Interim Results

Fisher (James) & Sons PLC 30 August 2006 James Fisher and Sons plc (FSJ.L) ('James Fisher' or 'the Company') Interim Results James Fisher, the UK's leading marine services provider, announces Interim Results for the half year ended 30 June 2006. Revenue, pre-tax profit, earnings per share and cash flow are well ahead of the comparable period in 2005. Strong growth, particularly organic growth, in marine support service companies has more than replaced the discontinued cable ship profit with better quality marine service income. 57% of the growth is organic with the remaining 43% from acquisitions, principally Monyana and Fendercare. Financial Highlights % 2006 2005 • Revenue +29% £57.0m £44.1m • Profit for half year from continuing operations +55% £7.3m £4.7m • Basic earnings per share from total operations +66% 18.68p 11.28p • Adjusted basic earnings per share from continuing operations +54% 14.87p 9.63p • Financial gearing 34% 57% • Interim dividend proposed +12% 3.47p 3.10p • Group operating cash flow over £7m Operational Highlights • Last cable ship sold for US$18.25M - £1.76m better than book value • Offshore oil service divisional profit from operations up 87% • Specialist technical services divisional profit from operations including joint venture up 101% • Defence divisional profit from operations including joint venture up 13% • Marine oil services divisional profit from operations unchanged, ROCE up to 13.5%, strong cash flow • Pension fund exposure reduced to £5.9m (2005 - £16.9m) • Marine support services contribution to profit from operations since 2001 up from 12.5% to 67.3% of total. • 4 year record of success in finding, integrating and growing acquisitions Commenting on the outlook, Chairman, Tim Harris, said: 'The encouraging first half result confirms we have a number of well managed marine service companies in strong, niche market positions in industries such as oil, port development, nuclear decommissioning and defence (including submarine rescue and surface ship related contracts), either trading well in strong markets or well positioned in markets with potential. With the cable ship involvement resolved, the pension exposure effectively controlled and financial gearing at only 34%, the group is well set to make its next strategic move and to continue to grow profits strongly for its shareholders.' For further information: James Fisher & Sons plc Tim Harris Chairman 020 7338 5808 Nick Henry Chief Executive Officer www.james-fisher.co.uk Michael Shields Group Finance Director Adventis Financial PR Peter Binns 07768 392 582 020 7034 4765 Chris Steele 07979 604 687 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Highlights 2006 2005 Revenue + 29% £57.0m £44.1m Profit for half year from continuing operations + 55% £7.3m £4.7m Basic earnings per share from total operations + 66% 18.68p 11.28p Adjusted basic earnings per share from continuing operations + 54% 14.87p 9.63p Financial gearing 34% 57% Overview James Fisher and Sons has enjoyed a strong first half by any measure - revenue, profit, earnings per share and cash flow - and produced a result well ahead of the comparable period in 2005. Strong growth, particularly organic growth, in our marine support service companies has more than replaced the discontinued cable ship profit with better quality marine service income. The sale of our last remaining cable ship, Oceanic Princess, for $18.25 million in June at a profit of £1.76 million over the carrying value in last year's balance sheet, concludes our involvement in that business. Strategy The following table demonstrates the success of the group strategy in using its strong cash flow to expand its marine service operations, which now account for over two thirds of operating profit, by building on its core expertise of practical engineering and operational skills in the marine sector. Segmental profit from operations before separately disclosed items 2002 2003 2004 2005 1st half 2006 £m £m £m £m £m Marine Support Services offshore oil * * 2.9 4.0 3.5 specialist technical * * 0.9 2.7 2.4 defence * * 2.7 2.1 1.2 1.8 4.8 6.5 8.8 7.1 Marine Oil Services 4.7 6.1 6.9 6.7 3.4 Cable Ship (discontinued 2005) 7.9 4.3 3.9 4.5 - 14.4 15.2 17.3 20.0 10.5 * not available The growth in marine services has been achieved both organically and by the acquisition of over 15 small-to-medium sized privately held, entrepreneurially run businesses costing in total £52.3 million. A particularly pleasing feature of the 2006 first half result is that 57% of the growth is organic with the remaining 43% from acquisitions, principally the Monyana group in December 2005. With gearing at only 34% at 30 June 2006, against 57% last year and the cable ship issue resolved, the group is well placed to continue aggressively its successful marine service strategy by supporting its organic growth with further acquisitions. Offshore Oil Services Divisional result £3.5 million (2005 - £1.9 million) This division benefited from strong underlying markets and the acquisition of the Monyana group which together enabled a 59% growth in revenue and 87% in profits, with a margin improvement of 4.6%. 50% of the profit improvement was due to organic growth. We are increasingly using our strong Aberdeen and Stavanger market presence to expand by following our customers into the new oil exploration markets being developed around the world. This is reflected in our revenue analysis which, for the 2006 first half, was 54% Norwegian North Sea, 29% UK North Sea and 17% other global markets. The Monyana group acquisition has been successfully integrated and we shall shortly be combining all of our Aberdeen activities on Monyana's eleven acre freehold site at Old Meldrum. This will enable both marketing and operational synergies to be realised as well as enabling the sale of the former Scan Tech UK freehold site at Bridge of Don. From September 2006 UK activities for Monyana and Scan Tech UK activities will trade under a united Fishers Offshore brand. Similarly, in Stavanger we have acquired a new freehold site for development at Finnestad/Dusavik to which we shall relocate our Scan Tech AS, Scan Tech Air Supply and Monyana activities. They will trade under the Scan Tech brand which has significant customer recognition in Norway. We continue to invest in new equipment in this division to ensure that we can meet our customer requirements both in the North Sea and increasingly worldwide. Specialist Technical Services Divisional result including joint ventures £2.4 million (2005 - £1.2 million) Revenue was up 87% and profit doubled in this division with margins also improving. All three of its key components, FenderCare, James Fisher Nuclear and Remote Marine Systems traded well. Although we benefited from three additional months from the FenderCare acquisition in March 2005, organic growth was the main contributor to the improved performance. The FenderCare group performed exceptionally well. It is well placed in two markets - oil and port development - both of which are extremely strong at present. FenderCare is expanding further worldwide, based on its widely recognised specialist skills and have recently upgraded operations in Singapore and opened a new base in the Middle East, one of the world's fastest growing markets. James Fisher Nuclear had a better six months. The nuclear decommissioning market, although of real potential, is still suffering from uncertainty particularly over the future of the British Nuclear Group but also concerning the decommissioning bidding process itself which, like everything else in the nuclear business, has been radically revised with uncertain results. However, we enjoy a niche decommissioning skill in remote handling and attractive industrial premises at Egremont, close to the Sellafield site. James Fisher Nuclear has recently teamed with a number of complementary, like-minded companies to form a joint company called Cumbria Nuclear Solutions Limited. This has started to bid for some of the larger contracts which, individually, we previously did not have the capacity to take on. Remote Marine Systems again performed well in the first half. It enjoys a strong market niche in the North Sea, for the design and production of electrical penetrators for oil wells. In the usual James Fisher way we are now encouraging a more extensive international marketing effort with some success to date. Defence Divisional result including joint venture £1.2 million (2005 - £1.1 million) Revenue in this division grew by 5% but this was not reflected in the profit because of increased bidding costs. The position has not changed materially over the last six months - we continue to track and bid for a number of significant contracts, both submarine rescue and surface ship related, the gestations for which are quite long-term. The 'bread and butter', regular, smaller work is producing a reasonable result but we have yet to win a transforming contract. The Foreland joint venture company, which operates the Ministry of Defence's six military roll-on roll-off vessels, continues to operate well and produced an improved result demonstrating the potential in the defence arena, given the right combination of skills and patience. Marine Oil Services Divisional result £3.4 million (2005 - £3.4 million) The result was effectively the same as last year with revenue, profit and margin virtually unchanged. The return on capital improved by almost 1% to 13.5%, virtually tax free under the tonnage tax regime, and reflecting the chartered nature of the new tonnage, Cumbrian Fisher, Clyde Fisher and Shannon Fisher against the owned tonnage of the three older ships, Lough Fisher, Tees Fisher and Wear Fisher which we operated in the first half of 2005, then sold. We have recently taken delivery of the last in the current round of newbuildings, Solway Fisher, and will benefit from her contribution in the second half. The Buncefield fire in December 2005 had an adverse effect on one contract for the 6,000 tonne ships because it disrupted the planned distribution of clean petroleum products around the coast, temporarily reducing the contract requirement for that class of vessel. The Marine Oil Services division is now contributing a virtually tax free return on capital of 13.5% and a strong cash flow which supports the expansion of our other fast growing marine service divisions. It also provides and underpins many of our marine service skills and represents an important part of our 'core' activities. Directors and Employees Ian Serjent, our Marine and Technical Services Director, retired from the Board at this year's AGM after more than thirty years with the Group. In many ways Ian was the embodiment of James Fisher's 'practical engineering and operational skills' and I would like to thank him for his great contribution to the Group's success. The pension fund deficit reported under IFRS in the balance sheet declined from £16.9 million at 30 June 2005 to £5.9 million at 30 June 2006. This reduction was partly the result of management action in phasing out the final salary scheme to existing members and making special cash contributions to the two James Fisher Schemes totalling £3.0 million in the last twelve months. However, improved investment returns and more importantly a rise in longer term interest rates also played a significant role. I would like to thank all of our employees and seafarers for their effort in producing a most encouraging result in the first half. James Fisher intentionally operates a flat management structure which places delegated responsibility on managers. The aim is to challenge and encourage individual initiative. I would particularly like to recognise and thank all of those who have risen to the challenge and put the group in a position to do even better. In the same way, I would like to thank all the founding shareholders of the businesses we have acquired who, in the Fishers way, have remained with us in such an enthusiastic manner. Outlook James Fisher's aim is to be the UK's leading marine service group and in recent years has followed a clear strategy to achieve it. The encouraging first half result and current trading confirm that we have a number of well managed marine service companies which enjoy strong, niche market positions in industries such as oil, port development, nuclear decommissioning and defence, which are either growing strongly or have the potential for significant future growth. With the cable ship issue resolved, the pension exposure effectively controlled and financial gearing at only 34%, the group is now well set to make its next strategic move and to continue to grow profits strongly for its shareholders. GROUP INCOME STATEMENT For the six months ended 30 June 2006 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Note six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 Before Separately Before Separately separately disclosed separately disclosed disclosed items disclosed items items note 5 Total items note 5 Total Total £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Continuing operations Group revenue 57,010 57,010 44,128 44,128 91,411 Cost of sales (45,515) (45,515) (35,631) (35,631) (73,931) Gross profit 11,495 11,495 8,497 8,497 17,480 Administrative expenses (2,793) (2,793) (2,518) (2,518) (5,413) Profit from operations before 8,702 8,702 5,979 5,979 12,067 separately disclosed items Pension benefit curtailment - - - - - - 2,000 Loss on ship disposals - (24) (24) - (1,449) (1,449) (1,617) Profit from operations 8,702 (24) 8,678 5,979 (1,449) 4,530 12,450 Finance costs Finance income (revenue) 159 - 159 180 - 180 304 Finance costs (1,299) - (1,299) (1,355) - (1,355) (2,591) Exchange gain/(loss) on loan - 35 35 - (93) (93) (130) conversion (1,140) 35 (1,105) (1,175) (93) (1,268) (2,417) Share of post tax results of joint 859 - 859 639 - 639 1,413 ventures Profit on continuing operations 2 8,421 11 8,432 5,443 (1,542) 3,901 11,446 before taxation Taxation (including overseas 10 (1,133) - (1,133) (753) - (753) (754) taxation of £469,000; 2005 £260,000) Profit on continuing operations 7,288 11 7,299 4,690 (1,542) 3,148 10,692 Discontinued operations Profit/(loss) from discontinued 4 1,856 2,348 (12,889) operations Profit/(loss) attributable to equity holders of the 9,155 5,496 (2,197) parent Earnings per share (EPS) pence pence pence Basic EPS from continuing operations 12 14.89 6.46 21.91 Diluted EPS from continuing 12 14.76 6.40 21.72 operations Basic EPS on profit/(loss) from 12 18.68 11.28 (4.50) total operations Diluted EPS on profit/(loss) from 12 18.52 11.17 (4.50) total operations Adjusted earnings per share Basic EPS from continuing operations 12 14.87 9.63 21.84 Diluted EPS from continuing 12 14.74 9.54 21.64 operations Dividends Paid or approved by shareholders in the period Final dividend 5.69 4.95 4.95 Interim dividend - - 3.10 5.69 4.95 8.05 Proposed but not accrued Final dividend - - 5.69 Interim dividend 3.47 3.10 - 3.47 3.10 5.69 GROUP STATEMENT OF RECOGNISED INCOME AND EXPENSE For the six months ended 30 June 2006 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Note six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Income and expense recognised directly in equity Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations: Currency translation differences (130) 81 26 Net investment hedge 147 (104) 9 17 (23) 35 Fair value of gains/(losses) on cash flow 52 (163) (134) hedges Share of fair value (losses)/gains of cash flow hedges in (17) (67) 169 joint venture Actuarial gains/(losses) on defined benefit 7 5,331 (4,070) (4,531) schemes 5,383 (4,323) (4,461) Transfers to the income statement On cash flow hedges (4) (40) 36 Tax on items taken directly to equity 10 (1,054) 780 123 Net income/(expense) recognised directly in 4,325 (3,583) (4,302) equity Profit/(loss) for the period 9,155 5,496 (2,197) Total recognised income/(expense) for the 13 13,480 1,913 (6,499) period All recognised income/(expense) is attributable to the equity holders of the parent. GROUP BALANCE SHEET At 30 June 2006 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 Note £000 £000 £000 Assets Non current assets Goodwill 36,205 30,649 36,168 Property, plant and equipment 66,236 102,042 67,081 Investment in joint ventures 3,406 2,576 2,587 Available for sale financial assets 1,368 1,157 1,368 Deferred tax assets 187 1,825 1,197 107,402 138,249 108,401 Current assets Inventories 6,673 5,745 5,797 Trade and other receivables 23,913 20,642 21,026 Derivative financial instruments 77 - - Cash and short term deposits 9 10,098 5,875 9,725 40,761 32,262 36,548 Non-current assets classified as held for sale 4 - 1,189 7,959 Total assets 148,163 171,700 152,908 Equity and liabilities Capital and reserves Called up share capital 13 12,373 12,345 12,345 Share premium 13 24,081 23,960 23,960 Treasury shares 13 (1,154) (1,116) (1,184) Other reserves 13 226 (221) 178 Retained earnings 13 48,666 48,050 38,030 Total equity 84,192 83,018 73,329 Non current liabilities Other payables 963 33 593 Retirement benefit obligations 7 5,912 16,870 13,536 Derivative financial instruments - - 18 Cumulative preference shares 100 100 100 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 30,640 41,256 42,695 37,615 58,259 56,942 Current liabilities Trade and other payables 16,936 17,101 14,802 Current tax 1,616 1,601 1,370 Derivative financial instruments 30 183 102 Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 7,774 11,538 6,363 26,356 30,423 22,637 Total liabilities 63,971 88,682 79,579 Total equity and liabilities 148,163 171,700 152,908 GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT For the six months ended 30 June 2006 Unaudited Unaudited Audited six months ended six months ended Year ended Note 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Group profit from operations 8,678 4,530 12,450 Adjustments to reconcile Group operating profit to net cash inflows from operating activities Profit/(loss) from discontinued operations 1,858 2,351 (12,886) Adjustments for: Depreciation 2,773 3,983 7,670 Profit on sale of property, plant and (185) (17) (51) equipment Pension benefit curtailment - - (2,000) Impairment of non - current assets - - 10,885 (Profit)/loss on ship disposals (1,737) 1,449 11,565 Increase in trade and other receivables (3,035) (3,548) (3,014) (Increase)/decrease in inventories (910) 471 258 Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables 2,584 24 (1,291) Additional defined benefit pension scheme contributions (2,418) (88) (1,994) Share based compensation 263 201 432 Cash generated from operations 7,871 9,356 22,024 Income tax payments (539) (781) (1,404) Cash flow from operating activities 7,332 8,575 20,620 Investing activities Dividends from joint venture undertakings - - 1,068 Proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment 9,897 1,015 12,995 Interest received 163 175 321 Acquisition of subsidiaries, net of cash acquired (27) (10,862) (22,077) Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (2,119) (4,187) (7,357) Acquisition of available for sale financial asset - - (211) Cash flows from/(used in) investing activities 7,914 (13,859) (15,261) Financing activities Proceeds from the issue of share capital 149 190 190 Preference dividend paid (2) (2) (4) Interest paid (1,371) (1,386) (2,871) Proceeds from other non-current borrowings 309 9,332 20,524 Purchase less sales of own shares by ESOP (233) - 7 Repayment of borrowings (10,918) (4,582) (19,547) Dividends paid (2,796) (2,412) (3,927) Cash flows (used in)/ from financing activities (14,862) 1,140 (5,628) Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 384 (4,144) (269) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 9,725 10,045 10,045 Net foreign exchange difference (11) (26) (51) Cash and cash equivalents at end of period 9 10,098 5,875 9,725 NOTES TO THE INTERIM FINANCIAL STATEMENTS General information The Group's interim result consolidates the results of the company and its subsidiary companies made up to 30 June 2006. The interim financial information is presented in Sterling and all values are rounded to the nearest thousand pounds (£000) except when otherwise indicated. The company is a limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in England & Wales and whose shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange. The interim report was approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 29 August 2006. Basis of preparation The financial information contained in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. It does not therefore include all the information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the Group's annual financial statements as at 31 December 2005. The financial information for the preceding year is based on the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2005. These accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Significant accounting policies The interim report has been prepared using accounting policies consistent with those followed in the preparation of the Group's annual financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2005. Seasonality of operations Although some of the Group's operations may sometimes be affected by seasonal factors such as general weather conditions, the Directors do not feel that this has a material effect on the performance of the Group when comparing the interim results to those achieved in the second half of the year. 2 Segmental Information Primary reporting format business segments The following tables present revenue and profit information regarding the Group's business segments for the six months ended 30 June 2006 and 2005 and the year ended 31 December 2005. Six months ended Discontinued 30 June 2006 Continuing Operations Operations Offshore Specialist Defence Marine Total Cable Oil Services Technical Oil Ships Services Services £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Revenue Group revenue 11,315 19,176 5,557 22,722 58,770 - Inter segment sales - (1,619) (141) - (1,760) - Segmental revenue 11,315 17,557 5,416 22,722 57,010 - Result Segmental result before 3,460 2,275 495 3,450 9,680 97 separately disclosed items Common costs (978) Profit from operations before separately disclosed items and joint ventures 8,702 (Loss)/profit on ship disposals (24) 1,761 Profit from operations before joint ventures 8,678 1,858 Finance income (revenue) 159 - Finance costs (1,299) - Exchange gain on loan conversion 35 - (1,105) - Share of post tax results of joint ventures 116 743 859 Profit before tax 8,432 1,858 Taxation (1,133) (2) Profit attributable to equity holders 7,299 1,856 2 Segmental Information (cont'd) Six months ended Discontinued 30 June 2005 Continuing Operations Operations Offshore Specialist Defence Marine Total Cable Oil Services Technical Oil Ships Services Services £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Revenue Group revenue 7,103 10,343 5,181 22,480 45,107 4,821 Inter segment sales - (968) (11) - (979) - Segmental revenue 7,103 9,375 5,170 22,480 44,128 4,821 Result Segmental result before 1,850 1,130 515 3,440 6,935 2,351 separately disclosed items Common costs (956) Profit from operations before separately disclosed items and joint 5,979 ventures Loss on ship disposals (1,449) - Profit from operations before joint 4,530 2,351 ventures Finance income (revenue) 180 - Finance costs (1,355) - Exchange loss on loan (93) - conversion (1,268) - Share of post tax results of 57 582 639 joint ventures Profit before tax 3,901 2,351 Taxation (753) (3) Profit attributable to equity holders 3,148 2,348 2 Segmental Information Year ended Discontinued 31 December 2005 Continuing Operations Operations Offshore Specialist Defence Marine Total Cable Oil Services Technical Oil Ships Services Services £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Revenue Group revenue 14,936 25,898 9,679 44,903 95,416 9,019 Inter segment sales (37) (3,622) (346) - (4,005) - Segmental revenue 14,899 22,276 9,333 44,903 91,411 9,019 Result Segmental result before separately 4,017 2,551 782 6,733 14,083 4,552 disclosed items Common costs (2,016) Profit from operations before separately disclosed items and joint ventures 12,067 Pension benefit curtailment 2,000 - Impairment of non-current assets - (10,885) Recognition of rentals due on sold ships - 3,395 Loss on ship disposals (1,617) (9,948) Profit/(loss) from operations before joint ventures 12,450 (12,886) Finance income (revenue) 304 - Finance costs (2,591) - Exchange loss on loan (130) - conversion (2,417) - Share of post tax results of joint ventures 79 1334 1,413 Profit/(loss) before tax 11,446 (12,886) Taxation (754) (3) Profit/(loss) attributable to equity holders 10,692 (12,889) 3 Changes in estimates There have been no material effects on the results of the interim period as a result of changes in estimates reported in prior financial years. There have been no material changes in contingent liabilities during the current interim period. The liabilities reported in respect of the defined benefit pension plans are based on the valuations carried out at the last balance sheet date, 31 December 2005 and have been reviewed and updated by a qualified actuary. 4 Discontinued operations Discontinued operations relate to the withdrawal of the Group from cable laying activities announced in 2005. Following the disposal in 2005 of the cable ship CS Oceanic Pearl, the remaining vessel, CS Oceanic Princess, was reclassified as an asset held for sale in December 2005. This vessel was disposed of in June 2006. The results of discontinued operations are presented below: Unaudited Unaudited Audited six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Revenue - 4,821 9,019 Cost of sales 97 (2,470) (4,467) Gross profit 97 2,351 4,552 Profit/(loss) on ship disposals 1,761 - (9,948) Recognition of rentals due on sold ship - - 3,395 Profit/(loss) from operations 1,858 2,351 (2,001) Impairment of non-current assets - - (10,885) Profit/(loss) before tax from discontinued 1,858 2,351 (12,886) operations Taxation (2) (3) (3) Net profit/(loss) attributable to discontinued 1,856 2,348 (12,889) operations Non current assets held for sale At 31 December 2005 this related to the carrying value of the CS Oceanic Princess following the Group's decision to withdraw from Cable Laying activities. At 30 June 2005 this item comprised the carrying value of the Tees Fisher and Wear Fisher which were disposed of in August 2005. The net cash flows attributable to discontinued operations are: Unaudited Unaudited Audited six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Operating cash flows 2,822 3,549 7,085 Investing cash flows 9,091 (1,111) 8,988 Financing activities (7,066) (1,963) (14,510) 4,847 475 1,563 Earnings/(loss) per share from discontinued operations (pence): pence pence pence Basic 3.79 4.82 (26.41) Diluted 3.75 4.77 (26.41) 5 Separately disclosed items Unaudited Unaudited Audited Separately disclosed items consist of: six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Pension benefit curtailment - - 2,000 Loss on ship disposals (24) (1,449) (1,617) Exchange gain/(loss) on loan conversion 35 (93) (130) 11 (1,542) 253 The exchange differences on loans arise on foreign currency financing loans in the UK in relation to the disposed ship. Loss on ship disposals in the six months ended 30 June 2006 relates to additional costs connected with the ships disposed of in 2005. The pension benefit curtailment arises from the closure of the Group's defined benefit pension scheme to existing members in 2010 and changes to the contribution rates. Tax arising on this item amounted to £0.216m. There is no tax effect relating to the other items included in separately disclosed items. 6 Property plant and equipment During the six months ended 30 June 2006 the Group acquired assets, including investment in vessels with a cost of £2.160m (2005 £4.373m). Assets with a net book value of £0.278m (excluding vessels) (2005 £0.110m), were disposed of resulting in a net gain on disposal of £0.185m (2005 £0.017m). 7 Deficit in defined benefit pension schemes The Group operates two defined benefit schemes and has an obligation to make payments in respect of the funding deficit of the Merchant Navy Officers' Pension Fund. The decrease in the pension liability in the period arises mainly from changes in the actuarial assumptions, in particular an increase of 0.5% in the discount rate used for valuation of the defined benefit schemes administered on behalf of the Group. In addition the company has made special payments totalling £1.6m into the James Fisher & Sons Public Limited Company Pension Fund for Shore Staff, as referred to in the Group's 2005 annual report. 8 Share based payment In March 2006 awards were granted under the Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), and the 2005 Executive Share option scheme (ESOS). In the case of the LTIP the exercise price of the option is £nil. The options vest if the increase in the company's diluted earnings per ordinary share over the performance period is at least equal to the rate of inflation plus 9%. If the performance target is not met over the three year contractual period for performance the option lapses. In the case of the ESOS the exercise price is equal to the average middle market price for the three dealing days prior to the date of grant, being £4.68. The options vest depending on the Company's total shareholder return relative to a comparator group of companies selected from the FTSE Small Cap index at the date of grant. If performance over a three year period is in the upper quartile 100% of the options will vest. If performance is at the bottom of the median quartile 40% will vest. The amount vesting will decrease on a straight line basis between the median and upper quartile. If performance is below the median quartile no shares will vest. The options lapse if these conditions are not met during the performance period. The fair value of options granted during the six months ended 30 June 2006 was estimated at the date of grant using the following assumptions: LTIP ESOS Dividend yield 2.00% 2.00% Expected volatility N/A 24.2%-29.2% Risk free interest rate N/A 4.41% Expected life of option (years) 3 6.5 Share price at date of grant (£) 4.485 4.64 Options granted (number of shares) 66,742 124,573 Estimated fair value of option at date of grant (£) 4.22 1.039 9 Reconciliation of net debt 1 January Acquisitions Cash Other Exchange 30 June 2006 Flow Non Cash Movement 2006 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Cash in hand and at bank 9,725 - 384 - (11) 10,098 Short term deposits - - - - - - Cash and cash equivalents 9,725 - 384 - (11) 10,098 Debt due after 1 year (42,795) - - 12,055 - (30,740) Debt due within 1 year (6,363) - 10,609 (12,055) 35 (7,774) (49,158) - 10,609 - 35 (38,514) Net debt (39,433) - 10,993 - 24 (28,416) 1 January Acquisitions Cash Other Exchange 30 June 2005 Flow Non Cash Movement 2005 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Cash in hand and at bank 8,045 - (2,144) - (26) 5,875 Short term deposits 2,000 - (2,000) - - - Cash and cash equivalents 10,045 - (4,144) - (26) 5,875 Debt due after 1 year (38,572) - - (2,738) (46) (41,356) Debt due within 1 year (8,179) (1,300) (4,750) 2,738 (47) (11,538) (46,751) (1,300) (4,750) - (93) (52,894) Net debt (36,706) (1,300) (8,894) - (119) (47,019) 10 Taxation The group has entered the UK tonnage tax regime under which tax on its ship owning and operating activities is based on the net tonnage of vessels operated. Any income and profits outside the tonnage tax regime are taxed under the normal tax rules of the relevant tax jurisdiction. The tax charge is made up as follows: Unaudited Unaudited Audited six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Current tax: UK tonnage tax (13) (11) (24) UK corporation tax (580) (436) (514) (593) (447) (538) Tax (under)/over provided in previous years (118) (44) 327 Foreign tax (469) (260) (567) Total current tax (1,180) (751) (778) Deferred tax: Group deferred tax 45 (5) 21 Total taxation expense included in group income (1,135) (756) (757) statement Share of joint ventures' current tax (40) (36) (72) The total tax charge in the income statement is allocated as follows: Unaudited Unaudited Audited six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Taxation expense reported in group income statement (1,133) (753) (754) Taxation attributable to discontinued activities (2) (3) (3) Total tax expense (1,135) (756) (757) Deferred income tax The gross movement on the deferred income tax account is as follows: Unaudited Unaudited Audited six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Balance at 1 January 1,197 1,391 1,391 Included in statement of recognised income and expense (1,054) 780 123 Credited/(charged) to income statement 45 (5) 21 Exchange differences (1) - - Acquired with subsidiaries - (341) (338) Balance at period end 187 1,825 1,197 At 30 June 2006 the group has no recognised or unrecognised deferred income tax liability (2005 £nil) in respect of taxes that would be payable on the unremitted earnings of certain of the group's subsidiaries and joint ventures. The group has no liability to additional taxation should such amounts be remitted due to the availability of double taxation relief. 11 Share Capital During the interim period 110,423 ordinary shares of 25p were allotted on the exercise of share options for an aggregate cash consideration of £0.149m. 12 Earnings per share Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity holders of the company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period, after excluding ordinary shares purchased by the employee share ownership trust and held as treasury shares. Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the parent by the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be issued on conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares. The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share are based on the following profits and numbers of shares: six months ended six months ended Year ended 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 £000 £000 Profit/(loss) attributable to equity 9,155 5,496 (2,197) holders (Profit)/loss attributable to discontinued (1,856) (2,348) 12,889 activities Profit on continuing activities attributable to 7,299 3,148 10,692 equity holders Weighted average number of shares 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 Number of Number of Number of shares shares shares For basic earnings per ordinary share* 49,017,748 48,725,767 48,797,076 Exercise of share options and LTIPs+ 427,898 463,183 430,920 For diluted earnings per ordinary share 49,445,646 49,188,950 49,227,996 * Excludes 395,657 (2005 510,237) shares owned by the James Fisher and Sons Public Limited Company Employee Share Ownership Trust. + Share options and LTIPs have been excluded from the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the year ended 31 December 2005 as they are antidilutive, but have been included in the calculation of diluted earnings per ordinary share on continuing activities. 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 p £000 p £000 p Basic earnings/(loss) per share on total operations 9,155 18.68 5,496 11.28 (2,197) (4.50) (Profit)/loss attributable to discontinued activities (1,856) (3.79) (2,348) (4.82) 12,889 26.41 Basic earnings per share on profit on continuing operations 7,299 14.89 3,148 6.46 10,692 21.91 Diluted earnings per share 9,155 18.52 5,496 11.17 (2,197) (4.50) Diluted earnings per share on profit on continuing operations 7,299 14.76 3,148 6.40 10,692 21.72 The earnings per ordinary share on continuing operations before separately disclosed items is shown to highlight the underlying earnings trend and is calculated using the number of shares outlined in the table above. 30 June 2006 30 June 2005 31 December 2005 £000 p £000 p £000 p Basic earnings per share on profit on continuing operations 7,299 14.89 3,148 6.46 10,692 21.91 Adjustments: Exchange (gain)/loss on loan (35) (0.07) 93 0.19 130 0.27 conversion Loss on ship disposals 24 0.05 1,449 2.98 1,617 3.31 Pension benefit curtailment (including tax effect of £216,000) - - - - (1,784) (3.65) Adjusted basic earnings per share on profit on continuing operations 7,288 14.87 4,690 9.63 10,655 21.84 Diluted earnings per share on profit on continuing operations 7,299 14.76 3,148 6.40 10,692 21.72 Adjustments: Exchange (gain)/loss on loan (35) (0.07) 93 0.19 130 0.26 conversion Loss on ship disposals 24 0.05 1,449 2.95 1,617 3.28 Pension benefit curtailment (including tax effect of £216,000) - - - - (1,784) (3.62) Adjusted diluted earnings per share on profit on continuing operations 7,288 14.74 4,690 9.54 10,655 21.64 13 Reconciliation of movements in equity For the six months ended 30 June 2006 Capital Reserves Share Share retained Other Treasury Total capital premium earnings reserves shares £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 At 1 January 2006 12,345 23,960 38,030 178 (1,184) 73,329 Total recognised income and - - 13,432 48 - 13,480 expense in the period Ordinary dividends paid - - (2,796) - - (2,796) Share-based compensation - - 263 - - 263 expense Arising on the issue of 28 121 - - - 149 shares Purchase less sale of shares - - - - (233) (233) Transfer on disposal of - - (263) - 263 - shares At 30 June 2006 12,373 24,081 48,666 226 (1,154) 84,192 Other reserves Translation Hedging Total reserve reserve £000 £000 £000 At 1 January 2006 212 (34) 178 Cash flow hedges: Transferred to the income statement - (4) (4) Fair value losses in the - 52 52 period Share of fair value gains of joint - (17) (17) ventures Recognised income in the period including the effect of net 17 - 17 investment hedges At 30 June 2006 229 (3) 226 For the six months ended 30 June 2005 Capital Reserves Share Share retained Other Treasury Total capital premium earnings reserves shares £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 At 1 January 2005 12,305 23,810 48,151 72 (1,212) 83,126 Total recognised income and - - 2,206 (293) - 1,913 expense in the period Ordinary dividends paid - - (2,412) - - (2,412) Share-based compensation - - 201 - - 201 expense Arising on the issue of 40 150 - - - 190 shares Transfer on disposal of - - (96) - 96 - shares At 30 June 2005 12,345 23,960 48,050 (221) (1,116) 83,018 Other reserves Translation Hedging Total reserve reserve £000 £000 £000 At 1 January 2005 177 (105) 72 Cash flow hedges: Transferred to the income statement - (40) (40) Fair value losses in the - (163) (163) period Share of fair value losses of joint - (67) (67) ventures Recognised income in the period including the effect of net investment (23) - (23) hedges At 30 June 2005 154 (375) (221) For the year ended 31 December 2005 Capital Reserves Share Share retained Other Treasury Total capital premium earnings reserves shares £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 At 1 January 2005 12,305 23,810 48,151 72 (1,212) 83,126 Total recognised income and - - (6,605) 106 - (6,499) expense in the period Ordinary dividends paid - - (3,927) - - (3,927) Share-based compensation - - 432 - - 432 expense Purchase less sale of shares - - - - 7 7 Arising on the issue of 40 150 - - - 190 shares Transfer on disposal of - - (21) - 21 - shares At 31 December 2005 12,345 23,960 38,030 178 (1,184) 73,329 Other reserves Translation Hedging Total reserve reserve £000 £000 £000 At 1 January 2005 177 (105) 72 Cash flow hedges: Transferred to the income statement - 36 36 Fair value losses in the period - (134) (134) Share of fair value gains of joint ventures - 169 169 Recognised income in the period including the effect of net investment 35 - 35 hedges At 31 December 2005 212 (34) 178 14 Interim Dividend A dividend for the six months ended 30 June 2006 on the preference shares was declared on 30 June 2006. The interim dividend of 3.47p (2005 3.10p) per 25p ordinary share is payable on 1 November 2006 to those shareholders on the register of the company at the close of business on 9 October 2006. The dividend recognised in the reconciliation of movements in equity in note 13 is the final dividend for 2005 of 5.69p paid on 12 May 2006. The proposed interim dividend has not been recognised in this report. 15 Interim Report The interim report is to be sent to all shareholders in early September. Copies of the interim report will also be available from our registered office at: Fisher House, PO Box 4, Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, LA14 1HR. Independent review report to James Fisher and Sons Public Limited Company Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information for the six months ended 30 June 2006 which comprises Group Income Statement, Group Statement of Recognised Income and Expense, Group Balance Sheet and Group Cash Flow Statement, and the related notes 1 to 15. We 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. This report is made solely to the company in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 'Review of interim financial information' issued by the Auditing Practices Board. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority which 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 'Review of interim financial information' 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 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 International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. 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 30 June 2006. Ernst & Young LLP Manchester 29th August 2006 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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