Final Results

Silentpoint PLC 01 March 2004 Embargoed: not to be released until 7.00 am on 1st March, 2004 SILENTPOINT PLC ('Silentpoint' or 'the Company') Preliminary Results for the year ended 31st October, 2003 Silentpoint plc today announces its results for the year ended 31st October 2003. Highlights during the year: •Gains from sale of investments: £87,000 •Profit before tax : £55,000 (2002: loss £116,000) •Earnings per share : 0.31p (2002: loss per share 0.66p) •Expanded investment strategy working well •Disposal of part of Gaming Corporation since the period end leaving Silentpoint with a substantial stake at nil cost •Cash and quoted assets at period end stand at £1,250,000 Commenting today Haresh Kanabar, Chairman, said: 'It is pleasing that Silentpoint is able to report a profitable outcome for the year. Looking forward, the Company continues to seek undervalued investment opportunities and is actively reviewing a number.' Enquiries: Smit Berry, Chief Executive, Silentpoint PLC Tel: 020 8656 4648 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to report that Silentpoint made a pre-tax profit of £55,000 in the year to 31 October 2003, which is a significant turnaround on the pretax loss of £116,000 reported last year. Profit on the sale of investments totalled £87,000 and the Company received net interest of £36,000 during the period. Net cash and assets at the period end stand at £1.25m. Silentpoint continues to receive approaches from companies seeking to utilise its cash resources and the Board continue to review each one on a case by case basis. Our selection criteria is that any business we acquire should be at, or close to, profitability, cash generative and capable of demonstrating significant growth. We continue to monitor certain small but highly suitable private companies demonstrating these characteristics and where expansion capital would accelerate growth prospects. In the interim report, we indicated that whilst we continue to search a suitable unquoted acquisition, we would seek to improve returns from our cash holding by investing a small part of our cash resources in shares of quoted companies, an area where the Board has expertise. Our belief was that this expanded investment strategy would be well-suited to the current environment and gains on a number of positions have delivered our improved performance. During the first six months of the year the Company acquired one significant interest - a holding of six million shares in AIM-listed Gaming Corporation - which we perceived to be an undervalued situation. As at 31 October, Silentpoint's investment in Gaming Corporation had risen almost 150% and since the end of the period being reported today, I am pleased to report that we have sold part of our stake and now have a 'free ride' on the remainder which represents an interest of just under 3% of the issued share capital of Gaming Corporation. Profits from this sale will be recognised in the current year. Our shareholder funds therefore show improvement on the 31 October position and I look forward to updating shareholders at the interim stage. Outlook 2003 has been a year of progress for Silentpoint. The year has shown an achievement in eliminating our reported losses and the 2004 fiscal year has begun with the benefits of improved shareholder resources. Looking forward, the Company will continue to seek unquoted investment opportunities but will look for a truly compelling situation, rather than being tempted into activity for activity's sake. We continue to actively review a number of opportunities. Haresh Kanabar Chairman 1st March 2004 Profit and Loss Account For the year ended 31st October, 2003 Note Year ended Year ended 31st October, 31st October, 2003 2002 £ £ Other operating expenses (net) (67,790) (162,627) --------- --------- Operating loss (67,790) (162,627) Investment income 122,861 46,303 --------- --------- Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation 55,071 (116,324) Taxation - - --------- --------- Profit/(loss) for the year 55,071 (116,324) ========= ========= Earnings/(loss) per share: Basic and diluted 3 0.31p (0.66p) ========= ========= Balance Sheet As at 31st October, 2003 As at As at 31st October 31st October 2003 2002 £ £ Current Assets Investments 359,850 4,277 Debtors 24,070 24,887 Cash at bank and in hand 874,819 1,174,045 --------- --------- 1,258,739 1,203,209 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (8,561) (8,102) --------- --------- Net Assets 1,250,178 1,195,107 ========= ========= Capital and Reserves Called up Share Capital 350,000 350,000 Share Premium Account 1,076,496 1,076,496 Profit and Loss Account (176,318) (231,389) --------- --------- Shareholders' Funds 1,250,178 1,195,107 ========= ========= Cash Flow Statement For the year ended 31st October, 2003 Year Year ended ended 31st October 31st October 2003 2002 £ £ Cash flow from operating activities (66,514) (190,030) Return on investments and servicing of finance 38,646 43,074 -------- -------- CASH OUTFLOW BEFORE FINANCING AND USE OF LIQUID RESOURCES (27,868) (146,956) Management of liquid resources 43,683 156,513 -------- -------- INCREASE IN CASH IN THE PERIOD 15,815 9,557 ======== ======== Notes to the Preliminary Results 1. The financial statements have been prepared under historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards. 2. No dividend is proposed for the year ended 31st October, 2003. 3. Basic and diluted loss per ordinary share have been calculated using the weighted average number of shares in issue during the financial year. The weighted average number of equity shares in issue is 17,500,000 (2002: 17,500,000) and the profit after tax is £55,071 (2002: loss of £116,324). 4. The financial information set out in this preliminary announcement does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The profit and loss account for the year ended 31st October, 2003, the balance sheet as at 31st October, 2003, and the cash flow statement and associated notes for the year then ended have been extracted from the Company's financial statements upon which the auditors have given an unqualified audit report. Those financial statements have not yet been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The 2002 accounts have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and the auditors reported on them, their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. 5. Copies of the annual accounts are being sent to shareholders and are available from the Company's registered office, 84 Addiscombe Road, Croydon, Surrey CR0 5PP. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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