual processor computer boards using Intel(R) and Motorola(R) Central Processing Units (CPUs) for the CompactPCI(R), VME and Multibus II architectures. In addition to hardware design capability, our engineering teams undertake a significant amount of software and firmware development to provide interoperability between products, generate test software both on-board and for production test purposes, and also provide support for leading embedded and real-time operating systems. Financial Market conditions improved considerably through 2003 and despite the component supply problem encountered in the last quarter, we still achieved a Group turnover for the year of £7,303,805. The consolidated pre-tax profit of the Group for the year to 31 December 2003 was £280,283 (2002: £552,895) with our two USA subsidiaries both reporting profits. We ended the year with cash of £3,263,408 and no borrowings. Review of 2003 Operations and Plans for 2004 As stated in September 2003, when we announced our interim results, our business outlook continues to improve. We suffered an unexpected setback in October through the early discontinuance of a key component used in the most important of our then current range of boards. This meant a short term loss of sales revenue for us in the last quarter of 2003 as customers deferred their purchase decisions until the release of the next generation products. I am pleased to report that the new products have now been released. There has been a clear upturn in our markets, particularly the defence and communications markets of the USA, during the last six months. New VME and CompactPCI boards driven by Intel Pentium(R) M processors have now been released and made available to customers. Extended temperature range versions, which are especially suited to defence applications where boards often have to operate in hostile environments, will follow shortly. The recovery in the communications sector is now well established. As a result we are seeing an increase in enquiries and orders for our embedded computer products to meet the growing demand for computers which can cope with the relay of large parcels of data and for monitoring and testing the quality and functionality of communications systems. Future Strategy We have again invested heavily in design and development, increasing it in 2003 to over £1 million for the first time. Our strategy is to continue to support and expand all three of our existing embedded computer technology architectures. These are VME, powered by Intel and Motorola PowerPC CPUs, and CompactPCI and Multibus II, both powered by Intel CPUs. Extended temperature range versions, offering higher gross margins, will also be produced. Where possible, we will be using low power devices such as Intel's Pentium M processors and their successors. The next generation computer architecture we plan to support is AdvancedTCA(R) which is a technology using very high speed serial inter-connections based on switched fabric methods instead of the traditional parallel connections. This new architecture is particularly aimed at the telecommunications markets because the larger board size offers higher functionality, better cooling and an improved price/performance ratio. During 2003 we made a significant investment in new Computer Aided Design equipment which has recently been used to develop a new graphics PMC controller released in February 2004 and is currently being used on one of our new VME Pentium M boards. We expect to become quicker in getting new concepts to market which we believe will boost our sales opportunities. We also intend to position ourselves to take advantage of an increasing trend towards outsourcing. Many customers have reduced their in house engineering staff to reduce fixed costs. Such customers are now looking to outsource the design and manufacture of their systems to companies such as ours. Thus we intend to look to enhance our capabilities to produce complete embedded computer systems as well as the component boards which go in them. As defence related applications have continued to grow in importance for us, so too has our emphasis on the USA market place. The second Iraq war has resulted in continued good market conditions for high-tech defence equipment which is generating an increasing demand for VME boards using Intel processors. Defence projects have a longer design-in lead time than commercial projects but have a much longer life time expectation. Our sales and marketing channels will be increased in the USA in particular to improve our market position. Dividend The trading environment for the Group is healthy and there is an improving outlook for business this year. We have therefore decided to recommend the payment of a final dividend of 0.25 pence per share (making a total for the year including the interim dividend of 0.50 pence per share). The total cost of this final dividend will amount to £181,750. The ex-dividend date for the final dividend is 14 April 2004, the record date is 16 April 2004 and, subject to the shareholders' approval, payment will be made on 30 April 2004. Outlook Our target markets are showing strong signs of recovery, driven in particular by the increase in expenditure in the USA on defence and homeland security projects, and the upturn in design activity within new telecoms and internet security applications in the USA and China. Our latest products ensure that we are positioned to take advantage of this business upturn; our recent acceptance into the Intel Communications Alliance should also assist us to increase our profile within our industry sector. Whilst the component supply problem we encountered last year has been resolved through the introduction of the new generation boards, we still expect it to have some impact on the first half of the current year. We are, however, optimistic with regards to the prospects for 2004 as a whole. Corporate Governance As an AIM listed company Concurrent Technologies Plc is not obliged to comply with the Combined Code. We do however acknowledge the overall importance of the guidelines and apply as many of the principles therein as are appropriate to a company of our size and nature. With this in mind we have decided to appoint an additional non-executive director in the coming months and are currently in the interview process. Annual General Meeting The Annual General Meeting this year will be held on 23 April 2004. All companies and product names are trademarks of their respective organisations. Consolidated Profit and Loss Account Year to Year to Note 31 December 31 December 2003 2002 £ £ Turnover 7,303,805 7,537,452 Cost of sales 4,202,524 4,130,171 -------- -------- Gross profit 3,101,281 3,407,281 Net operating expenses 2,885,769 2,902,596 -------- -------- Operating profit before goodwill amortisation 215,512 504,685 Amortisation of goodwill 28,018 30,506 -------- -------- Group operating profit 187,494 474,179 Interest receivable 92,789 78,716 -------- -------- Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 280,283 552,895 Taxation on profit on ordinary activities (50,662) 96,169 -------- -------- Profit for the financial year 330,945 456,726 Dividend 363,500 254,450 -------- -------- Retained (loss)/profit for the year (32,555) 202,276 ======== ======== Basic and diluted earnings per share 3 0.46p 0.63p ======== ======== Basic and diluted earnings per share excluding amortisation of goodwill 3 0.49p 0.67p ======== ======== Statement of Total Recognised Gains and Losses Year to Year to 31 December 31 December 2003 2002 £ £ Profit for the financial year 330,945 456,726 Currency translation differences on foreign currency net investments (123,590) (107,193) --------- --------- Total recognised gains relating to the year 207,355 349,533 ========= ========= Consolidated Balance Sheet 31 December 31 December 2003 2002 £ £ FIXED ASSETS Goodwill 154,612 200,224 Tangible assets 536,708 559,764 ---------- ----------- 691,320 759,988 ---------- ----------- CURRENT ASSETS Stocks and work in progress 956,240 1,111,317 Debtors 1,417,753 1,869,807 Cash at bank and in hand 3,263,408 2,635,225 ---------- ----------- 5,637,401 5,616,349 CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year 1,205,288 1,094,915 ---------- ----------- NET CURRENT ASSETS 4,432,113 4,521,434 ---------- ----------- TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 5,123,433 5,281,422 Provision for liabilities and charges 33,032 34,876 ---------- ----------- NET ASSETS 5,090,401 5,246,546 ========== =========== CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 727,000 727,000 Share premium account 3,405,817 3,405,817 Capital redemption reserve 256,976 256,976 Profit and loss account 700,608 856,753 ---------- ----------- EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 5,090,401 5,246,546 ========== =========== The Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 9 March 2004 and signed on its behalf by: M Collins G A Fawcett Chairman Managing Director Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 2003 2002 £ £ Net cash inflow from operating activities 1,238,346 578,644 Returns on investments and servicing of finance: Interest received 92,789 78,716 Taxation (11,332) (64,258) Capital expenditure and financial investment: Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (176,627) (106,676) Acquisitions and disposals: --------- --------- Purchase of subsidiary undertakings - (1,194,333) Net bank balances acquired with subsidiary undertakings - 197,444 --------- --------- Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals - (996,889) Equity dividends paid (436,200) - --------- --------- Increase/(Decrease) in cash 706,976 (510,463) ========= ========= NOTES 1. The financial information set out above does not constitute the company's statutory accounts for the years ended 31 December 2003 or 2002, but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for 2002 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and those for 2003 will be delivered following the company's annual general meeting. The auditors have reported on those accounts; their reports were unqualified and did not contain a statement under s237(2) or (3) Companies Act 1985. 2. The consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared on a basis consistent with the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2002. 3. The calculation of earnings per share is based on the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue of 72,700,012 (2002 - 72,700,012), and on the profit after tax of £330,945 (2002 - Profit: £456,726). Fully diluted earnings per share is the same as basic earnings per share. Copies of the Annual Report will be sent to Shareholders and will also be available from the Company's Registered Office: C/O MSP Secretaries, 22 Melton Street, London, NW1 2BW. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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