Preliminary Results

RNS Number : 5971C

London Security PLC

02 May 2012

 



London Security plc

Preliminary Results

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Financial highlights of the audited results for the year ended 31 December 2011 compared with the year ended 31 December 2010 are as follows:

·      revenue of £96.3 million (2010: £85.5 million);

·      operating profit before depreciation and amortisation of £24.5 million (2010: £22.7 million);

·      operating profit of £20.8 million (2010: £19.3 million); and

·      profit after income tax of £14.1 million (2010: £13.1 million).

TRADING REVIEW

The financial highlights illustrate that the Group's revenue increased by £10.8 million (12.6%) to £96.3 million and operating profit increased by £1.5 million (7.8%) to £20.8 million. However, these results partially reflect the movement in the Sterling to Euro average exchange rate which has decreased from 1.16 to 1.15. If the 2011 results had been translated at 2010 rates, revenue would have been £95.6 million instead of £96.3 million, (increase of 11.8%).On the same basis operating profit would have been £20.6 million instead of £20.8 million, (increase of 6.7%). This performance is very satisfactory in this difficult trading environment.

Ongoing cost control, cash and working capital management have continued to be priorities for the Group. The Group has continued to focus on its stock levels and capital expenditure. Cost control has been achieved without any adverse impact on the operational structure of the business.

A more detailed review of this year's performance is given in the Operational Review and Financial Review.

ACQUISITIONS

We have continued to acquire further contracts to service fire equipment through smaller acquisitions. It remains a principal aim of the Group to grow through acquisition.  Acquisitions are being sought throughout Europe and the Group will invest at the upper end of the price spectrum where an adequate return is envisaged by the Board.

MANAGEMENT AND STAFF

2011 was a year in which the staff performed well and, on your behalf, I would like to express thanks and appreciation for their contribution.

FINANCING

The Group has benefited from the low level of interest rates and has repaid a further £7.3 million of borrowings. These two factors have resulted in a reduction in net interest costs of £0.2 million. Finance costs also move due to pensions and financial instruments although they broadly offset each other.

DIVIDENDS

An interim dividend in respect of 2011 of £0.24 per ordinary share was paid to shareholders on 24 June 2011.

The Board is not recommending the payment of a final dividend in respect of 2011.

Dividend policy continues to be reviewed regularly by the Board.

SHARE BUY-BACK PROGRAMME

As previously announced, the Board continues to believe that shareholder value will be optimised by the purchase by the Company, when appropriate, of its own shares.

During the period under review a total of 39,187 ordinary shares were purchased for cancellation for a total consideration of £573,974.

The Directors confirm that they intend to actively continue to pursue this policy and any shareholder who is considering taking advantage of the share buy-back programme is invited to contact their stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, in order to contact N+1 Brewin LLP who are operating the buyback programme on behalf of the Company.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

Economic growth in the Group's market has been depressed in 2011 resulting from the issues surrounding European sovereign debt and the consequent austerity measures. However, the Group does not operate in the most troubled of the peripheral Eurozone economies. 2011 was a strong year for the Group and although 2012 will be challenging the effect of past and potential acquisitions and our multi-service offering means we are in a strong position. The Board is optimistic for further success in 2012.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Annual General Meeting will be held at 10 Bruton Street, 5^th Floor, London W1J 6PX on 13 June 2012 at 11am.  You will find enclosed a form of proxy for use at that Meeting which you are requested to complete and return in accordance with the instructions on the form.  I shall, along with your Directors, look forward to meeting you at that time.

J.G. MURRAY

Chairman

2 May 2012

Consolidated Income Statement
For the year ended 31 December 2011

		2011	2010
	Note	£'000	£'000
Revenue		96,267	85,499
Cost of sales		(19,481)	(15,254)
Gross profit		76,786	70,245
Distribution costs		(35,474)	(31,755)
Administrative expenses		(20,554)	(19,162)
Operating profit		20,758	19,328
EBITDA*		24,549	22,679
Depreciation and amortisation		(3,791)	(3,351)
Operating profit		20,758	19,328
Finance income		855	1,093
Finance costs		(1,286)	(1,726)
Finance costs - net		(431)	(633)
Profit before income tax		20,327	18,695
Income tax expense		(6,199)	(5,613)
Profit for the year attributable to equity shareholders of the Company		14,128	13,082
Earnings per share
Basic and diluted	1	115.2p	106.5p

* Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and impairment charges.

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

for the year ended 31 December 2011

		2011	2010
		£'000	£'000
Profit for the financial year		14,128	13,082
Other comprehensive income:
- currency translation differences on foreign currency net investments, net of tax		(421)	(357)
- foreign currency loan hedges, net of tax		-	465
- actuarial (loss)/gain recognised in pension scheme		(68)	151
- movement on deferred tax relating to pension scheme		16	(21)
- net pension asset not recognised due to uncertainty over future recoverability		(568)	(653)
Other comprehensive loss for the year, net of tax		(1,041)	(415)
Total comprehensive income for the year		13,087	12,667

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2011

						Profit
	Share	Share	Capital	Merger	Other	and loss
	capital	premium	redemption	reserve	reserve	account	Total
	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
At 1 January 2010	123	-	-	2,033	6,310	37,191	45,657
Total comprehensive income for the year
Profit for the financial period	-	-	-	-	-	13,082	13,082
Other comprehensive income:
- exchange adjustments	-	-	-	-	(357)	-	(357)
- actuarial gain on pension scheme	-	-	-	-	-	151	151
- movement on deferred tax relating to pension asset	-	-	-	-	-	(21)	(21)
- net pension asset not recognised due to uncertainty over future recoverability	-	-	-	-	-	(653)	(653)
- foreign currency loan hedges net of tax	-	-	-	-	357	108	465
Total comprehensive income for the year	-	-	-	-	-	12,667	12,667
Contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company:
- dividends	-	-	-	-	-	(2,086)	(2,086)
- purchase of own shares	-	-	-	-	-	(205)	(205)
Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company	-	-	-	-	-	(2,291)	(2,291)
At 1 January 2011	123	-	-	2,033	6,310	47,567	56,033
Total comprehensive income for the year
Profit for the financial period	-	-	-	-	-	14,128	14,128
Other comprehensive income:
- exchange adjustments	-	-	-	-	(421)	-	(421)
- actuarial loss on pension scheme	-	-	-	-	-	(68)	(68)
- movement on deferred tax relating to pension asset	-	-	-	-	-	16	16
- net pension asset not recognised due to uncertainty over future recoverability	-	-	-	-	-	(568)	(568)
Total comprehensive income for the year	-	-	-	-	(421)	13,508	13,087
Contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company:
- dividends	-	-	-	-	-	(2,944)	(2,944)
- issue of shares	-	344	-	-	-	-	344
- purchase of own shares	-	-	1	-	-	(483)	(482)
Total contributions by and distributions to owners of the Company	-	344	1	-	-	(3,427)	(3,082)
At 31 December 2011	123	344	1	2,033	5,889	57,648	66,038

The merger reserve is not a distributable reserve. The other reserve relates entirely to the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Consolidated statement of financial position

as at 31 December 2011

		2011	2010
		£'000	£'000
Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment		7,389	7,719
Intangible assets		53,454	51,960
Deferred tax asset		500	589
		61,343	60,268
Current assets
Inventories		8,329	7,611
Trade and other receivables		18,373	16,604
Cash and cash equivalents		23,043	22,286
		49,745	46,501
Total assets		111,088	106,769
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables		(15,919)	(14,498)
Income tax liabilities		(1,004)	(968)
Borrowings		(7,030)	(7,126)
Provision for liabilities and charges		(109)	(9)
		(24,062)	(22,601)
Non-current liabilities
Trade and other payables		(526)	(457)
Borrowings		(19,329)	(26,730)
Derivative financial instruments		(103)	(30)
Deferred tax liabilities		(359)	(286)
Retirement benefit obligations		(671)	(632)
		(20,988)	(28,135)
Total liabilities		(45,050)	(50,736)
Net assets		66,038	56,033
Shareholders' equity
Ordinary shares		123	123
Share premium		344	-
Capital redemption reserve		1	-
Merger reserve		2,033	2,033
Other reserves		5,889	6,310
Retained earnings		57,648	47,567
Total shareholders' equity		66,038	56,033

Consolidated statement of cash flow

for the year ended 31 December 2011

		2011	2010
		£'000	£'000
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations		22,887	21,845
Interest paid		(626)	(713)
Income tax paid		(6,027)	(4,900)
Net cash generated from operating activities		16,234	16,232
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings (net of cash acquired)		(1,390)	-
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(2,332)	(1,746)
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment		300	259
Purchases of intangible assets		(1,653)	(883)
Interest received		266	171
Net cash used in investing activities		(4,809)	(2,199)
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayments of borrowings		(7,252)	(8,337)
Purchase of own shares		(482)	(205)
Issue of shares		344	-
Dividends paid to Company's shareholders		(2,944)	(2,086)
Net cash used in financing activities		(10,334)	(10,628)
Effects of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents		(334)	(189)
Net increase in cash in the year		757	3,216
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the year		22,286	19,070
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the year		23,043	22,286

1 Earnings per share

The calculation of basic earnings per ordinary share ("EPS") is based on the profit on ordinary activities after taxation of £14,128,000 (2010: £13,082,000) and on 12,265,538 (2010: 12,284,170) ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year.

For diluted EPS, the weighted average number of shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. There was no difference in the weighted average number of shares used for the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share as there are no potentially dilutive shares outstanding.

	2011			2010
	£'000	Pence		£'000	Pence
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation	14,128	115.2		13,082	106.5

2 This preliminary announcement does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.

The results for the year ended 31 December 2011 have been extracted from the full accounts of the Group for that year which received an unqualified auditor's report and which have not yet been delivered to the Registrar of Companies.  The financial information for the year ended 31 December 2010 is derived from the statutory accounts for that year, which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditor on those filed accounts was unqualified.  The accounts for the year ended 31 December 2011 and 31 December 2010 did not contain a statement under s498 (1) to (4) of the of the Companies Act 2006 or under s237(1) to (4) of the Companies Act 1985.

This preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards. The Group will post its annual report and accounts to shareholders on 18 May 2012. A copy of the annual report and accounts can be found on the company's webpage (www.londonsecurity.org).

Enquiries:                             London Security plc

                                                Richard Pollard

                                                Company Secretary                                                            Tel:         [phone]

N+1 Brewin (NOMAD & Broker)

Sandy Fraser/ Joe Stroud                                                  Tel:       [phone]

 

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