Final Results

Mercury Recycling Group PLC 24 May 2004 MERCURY RECYCLING GROUP PLC PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2003 Mercury Recycling Group PLC, the UK's largest lamp and fluorescent tube recycling company, announces preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2003. In his Statement to shareholders, the Chairman, Lord Barnett said: 'I am pleased to report on an encouraging year, which has witnessed many positive developments for the Group. Key Points • Imminent EU legislation will strictly control the disposal of electrical and electronic equipment (including fluorescent tubes) and greatly reduce the number of Landfill sites accepting hazardous waste. This should significantly boost Mercury's customer base and accelerate sales. • Sales were up 23% to £947,000 (2002: £770,000) including one month's contribution from Simister Engineering Limited acquired in November 2003. • Simister now successfully integrated, providing an additional specialist recycling plant in the South of England. • Operating profit before amortisation of £71,000 (2002: Loss of £23,000). • Pretax loss of £97,000 (2002: £195,000 loss) after charging amortisation of £186,000. • Capitalisation of loans totalling £116,500 to former director and JC Dwek, non-executive director. • Balance Sheet cash at year end of £232,000. Commenting on current trading and prospects, Lord Barnett added: 'Sales for the first three months of 2004, which now include Simister, continue to show a further substantial increase, partly in anticipation of the new legislative changes. We are continuing to hold discussions with a number of other companies which could provide valuable areas for further expansion. We look forward to another successful year with growing confidence. Full text of the Chairman's Statement and accounts follows Enquiries: Simon Lebor Chief Executive Mercury Recycling Group plc Tel: 0161 877 0977 Ken Rees/Paul Vann Binns Winningtons 0117 3179477 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to report on an encouraging year, which has witnessed many positive developments for your Group. First, the European Union Directive on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), is expected to be implemented in August this year. Second, the number of landfill sites accepting hazardous waste is due to be reduced from 250 to approximately only 11, following the introduction of the new Landfill Directive in July 2004. Only a few of these 11 sites will be permitted to accept mercury bearing waste products, which is a component of the great majority of lamps and tubes. This will severely limit the options for disposal, and should enlarge the customer base as recycling then becomes the preferred choice. These two factors alone, leaving aside for the moment the organic growth, will provide a strong stimulus and increased momentum to our business, the impact from which will gradually accelerate our sales. Sales at £947,000 show an increase of 23% over 2002 reflecting a substantial growth of new clients from both the public and private sectors and includes only one month's contribution from Simister Engineering Limited (Simister) of £35,000, which was acquired at the end of November 2003. Significant progress has been made in the gross profit for the year which is up from £686,000 last year to £842,000. The Group operating loss of £97,000 (2002 Loss £196,000) was after the annual goodwill amortisation charge in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 10 of £168,000 and this is the first time that the Group has been able to report a profit before amortisation. The Balance Sheet shows a healthy cash balance of £232,000 compared with £249,000 in 2002, after having paid the cash consideration for the acquisition of Simister of £175,000 with the balance of the consideration having been satisfied by the issue of shares amounting to £725,000. The sales for the first three months of 2004, which now include Simister, continue to show a further substantial increase partly in anticipation of the new legislative changes referred to above. The Simister acquisition has its own specialised recycling plant in the South of England, increasing the geographical catchment area and simultaneously providing increased capacity. The Simister plant operates a slightly different technology of recycling which is complimentary and affords us an additional technique. During the year, two loans totalling £116,500 were capitalised by the issue of additional shares to K Doyle, a former Director, and J C Dwek, a current Director, at the middle market price, and shows the confidence of these shareholders in the future of the Group. The Group is now the largest lamp recycler in the UK, and moving forward, we are continuing to hold discussions with a number of other companies which could provide valuable areas for further expansion. Finally, I would again like to thank all members of the Group, including our new colleagues from Simister, for their hard work and commitment. This has ensured that the two companies have merged successfully, and are ready to take advantage of the new opportunities to which I have referred. We look forward to another successful year with growing confidence. Yours sincerely, The Rt Hon The Lord Barnett JP PC Chairman CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT 2003 2002 £000 £000 Turnover Continuing operations 912 770 Acquisitions 35 - Total turnover 947 770 Cost of sales (105) (84) Gross profit 842 686 Administrative expenses (939) (888) Other operating income - 6 Operating profit/(loss) before amortisation and exceptional items 71 (23) Abortive acquisition costs (non-recurring) - (8) Goodwill amortisation (168) (165) Operating loss Continuing operations (100) (196) Acquisitions 3 - Group operating loss (97) (196) Interest receivable 6 7 Interest payable (6) (6) Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (97) (195) Taxation - - Loss on ordinary activities after taxation retained for the year (97) (195) Loss per share - Basic (0.35)p (0.78)p There are no recognised gains or losses other than those passing through the profit and loss account. GROUP BALANCE SHEET 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible assets 3,616 3,022 Tangible assets 553 264 4,169 3,286 Current assets Debtors 232 156 Cash at bank and in hand 232 249 464 405 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (337) (108) Net current assets 127 297 Total assets less current liabilities 4,296 3,583 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (57) (101) Provisions for liabilities and charges (12) - 4,227 3,482 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 3,336 2,512 Share premium account 1,541 1,523 Merger reserve (111) (111) Profit and loss account (539) (442) 4,227 3,482 GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT 2003 2002 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow/(outflow) form operating activities 175 (27) Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 5 7 Interest paid (5) (5) - 2 Capital expenditure and financial investment Payments to acquire tangible assets (5) (2) Receipts from sale of tangible assets - 4 (5) 2 Acquisitions and disposals Net debt acquired with subsidiary undertaking (181) - Net cash outflow before financing (11) (23) Financing Repayment of long term loans - (116) Repayment of finance lease and hire purchase contract (6) (4) (6) (120) Decrease in cash (17) (143) NOTE: The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2003. The financial statements for 2003 have been audited and will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Company's Annual General Meeting. The auditors have reported on the 2003 statements; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. Copies of the 2003 Report and Accounts will be mailed to shareholders shortly. Further copies will be available for collection from the Company's offices at Unit G, Canalside North, John Gilbert Way, Trafford Park, Manchester M17 1DP. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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