Interim Results

Lupus Capital PLC 26 September 2003 Lupus Capital plc Interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2003 Lupus Capital plc ('Lupus') today announced its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2003 Highlights • Good progress on the strategy to realise value. Proposals expected to be announced in the current period • Operating profit before goodwill amortisation £1,197,000 (2002: £1,013,000), an increase of 18% on turnover of £2,886,000 (2002: £3,027,000) • Profit before tax increased by 6% to £541,000, after a loss of £200,000 on the realisation of investments • Gall Thomson continues to trade well and has a good outlook • Net debt reduced by £3,510,000 to £317,000 at 30 June 2003. Subsequently repaid • Maintained interim dividend of 0.12p Commenting, Konrad Legg, chairman said: 'I am pleased to report good progress in implementing the strategy adopted at the end of last year and also sound trading at Gall Thomson.' Contacts Progressive Value Management Limited Robert Legget 020 7253 9104 Simon Toynbee Chairman's Statement I am pleased to report good progress in implementing the strategy adopted at the end of last year and also sound trading at Gall Thomson, the specialised couplings business. Following the sale last year of the holding in Castings plc, all the remaining listed investments were sold during the period. These disposals, together with cash inflows from operations, enabled Lupus to reduce its borrowings from £3.8m to £0.3m during the period. Since the period end the Group has repaid the net debt. Gall Thomson put in a very solid performance and its results are encouraging. Lupus, through the activities of Gall Thomson, achieved an operating profit before goodwill amortisation of £1,197,000, an increase of 18%, on turnover slightly down on last year's first half owing to a number of project delays associated with the Iraq war. The group profit before tax was only 6% higher at £541,000 because of a £200,000 loss taken against book value in liquidating the remaining investment portfolio. The Directors have declared an unchanged interim dividend of 0.12p per share payable on 30 October 2003 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 10 October 2003. Trading prospects for Gall Thomson remain good. The order profile is encouraging and management are confident about the business flow and improved trading in the current period. We are in the process of making arrangements relating to our vacant London and sub-let Tewkesbury leasehold properties and hope to finalise these in the near future. In addition the work on rationalisation of our corporate entities is continuing. As shareholders are aware the final and most significant element in our strategy to realise value for shareholders relates to the Gall Thomson business. We have been pursuing a number of ways to achieve value, including the sale of that business and the sale of the Company. We have made progress with several alternatives and we have held detailed discussions with interested parties. Since the announcement and adoption of the realisation strategy the share price has increased significantly to reflect more closely the underlying value of the assets. We intend to build on this progress and we expect to put forward proposals in the current period. We will keep shareholders informed of developments. The positive outlook for Gall Thomson and the Group's ungeared balance sheet lead us to view the future with a high degree of confidence. Konrad Legg Chairman 26 September 2003 Group profit and loss account Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2003 2002 2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 2,886 3,027 6,638 Operating profit Continuing operations - excluding goodwill amortisation 1,197 1,013 876 Goodwill amortisation (370) (370) (741) 827 643 135 (Loss)/profit on disposal of fixed asset (200) - 213 investments Income from investments - 53 273 Amounts written off fixed asset investments - - (1,595) Interest and similar items (86) (184) (387) Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before 541 512 (1,361) taxation Taxation (273) (236) (151) Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after 268 276 (1,512) taxation Ordinary dividends (207) (205) (1,058) Retained profit/(loss) 61 71 (2,570) Earnings/(loss) per share 0.16p 0.16p (0.89)p Earnings before goodwill amortisation per 0.37p 0.38p (0.45p) share Dividend per share 0.12p 0.12p 0.50p Statement of total recognised gains and losses There were no recognised gains and losses in each year other than the (loss) / profit for the financial year. Group Balance Sheet At 30 June At 30 June At 31December 2003 2002 2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible fixed assets 11,792 12,533 12,161 Tangible fixed assets 438 534 463 Investments - 8,070 3,822 12,230 21,137 16,446 Current assets Stock and work-in-progress 186 215 200 Debtors 1,872 1,493 2,096 2,058 1,708 2,296 Creditors: amounts falling due within one (1,894) (8,170) (6,693) year Net current assets/(liabilities) 164 (6,462) (4,397) Total assets less current liabilities 12,394 14,675 12,049 Creditors: amounts falling due after more (84) (78) (80) than one year Net assets 12,310 14,597 11,969 Capital and reserves Share capital 864 852 853 Share premium 4,710 4,429 4,441 Capital reserves 10,389 10,389 10,389 Revenue reserve (3,653) (1,073) (3,714) Equity shareholders' funds 12,310 14,597 11,969 Group Cash Flow Statement Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 30 June 2003 30 June 2002 31 December 2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating activities Net cash inflow from operating activities 479 1,176 2,112 Return on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 70 80 155 Interest paid (185) (258) (531) Dividends received 56 53 258 (59) (125) (118) Taxation UK corporation tax recovered/(paid) 181 (128) (544) Capital expenditure and financial investment Sale of tangible fixed assets 4 - - Purchase of tangible fixed assets (5) (6) (16) Sale of fixed asset investments 3,621 - 3,051 Purchase of fixed asset investments - (886) (1,070) 3,620 (892) 1,965 Equity dividends paid (852) (426) (630) Net cash inflow/(outflow) before financing 3,369 (395) 2,785 Financing Issue of shares net of costs 141 12 25 Increase/(decrease) in cash 3,510 (383) 2,810 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 30 June 2003 30 June 2002 31 December 2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Increase/(decrease) in cash 3,510 (383) 2,810 Change in net debt from cash flows 3,510 (383) 2,810 Net debt at the beginning of the period (3,827) (6,637) (6,637) Net debt at the end of the period (317) (7,020) (3,827) Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flows from operating activities Six months Six months Year ended ended ended 30 June 2003 30 June 2002 31 December 2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating profit 827 643 135 Depreciation 26 37 74 Amortisation of goodwill 370 370 741 Movement in stock 14 (43) (28) Movement in debtors 133 527 115 Movement in creditors (891) (358) 1,031 Provision against carrying value of - - 44 fixed assets Net cash flow from operating 479 1,176 2,112 activities Notes These financial statements are not the Company's statutory accounts for the purposes of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. They are unaudited. The Company's statutory accounts for year ended 31 December 2002 received an unqualified audit report and have been filed with the registrar of companies at Companies House. The interim financial information has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Report and Accounts of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2002. The interim report will be sent to shareholders and copies will be made available to the public at the registered office of the Company. The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 0.12p per share (2002: 0.12p) to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 10 October 2003, which will be paid on 30 October 2003. Earnings per share figures are based on the weighted average of 170,652,919 ordinary shares in issue during the half-year ended 30 June 2003 (half-year to 30 June 2002: 170,182,258 shares; year to 31 December 2002: 170,302,702 shares). The number of shares in issue at 30 June 2003 was 172,873,085. The Directors approved the interim report on 25 September 2003. Registered office: Crusader House 145-157 St John Street London EC1V 4RU This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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