Final Results

Feedback PLC 24 July 2001 Feedback PLC - Final Results for the year ended 31st March 2001 - Chairman's Statement The Group has had a difficult trading year and on turnover similar to the previous year the Group reached a breakeven position. Whilst there was a second half recovery from losses of £352,000 incurred at the half year, the outcome for the year was disappointing. The second half saw a marked improvement in the results of Feedback Instruments and Feedback Incorporated which, together with the Data company, were all profitable in the year. However, the losses attributable for the year at TekniCAL, our joint venture company, offset the profits made by the other Group subsidiaries. I will refer to TekniCAL later in my statement. The Group had strong export business which represented 64% of turnover with equipment sales in over 70 countries. There was a significant increase in business in US Dollar trading areas, Americas, Middle and the Far East, contrasting with a reduction in business from Continental Europe. We believe this is due in part to the relative values of Sterling, the US Dollar and the Euro. Feedback Instruments Both turnover and profits at this Company were broadly in line with the previous year. I indicated at the interim stage that overall margins at the Instruments company had been under pressure in the first half year due to an adverse product mix. I can now report that in the second half there was a more favourable balance between factored and own manufactured product which resulted in a marked improvement in margins achieved. Considerable progress has been made in product development, particularly in software areas, in the year. This, together with the increased sales and marketing resource already in place, should enable this company to exploit more fully opportunities in the educational market. I would now like to address the performance and future of TekniCAL. TekniCAL represents both a major opportunity for the future of the Group and a significant short term challenge. We firmly believe that products already developed (Virtual Campus and Virtual Training Manager) meet a requirement in both the education and corporate training markets for the delivery of courses by way of Internet/Intranet technologies in the future. Interest in the area has been very strong but did not materialise as firm orders during the year, due in part to a review by Governmental Advisory bodies that, once again, delayed the release of funding. I mentioned in my Interim Statement that the future funding of TekniCAL was under consideration. After investigating several alternatives, it has become clear that the future for TekniCAL and Feedback would be best served by Feedback acquiring the University of Lincolnshire and Humberside's (our joint venture partner) shareholding in TekniCAL. Negotiations to achieve this are currently in progress and we will keep shareholders informed of developments. We believe it is worth repeating that the combination of the Feedback Instruments hardware/software offerings together with TekniCAL's Internet based virtual learning environments and delivery systems place us in a strong position in the educational/training markets for the future. Feedback Incorporated It is pleasing to report that the American subsidiary had a very good year. A significant increase in turnover led to marked improvement in profitability. The restructuring of the American representatives network and strengthening of the Company's sales force resulted in a higher level of customer contact. This, together with the enhanced products available from the Instruments company, undoubtedly led to the successful year. Whilst major markets for the Company's products continues to be in 4-year University programmes significant potential also exists in Vocational Schools, Community and Technical Colleges, plus Industrial and Military training establishments, for the newer software based products available from within the Group. Feedback Data The results for this Company were below expectations with a decline in both turnover and profit from the previous year. I reported at the Interim stage that, in common with other IT equipment manufacturers, the Company had seen a weakening in demand. Initially, this was due to post Y2K IT spending restrictions, although as the second half year progressed, there were clear signs that business was being affected by what was perceived to be a slowing down in the economy. The Company continued to develop new, and enhance existing, hardware and software products for the broad data capture market. It is pleasing to report that exploitation of the terminal designed to meet the European Working Time Directive reporting requirements has opened up markets in the leisure, service and small retail sectors not previously seen as part of the Company's market area. Newer developments in Data Capture applications in the food industry and network/data security products are already well advanced and will, in line with our long term strategy, offer further marketing opportunities outside the Company's traditional core business areas. The reorganisation of the German subsidiary is now complete and the results for the year were in line with expectations. Having gone through this transitional management period, the German operation should be more stable in the future. Current Trading and Future Prospects In the Economy generally, there appears to be some reluctance on the part of industry to place orders for capital equipment and we are noticing signs of this trend ourselves. In the first quarter of the new year trading is below our expectations, however, it is comparable to the same period in 2000. On the Data equipment side of our business our Value Added Resellers, to whom most of our core business sales are made, are detecting some reduction in the general IT spend by industry. On the education and training side, we are negotiating a significant number of large contracts where we are reasonably confident of obtaining substantial business but where formal orders have to be finalised. As we continue to update our products we are confident that our offerings are well suited for current and future market needs. Dividend Your Board is not recommending that a dividend be paid on the ordinary shares. General I would like to thank all the Executive Directors and Staff for their efforts on behalf of the Group over the last twelve months, which has not been an easy period. D H Harding Chairman 24 July 2001 FEEDBACK PLC CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Year ended Year ended 31 March 2001 31 March 2000 £'000s £'000s Turnover: Group and share of joint venture 9,543.9 9,700.7 Less: Share of joint venture's turnover (223.2) (406.3) Group Turnover 9,320.7 9,294.4 Cost of Sales (5,320.5) (5,459.2) Gross profit 4,000.2 3,835.2 Other operating expenses (3,612.4) (3,249.8) Operating profit 387.8 585.4 Share of operating (loss)/profit of joint venture (380.9) 28.3 Profit on ordinary activities before interest and 6.9 613.7 tax Net interest charge (6.8) (2.0) Profit on ordinary activities before tax 0.1 611.7 Tax on profit on ordinary activities 192.1 (207.6) Profit on ordinary activities after tax 192.2 404.1 Dividends (99.7) (192.2) Retained profit for Group and its share of joint 92.5 211.9 venture Earnings per share (pence) Basic 0.8p 2.1p Fully diluted 0.8p 2.1p All amounts relate to continuing operations. FEEDBACK PLC CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET 31 March 31 March 2001 2000 £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Fixed Assets Tangible Assets 582.7 483.0 Investment in joint venture - Share of gross assets - 191.3 - Share of gross liabilities - (44.2) - 147.1 582.7 630.1 Current Assets Stocks 1,958.6 1,444.7 Debtors 4,191.5 4,222.3 Cash at bank and in hand 628.6 787.2 6,778.7 6,454.2 Creditors Amounts falling due within one year - Borrowings (85.1) (84.6) - Other creditors (2,546.6) (2,514.5) (2,631.7) (2,599.1) Net Current Assets 4,147.0 3,855.1 Total assets less current liabilities 4,729.7 4,485.2 Creditors Amounts falling due after more than one year - Borrowings (152.5) (190.9) Provisions for liabilities and charges - Share of gross assets 110.3 - - - Share of gross liabilities (344.1) (233.8) - - Net assets 4,343.4 4,294.3 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 2,057.7 2,090.2 Share premium account 24.8 24.8 Revaluation reserve 268.8 214.2 Capital reserve 299.9 299.9 Other reserve 340.0 307.5 Profit and loss account 1,352.2 1,357.7 Total reserves 2,285.7 2,204.1 Shareholders' funds 4,343.4 4,294.3 Included within shareholders' funds is an amount of £770,814 (2000: £795,600) in respect of non-equity interests. FEEDBACK PLC CONSOLIDATED CASHFLOW STATEMENT Year Year ended ended 31 March 31 March 2001 2000 £'000s £'000s £'000s £'000s Net cash inflow from operating activities 72.3 24.2 Returns on investments and servicing of finance * Interest received 10.1 45.0 * Interest paid (16.9) (47.0) * Non equity dividends paid (89.5) (105.6) Net cash (outflow) from returns on investments (96.3) (107.6) and servicing of finance (24.0) (83.4) Corporation tax recovered/(paid) 39.6 (31.8) Capital expenditure and financial investment * Purchase of tangible fixed assets (152.7) (79.7) * Sales of tangible fixed assets 16.4 10.9 Net cash (outflow) from capital expenditure and (136.3) (68.8) financial investment Net cash (outflow) before management of liquid (120.7) (184.0) resources and financing Management of liquid resources * Treasury deposit 550.0 200.0 Financing * Issue of ordinary share capital - 4.4 * Repayments of bank and other loans (30.0) (30.0) * Capital element of finance leases (12.2) (11.8) and rental payments Net cash (outflow) from financing (42.2) (37.4) Increase/(decrease) in cash in the year 387.1 (21.4) Notes: 1. Basic earnings per share for the year ended 31 March 2001 is based on the Group profit on ordinary activities after taxation and preference dividends of £89,500 (2000 - £106,000) attributed to 11,691,933 Ordinary Shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue throughout the year (2000 - 10,181,320). The diluted earnings per share, based on the same earnings numerator, is calculated allowing for both the full conversion of the Preference Shares and the full exercise of outstanding share options. However, in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 14, as neither of these conversions have a dilutive effect the earnings per share figure remains unaltered. The adjusted weighted average number of shares is 16,295,726 (2000 - 14,370,947). The Group profit on ordinary activities after taxation has been adjusted by the preference dividend paid. 2. The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2000 is extracted from the Group's financial statements to that date which received an unqualified auditors' report and have been filed with the registrar of companies. The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2001 is extracted from the Group's financial statements to that date which received an unqualified auditors' report and will be filed with the registrar of companies. 3. The Report and Accounts will be posted to shareholders in due course and the Annual General Meeting will be held at 11.00am on 30 August 2001. Enquiries: Roger Barnett Group Managing Director Feedback plc 01892 653 322

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