Final Results

RNS Number : 1426F

Vianet Group PLC

12 June 2012

 



Press Release

12 June 2012

Vianet Group plc

("Vianet" or "the Group")

Final Results

Vianet Group plc (AIM:VNET), the leading provider of real time monitoring systems and data management services for the leisure and forecourt services sectors, is pleased to announce its final results for the year ended 31 March 2012.

Highlights

●	Turnover for the year of £22.98 million (2011: £24.28 million)
●	Recurring revenues remained steady at 70% of turnover (2011: 70%)
●	Gross margins stable at 53% (2011: 53%)
●	Operating profit before amortisation of goodwill, share option and exceptional costs of £3.9 million (2011: £4.0 million)
●	Profit before tax of £3.1 million (2011: £3.2 million) pre-exceptional costs  and £2.3 million (2011: £3.0 million) post exceptional costs
●	Basic earnings per share of 9.93p (2011: 9.06p) pre-exceptional costs, and 8.00p (2011: 8.61p) post-exceptional costs
●	Final dividend of 4.00 pence per share giving a full year total of 5.67 pence per share (2011: 5.65 pence per share)
●	538 new beer monitoring installations, of which 487 were higher value iDraughtTM
●	Contract extensions secured with Enterprise Inns plc, Punch Taverns plc and Marstons plc
●	Fuel Solutions business signed five year contract extension for Facilities and Compliance Management with Morrisons Supermarkets plc
●	Vianet vending solutions trading at breakeven in Q4 2012

Since year end

●	Group businesses consolidated into two operating subsidiaries, Vianet Limited (Leisure, Vending and Technology) and Vianet Fuel Solutions Limited (Fuel)
●	Contract secured with Spirit Pub Company for 400 iDraughtTM units on a five year deal
●	Three year contract extension achieved with Glaxo Smith Kline
●	Coca Cola and Vianet's contactless vending solution, which is being deployed at London 2012 Olympic venues, won innovation award at the showcase Contactless & Mobile Awards 2012.

Commenting on the preliminary results, James Newman, Chairman of Vianet Group plc, said: "During the last year the Group has successfully completed its transformation by diversifying its offering and ensuring its structure is fit for purpose.  The recent acquisitions are now successfully integrated and the Group's market-leading products have been fully developed and are gaining traction with customers. Consequently, the Board is confident of the Group's prospects and ability to ensure that future earnings reflect this new structure and the significant growth potential." 

Enquiries:

Vianet Group plc
James Dickson, Chief Executive	Tel: [phone]
[e-mail]	www.vianetplc.com

Cenkos Securities plc
Stephen Keys / Camilla Hume	Tel: [phone]
	www.cenkos.com

Media enquiries:

Abchurch Communications
Joanne Shears / Oliver Baxendale [e-mail]	Tel: [phone] www.abchurch-group.com

Chairman's Statement

The last year has been a transitional one for Vianet as the management team completed the reorganisation and integration of acquisitions made in the previous year. The team also continued the programme of innovation within the Group's core businesses and ensured they are appropriately structured in the current economic climate.  The Group's name change to Vianet Group plc, which became effective in April 2012, identifies with these successful changes in our strategic development.

Results

Turnover for the year was £22.98 million (2011: £24.28 million).   Turnover in the Leisure division decreased from £18.00 million to £16.43 million.  This was a due to a combination of factors; predominantly it was due to several of the Group's pub company customers taking their lower margin cellar audit management in house but also due to some pub closures, as well as a number of delayed projects.  However, the Board expects the Group to benefit from the delayed projects during the current year. It is pleasing to note that gross margins of over 60% (2011: 58%) in the Leisure division were achieved through improved product mix and the reduction in the cost base.

The level of contractual and recurring revenues remains consistent at just over 70% of Group turnover and the recent contract extensions, both in our beer monitoring and vending sectors will ensure that this level of contractual business remains steady in the current year.

The Group's overall operating gross margins remained stable at 53% which the Board believes is encouraging in an increasingly competitive environment.  The Leisure division's gross margin increased to over 60% (2011: 58%) although, due to lower sales and other costs factors, the margins in the Fuel Division fell to 22% (2011: 42%).

Action taken to reduce costs across the Group and the integration of acquisitions has successfully yielded its anticipated synergies with some of the benefit of these coming through in the year although the majority of these benefits will occur in the current financial year.

Due to the amount of reorganisation and integration in the year exceptional and amortisation costs were significantly higher than normal and are detailed in the Financial Review. 

As a result, underlying operating profit before exceptional items was £3.9 million (2011: £4.0 million). Group profit before taxation amounted to £2.34 million compared to £3.03 million in 2011. Basic earnings per share post-exceptional costs decreased to 8.00 pence from 8.61 pence in 2011.

Dividend

Despite the overall underlying trading performance remaining flat, the Board remains confident of the longer term prospects for the Group and is maintaining its progressive dividend policy. The Board is recommending the payment of a final dividend of 4.00 pence per share in respect of the year ended 31 March 2012.

Together with the interim dividend of 1.67 pence per share paid in January 2012, this makes a total dividend of 5.67 pence per share, slightly ahead of the 5.65 pence per share paid in respect of the year ended 31 March 2011.

Subject to the approval of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 5 July 2012, the final dividend will be paid on 2 October 2012 to shareholders on the register as at 14 September 2012.

Acquisitions

Following the multiple acquisitions made in the previous year, the only acquisition made during the period was on 26 October 2011 of Lookout Solutions Limited, a company specialising in vending telemetry solutions, for an initial consideration of £377,024. The Company's Managing Director, Mark Boland, joined the Group as Sales Director - Vending Solutions.

Board and senior management

During the year the Board appointed Stewart Darling as Chief Operating Officer with the task of leading the Leisure, Vending and Technology Solutions business units and bringing together all the Group's common operational activities.  This process has progressed well.

Duncan Noble will step down from the main Board at the Annual General Meeting but will remain with the Group as Managing Director of the Technology Solutions unit within Vianet Limited.  I would like to thank him for his contribution to the Board over the last six years.

I would also like to thank all of my Board colleagues, senior management and staff for their continued efforts and commitment on behalf of the Group in these difficult economic conditions and in responding so well to the challenges of reorganisation and integration of the Group over the past year.

Strategy and Business Development

There is an increasing global demand to share, transfer and use data of all kinds across the web. This, together with the development of 'Cloud' technologies, will enable the Group to seek new markets utilising its significant in-house technology, data collection and management skills and experience.

The Group's strategic intent, therefore, remains to extend its data collection, management and support services presence in its current sectors where there is considerable technical and operational overlap and respond to new opportunities as they arise.

Outlook

Within the Leisure division the re-launch of iDraught™ has been successful with increased penetration being achieved within the on-premise draught beer market. Further gains are expected in the current year.

The Group's Vending Solutions business has made excellent progress in developing significant new sales opportunities with major global customers including the relationship with Coca Cola and Visa Europe to provide contactless payment technology for vending machines, which will be used at the forthcoming Olympics. This contract demonstrates the potential for contactless payments in the vending industry where the Group believes there is significant potential for growth.

The Fuel Solutions division has completed its creation of a 'one-stop' solution for the industry and, having cut costs during the last year, is expected to contribute positively to Group profits in the current year.

Having successfully come through a significant period of development and change, with an ever-increasing competency and confidence in its technology base, the Board is confident that the Group is well positioned to benefit from the continued growth in data services across the globe.

James H Newman

Chairman

12 June 2012

Chief Executive Overview

I am pleased to present these results and to take this opportunity to describe the diversification, reorganisation and strengthening of the Company - a process which started two years ago.

During this time the Company has been steadfastly doing the hard yards to transform itself from essentially being a one location, one product, one market, UK business to become a multi-location, multi-product, multi-market business with real international presence.

Utilising the solid financial platform provided by the widely respected and pioneering beer monitoring business in the tenanted pub sector, the Group has made a series of prudent investments in acquiring and developing its product set in the following areas:

·   Next generation beer monitoring technology for the wider licenced trade;

·   Battle tested, cutting edge data capture and transmission technology with potential for industry wide applications;

·     Market leading end-to-end vending management solutions; and

·   A unique 'one stop shop' forecourt product suite and distribution for fuel asset management solutions

The Company provides solutions for complex customer demands and has established an impressive reputation for its robust and innovative technology, as well as the quality of its support to blue chip customers who demand world class service and data accuracy 24/7. 

The recent name change to Vianet Group plc signalled the commencement of a new and sustainable growth phase for the Group.   Having transformed the shape of the business the management and staff are now focussed on successfully capitalising on significant organic growth opportunities which the Board expects will transform the earnings of the Group.

Transformation of Vianet's business structure

The integration of acquisitions and appraisal of the Group's strategy and market approach over the past two years has helped shape our recent restructuring of the organisation.  There is absolute focus on working in partnership with key customers to introduce product sets which will provide the customer with a compelling and sustainable return on investment and, in turn, cement a profitable long term trading relationship.

Prior to 01 April 2012 the Group consisted of:

·   Leisure Division comprising Brulines Limited, Machine Insite Limited and Vianet Limited;

·   Fuel Division consisting of Edensure Limited, RFS Limited, and ELS limited, and:

·   Technology Division consisting of Viatelemetry Limited. For the purposes of segmental analysis this has been included in Group

Utilising the Group's leading data capture and transmission technology, together with our in-house data management expertise and field engineering infrastructure, we have now organised the business into two companies comprising four business units;  Vianet Limited comprises three business units; Leisure Solutions and Vending Solutions, which are key vertical markets for our data capture technology; Technology Solutions, which addresses the horizontal market opportunities whilst seeking further vertical opportunities; and Vianet Fuel Solutions Limited is a standalone business unit, the one-stop-shop for fuel asset management products which is also a vertical opportunity for our technology.

Generally, the Group's focus is on large, blue chip customers that have the scale and expertise to exploit the cost saving and sales improvement opportunities which our web based reporting identifies.   

Organisational change and executive management structure

Having transformed the shape of the business through organic change as well as acquisitions, the Board has instigated wide ranging organisational changes to ensure clarity of purpose, individual accountability, efficiency and cost effectiveness.   The various trading entities have been consolidated whereby Vianet Group plc has two operating subsidiaries; Vianet Limited and Vianet Fuel Solutions Limited.

Vianet Fuel Solutions Limited, comprising the fuel related businesses that have been acquired, is a standalone business unit with 64 staff where Phil Maud, Managing Director, reports directly to me.

Vianet Limited, with 175 staff, is headed up by Group Chief Operating Officer, Stewart Darling.  This division comprises the non-fuel related businesses which have been consolidated into three business units; Leisure Solutions, Vending Solutions and Technology Solutions and three functional areas of Commercial, Technology and Innovation as well as Service Delivery.

In addition to heading up the Group's financial management resource Mark Foster, Group Finance Director, is heavily involved in commercial contracting and heads up HR, Health Safety & Quality and audit of internal processes.

Responding to the increasing demands of dealing with international blue chip customers, the Group continues to attract and develop high calibre individuals to ensure that the organisational structure is populated with leaders who can take the business forward, particularly in sales and delivery execution.

Overall the organisational changes have impacted 42 staff positions and resulted in annualised cost savings of approximately £1 million, the benefit of which will be seen in the current financial year.

Highly relevant and sustainable products

During this transitional period we have invested in ensuring that our hardware and software products are reliable, have modular flexibility, are value engineered and are highly relevant to a wider range of customers and markets.

We have a highly focussed set of product groups which are aligned to the customer and market needs and provide a significant return on customer investment:

·     The Leisure Solutions team has successfully re-launched iDraught™ and Machine Insite and also gained good traction with the launch of Nucleus Smart Till™;

·     Vending Solutions now offers the full end-to-end product set for vending telemetry, comprising Touch & Pay™ contactless payment solution, Vitel™ data capture and transmission telemetry and VendExpert™ management software.  Significant traction has been achieved including the relationship with VISA and Coca Cola whereby the Group provides these solutions for vending at the Olympic venues. These products allow customers to drive significant cost saving and sales uplift;

·     Technology Solutions, utilising the Group's data management expertise, is succeeding in taking its leading data capture and transmission technology to market, already securing relationships with Costa Coffee and Autotime; and

·     Fuel Solutions now has the only fully integrated 'one-stop-shop' for leading fuel asset management products and services and following early integration challenges the division has secured new business and gained a number of contract extensions.

Group performance

Despite challenging UK economic conditions and being held back by Fuel Solutions, the Group's trading performance for H2 was largely as anticipated. Full year pre-exceptional operating profits of £3.9 million (2011: £4.0 million) were broadly in line with market expectations. 

The Group's strategy to reduce costs and drive sales, particularly of the Group's newer products, has started to gain traction and the Board expects the benefits to be realised in the current year.

Leisure Solutions

The Leisure Solutions business achieved a profit contribution of £5.3 million prior to exceptional and financial costs of £0.53 million. 

The re-launch of iDraught^TM, the Group's bar management solution, to drive profit and quality and the introduction of the Group's Nucleus Smart Tills™ EPOS system were received very positively by customers, many of whom have been carrying out extensive evaluations of iDraught^TM on new sites and as a replacement for standard legacy Brulines Beer Monitoring systems.

Trading in the Group's core beer monitoring business has been encouraging despite some initial delays to installation programmes with 538 new installations, of which 487 were higher value iDraught^TM.  iDraught^TM is gaining penetration across the on-premise draught beer market and now accounts for twelve per cent of Leisure Solutions', beer monitoring installation base. 

Several major contract extensions, including the introduction of iDraught^TM have been secured with customers such as Enterprise Inns, Punch Taverns, and Marstons. Nucleus Smart Tills^TM has already gained good sales traction with over 300 installations. 

In May 2012 the National Measurement Office ("NMO") issued further guidance on the use of flow monitoring equipment for beer or cider.   This followed comments to the Business & Industry Select Committee regarding whether such equipment was "for use in trade" and therefore covered by the Weights and Measures Act 1985.

In summary the Board is pleased that the guidance is as anticipated and this remains an issue for local measures authorities on a case by case basis.  More importantly, in relation to commercial agreements between pub owners and licensees where the licensee is contracted to source draught beer or cider from the pub company, the NMO has sought to clarify the position and concludes that "it is unlikely that, in practice, flow monitoring equipment is in use for trade".  This means that our beer flow monitoring business is unaffected.

Vending solutions

Overall losses associated with the Vending Solutions business, including exceptional costs of £0.19 million, were £0.37 million. These losses continued to reduce during the year to the point where monthly trading was at breakeven in Q4 2012, a trend which has continued into the current year.

As announced on 26 October 2011, the acquisition of Lookout Solutions ("Lookout") was a significant step for the Group's Vending Telemetry business.  Lookout's leading vending management software application combined with Vianet's own leading contactless payment processing and vending telemetry solutions, provides a compelling end-to-end solution.  

With acquisitions now fully integrated and development of the product set completed, the Group has been able to implement changes which are expected to reduce annualised costs by £0.5 million.

There has also been success in developing existing contracts, such as the three year contract extension with Glaxo Smith Kline for vending solutions. We have made good progress with a significant number of new sales opportunities for the Group's end-to-end vending telemetry solution with several major international brand owners, including the Group's cutting-edge cashless and contactless Touch & Pay™ payment acceptance solutions being used at the upcoming Olympic Games.

Contactless payment is extremely well-suited to the vending sector as it allows customers to pay for low-value items by presenting their bank card or near field communication ("NFC") enabled mobile phone to a special reader fitted on the front of the vending machine, helping to reduce the time it takes to pay.  The growth of contactless-enabled cards in circulation in the UK has been substantial, and the figure of 17 million contactless-enabled cards currently in circulation is expected to exceed 30 million by the end of 2012 (source: Visa Europe).  It is exciting that the Group's technology is at the forefront of these developments as we work with large brand owners and vending operators in our aim to become the clear market leader in the provision of these solutions for the global vending market.

Vianet Fuel Solutions ("VFS")

VFS losses of £1.49 million (including £0.50 million exceptionals) were higher than anticipated primarily due to H1 integration issues which constrained performance, as well as timing issues relating to new contract activity, which will carry forward and benefit the current year.

The Board is pleased to report that good progress was made in downsizing the cost base by an annualised £0.4 million and in gaining new business as the market's only end-to-end solution for forecourt operators. The sales trends and improved cost base indicate that VFS will achieve breakeven in Q2 2013 and trade positively in Q3 2013 and beyond.

VFS has secured a five year contract extension with Morrisons Supermarkets plc ("Morrisons") to provide Facilities and Compliance Management solutions for their estate of over 300 petrol forecourts and 12 distribution centre fuel depots.  Morrisons has been using VFS since 2006 and our forecourt-trained call handling team now processes more than 3,000 maintenance related calls for Morrisons  every month, each of which is captured through a sophisticated web-based system which dramatically reduces repair times and costs, while also ensuring delivery of demanding Service Level Agreements ("SLAs") and customer satisfaction. All proactive and periodic maintenance and legal inspection work is managed through the same system.  This contract will also see the rollout of the new VFS "E-Site Register" at every Morrisons' petrol forecourt, providing forecourt managers with a web-based dashboard providing visibility of the status of all current, historical and planned maintenance issues on their site, as well as access to all asset information and legal and compliance documentation.   VFS will also provide all electrical testing and repair services across the Morrisons' forecourt estate through their significant and growing national forecourt engineering team. This long term commitment by Morrisons demonstrates the considerable value that VFS solutions can deliver as part of a customer's pursuit of excellence in forecourt operations.

Full availability is a fundamental element of our customers' offerings, and the VFS Facilities Management system ensures full transparency of performance from all service providers and consequently customers' forecourt assets are able to achieve maximum utilisation and contribution to profit.   

Vianet Technology Solutions

The historical financial performance of the Group's technology arm, Vianet Technology Solutions, is not available as it was only formed from the consolidation of our various technology resources during the past six months.

The team has continued to make good progress in developing horizontal market opportunities, with sales of our leading edge data capture and transmission technologies which help businesses talk to machines, and as a result the Group has a new breed of customer. The roll out in Costa Coffee Express and increased penetration in Autotime's time and attendance product are early examples of these new market opportunities.

Summary and outlook

Whilst the Board expects the challenging economic conditions to continue for some time yet, the growth prospects across the Group's divisions are very encouraging and management views the future with much confidence. 

The Group has moved successfully beyond being a one product company operating in the tenanted pub market.  The Board believes that this should be reflected in the Group's valuation as all parts of the Group of the divisions achieve growth and demonstrate the success of our diversification strategy:

·     The core Leisure Solutions business already provides visibility of strong earnings and is expected to deliver organic growth as it continues to gain traction for iDraught^TM, Nucleus Smart Tills™ and Machine Insite across the wider licenced on trade market.

·     The Vending Solutions business is now trading at break even and will move into strong profit as new contracts are realised in 2013 and it becomes established as the market leader.

·     Fuel Solutions is now trading close to breakeven and the current sales pipeline will take the division into profit. 

·     Although still a cost centre, the Technology Solutions team has numerous horizontal market sales opportunities which will allow it to move to profitability in the medium term. 

The Group has transformed the shape of the business over the past two to three years, and the markets, products, customers and people are now in place to transform the earnings of the Group.

James Dickson

Chief Executive Officer

12 June 2012

Financial Review

This year continued to be a transitional one for the Group with the integration of the previous year's acquisitions as well as the further acquisition of Lookout Solutions Limited.

The overall general economic environment has imposed challenges on the Group and continued to impact the pub and leisure marketplace. The Fuel division went through significant change and consolidation but by the year end the team had established a stable position for the division.

Reported revenue for the year was £23.0 million (2011: £24.3 million). Operating profit (before amortisation of intangible assets, share based payments, and exceptional items) totalled £3.9 million (2011: £4.0 million), which is in line with last year's performance reflecting the transitional nature of the year. These results are presented after absorbing transitional losses of approximately £1.0 million in aggregate from the Fuel Solutions division companies, the Vending Solutions business (which traded profitably in Q4 2012) as well as US iDraught™ start-up costs. 

Blended recurring revenues for the Group are in line with last year at 70%, with continued divisional results in the Leisure division at over 85% and in Fuel Solutions nearing 20%. Exceptional costs of £0.5 million principally relate to the net cost of restructuring and transitional provisions resulting in Group operating profit (before intangible asset amortisation and share based payments) of £3.4 million (2011: £3.8 million).

Divisional performance

The Leisure division, consisting of the core beer monitoring business, Machine Insite as well as Vending Solutions, achieved turnover of £16.43 million (2011: £17.94 million). 

The expected level of beer monitoring installations was not achieved during the year but, of the 538 new systems installed, 487 were the higher value iDraught™ product. Against this background, the transfer of the low margin cellar audit activities back to customers, and the cost rationalisation programme, gross margins rose to just over 60% (2011: 58%).

The active beer monitoring installation base after pub company disposals, change of use and uplifted systems is approximately 18,500 systems. The pub market continues to operate in a difficult environment.  However, with the success of iDraught™ gathering momentum and contracts deferred through to the current year, the Board views the outlook for this division with confidence.

Vianet delivered 2,576 additional units taking the installation base to just short of 12,000. As expected the business moved through breakeven to profitability in the final quarter and the Board continues to view the market opportunities with increasing confidence, especially after the recent acquisition of Lookout Solutions in October 2011.

On 1 April 2012 the former Leisure division companies Brulines Limited, Machine Insite Limited, together with Viatelemetry Limited were brought together under an enlarged Vianet Limited

The Fuel Solutions division faced some very significant challenges and hurdles during the year, particularly with the recently acquired Energy Level Systems Limited, which resulted in some senior level management restructuring. As a result no earn-out triggers were activated for that company. The re-organisation, together with the effect of on-going strategic commercial development and cost rationalisation, delayed the divisional growth plan by six months. The division contributed £5.4 million in turnover and gross margins of 22% which resulted in a loss for the year before exceptional costs of £0.9 million. Losses pre-exceptional items were much reduced in the fourth quarter at £0.1 million.

For the financial year to March 2013, given the cost rationalisation and leaner structure, the Group expects Fuel Solutions to move through break even and to contribute growing profit.

Overall Group results

Group results overall, before amortisation of intangible assets, share based payments, option costs, and exceptional costs, were a profit of £3.9 million as compared to £4.0 million at March 2011, but after absorbing the transitional losses as referred to above of £1.0 million.

The table below shows the performance of the Group, pre and post exceptional costs, as follows:

	FY 2012 £'000	FY 2011 £'000
Revenue	22,975	24,282
Gross Profit	12,235	12,886
	(53%)	(53%)
EBIT	2,398	3,058
PBT post exceptional costs	2,341	3,028
PBT pre exceptional costs	3,080	3,204

Divisional Performance

FY 2012	£'000 Leisure	£'000 Fuel	£'000 Group & Technology
Revenue	16,433	5,444	1,098
Gross Profit	10,613	1,180	442
	(65%)	(22%)	(40%)
EBIT pre exceptional costs	5,307	(988)	(1,182)
PBT post exceptional costs	4,739	(1,495)	(903)
PBT pre exceptional costs	5,272	(991)	(1,201)

Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share for the year ended 31 March 2012 before exceptional costs amounted to 9.93 pence compared to 9.06p at March 2011. Fully diluted earnings per share (before exceptional costs), which takes account of all outstanding share options, amounted to 9.83 pence which compares to 8.69 pence last year.

Taxation

The Group tax charge of £82k (3.50%) arises principally due to the enhanced allowances for research and development expenditure coupled with the release of deferred tax liability no longer required.

Balance sheet and cash flow

The Group's balance sheet remains in robust condition. Cash generated from operations amounted to £1.8 million (2011: £1.8 million) adversely impacted by the Fuel Solutions division performance as well as transitional losses in Vending Solutions.  The core Leisure business, however, continued to be a very healthy cash generator of just under £4 million.

The funds generated in the year were used to invest in Lookout Solutions Limited, to support the Group's technology research and development expenditure as well as to pay dividends to shareholders. At the year end, the Group's net borrowings had increased to £3.4 million (2011: net borrowings of £1.2 million), a comfortable gearing of 8.5%.

It is anticipated that, given the strong Leisure platform and the improved Fuel Solutions performances in the current year, along with the strength of the Group's balance sheet and cash generating capacity, that there is a solid platform for the Group to capitalise on the organic growth opportunities that exist in its markets.

Mark Foster

Finance Director

12 June 2012

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the year ended 31 March 2012

		Before Exceptional 2012 £000	Exceptional 2012 £000	Total 2012 £000	Total 2011 £000
	Note
Continuing operations
Revenue		22,975	-	22,975	24,282
Cost of Sales		(10,740)	-	(10,740)	(11,396)
Gross profit		12,235	-	12,235	12,886
Administration and other operating expenses		(8,339)	(489)	(8,828)	(9,104)
Operating profit pre amortisation and share based payments		3,896	(489)	3,407	3,782
Intangible asset amortisation		(702)	(250)	(952)	(696)
Share based payments		(57)	-	(57)	(28)
Operating profit post amortisation and share based payments		3,137	(739)	2,398	3,058
Finance income		5	-	5	36
Finance costs		(62)	-	(62)	(66)
Profit before taxation		3,080	(739)	2,341	3,028
Income Tax expense	1	(274)	192	(82)	(597)
Profit after tax and total comprehensive income for the year attributable to the owners of the parent		2,806	(547)	2,259	2,431
Earnings per share
- Basic	3	9.93p	(1.93)p	8.00p	8.61p
- Diluted	3	9.83p	(1.93)p	7.90p	8.26p

Consolidated Balance Sheet

at 31 March 2012

				2012 £000	2011 £000
Assets
Non-current assets
Goodwill				17,723	17,618
Other Intangible Assets				1,990	1,638
Property, plant and equipment				3,662	3,643
Investments				533	533
Total non-current assets				23,908	23,432
Current assets
Inventories				1,903	2,674
Trade and other receivables				4,157	4,553
Tax asset				213	-
Cash and cash equivalents				105	2,517
				6,378	9,744
Total assets				30,286	33,176
Equity and liabilities
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables				3,400	6,198
Borrowings				1,985	1,756
Tax liabilities				-	324
Provisions				-	89
				5,385	8,367
Non-current liabilities
Borrowings				1,526	1,992
Provisions				-	75
Deferred tax				157	303
				1,683	2,370
Equity attributable to owners of the parent
Share capital				2,825	2,825
Share premium account				11,174	11,174
Share based payment reserve				333	276
Own shares				(1,154)	(1,154)
Merger reserve				310	310
Retained profit				9,730	9,008
Total equity				23,218	22,439
Total equity and liabilities				30,286	33,176

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

for the year ended 31 March 2012

	Share capital	Share premium Account	Own Shares	Share based payment reserve	Merger reserve	Profit and loss account	Total
	£000	£000	£000	£000	£'000	£000	£000
At 1 April 2010	2,825	11,174	(1,154)	248	310	7,641	21,044
Dividends	-	-	-	-	-	(1,064)	(1,064)
Share based payments	-	-	-	28	-	-	28
Transactions with owners	-	-	-	28	-	(1,064)	(1,036)
Total comprehensive income for the year	-	-	-	-	-	2,431	2,431
Total comprehensive income less owners transactions	-	-	-	28	-	1,367	1,395
At 31 March 2011	2,825	11,174	(1,154)	276	310	9,008	22,439
At 1 April 2011	2,825	11,174	(1,154)	276	310	9,008	22,439
Dividends	-	-	-	-	-	(1,537)	(1,537)
Share based payments	-	-	-	57	-	-	57
Transactions with owners	-	-	-	57	-	(1,537)	(1,480)
Total comprehensive income for the year	-	-	-	-	-	2,259	2,259
Total comprehensive income less owners transactions	-	-	-	57	-	722	779
At 31 March 2012	2,825	11,174	(1,154)	333	310	9,730	23,218

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

for the year ended 31 March 2012

	note	2012 £000	2011 £000
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit for the year		2,259	2,431
Adjustments for
Interest receivable		(5)	(36)
Interest payable		62	66
Income tax expense		82	597
Amortisation of intangible assets		701	696
Impairment		250	-
Depreciation		448	480
Gain pre-existing contract on acquisition		-	(200)
Exceptional item		(808)	-
Payment of deferred consideration		(12)	-
Profit on sale of property, plant and equipment		8	(80)
Share based payments		57	28
Operating cash flows before changes in working capital and provisions		3,042	3,982
Change in inventories		797	(510)
Change in receivables		517	13
Change in payables		(2,368)	(1,602)
Change in provisions		(164)	(80)
		(1,218)	(2,179)
Cash generated from operations		1,824	1,803
Income taxes paid		(853)	(834)
Net cash generated from operating activities		971	969
Cash flows from investing activities
Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment		21	121
Purchases of property, plant and equipment		(495)	(608)
Purchases of intangible assets		(740)	(735)
Purchase of subsidiary undertakings		(377)	(4,380)
Cash acquired with subsidiary		39	547
Net cash used in investing activities		(1,552)	(5,055)
Cash flows from financing activities
Interest payable		(62)	(66)
Interest received		5	36
Repayments of borrowings		(511)	(452)
Dividends paid	2	(1,537)	(1,064)
Net cash used in financing activities		(2,105)	(1,546)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(2,686)	(5,632)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		1,260	6,892
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		(1,426)	1,260

Notes to the financial statements

1. Taxation

Analysis of charge in period

	2012 £000	2011 £000
Current tax expense
- UK corporation tax on profits of the period	298	804
- Amounts in respect of prior periods	10	-
	308	804
Deferred tax expense:
- Temporary differences	(226)	(207)
Income tax expense	82	597

Reconciliation of effective tax rate

The tax for the period is lower (2011: lower) than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (26%/28%).  The differences are explained below:

	2012 £000	2011 £000
Profit before taxation - Continuing operations	2,341	3,028
Profit before taxation multiplied by rate of corporation tax in the UK of 26% (2011: 28%)	609	848
Effects of:
Other expenses not deductible for tax purposes	21	39
Goodwill amortisation	36	145
Disposal of investment	-	(22)
Adjustments for prior years	10	-
Research and development	(247)	41
Amortisation of intangibles	(547)	-
Movement on losses not recognised	200	(454)
Total tax expense	82	597

2. Ordinary dividends

	2012 £000	2011 £000
Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2011 of 3.98p (year ended 31 March 2010: 2.24p)	1,083	610
Interim dividend paid in respect of the year of 1.67p (2011: 1.67p)	454	454
Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders	1,537	1,064

In addition, the directors are proposing a final dividend in respect of the year ended 31 March 2012 of 4.00p per share. If approved by shareholders, it will be paid on 2 October 2012 to shareholders who are on the register of members on 14 September 2012.

3. Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted earnings per share are calculated on the basis of profit for the year after tax divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue in the year plus the weighted average number of shares which would be issued if all the options granted were exercised

Reconciliations of the earnings and weighted average number of shares used in the calculations are set out below.

	2012			2011
	Earnings £000	Basic earnings per share	Diluted earnings per share	Earnings £000	Basic earnings per share	Diluted earnings per share
Profit attributable to equity shareholders	2,259	8.00p	7.90p	2,431	8.61p	8.26p

	2012 Number	2011 Number
Weighted average number of ordinary shares	28,248,164	28,248,164
Dilutive effect of share options	330,000	1,522,203
Diluted weighted average number of ordinary shares	28,578,164	29,770,367

4. Exceptional items

	2012 £000	2011 £000
Deferred consideration release	(808)	-
Corporate restructuring and transitional costs	1,297	176
	489	176

Exceptional items include subsidiary restructuring and office closure costs, group restructuring costs, subsidiary acquisition costs, group share option scheme costs and historical costs identified in one of the subsidiaries.

5. Basis of preparation

The financial information set out in this preliminary announcement does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Sections 434 and 435 of the Companies Act 2006.

The consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity, the consolidated balance sheet and the consolidated cash flow statement for the year ended 31 March 2012 have been extracted from the Group's financial statements upon which the auditor's opinion is unqualified and does not include any statement under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. Those financial statements have not yet been delivered to the Registrar.

The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011 have been delivered to the registrar, contained an unqualified audit report and did not include a statement under section 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

The audited accounts will be posted to all shareholders in due course and will be available on request by contacting the Company Secretary at the Company's Registered Office.

6. Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting will be held on 5 July 2012 at 9:00am at the offices of Grant Thornton UK LLP, No.1 Whitehall Riverside, Leeds, LS1 4BN.

- Ends -

 

END

 

 

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