Interim Results - Pre Tax Profits Up to £1.14m
Hansom Group PLC
8 November 1999
THE HANSOM GROUP PLC
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED INTERIM RESULTS
FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 1999
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Results
The profit before tax for the six month period under review was £1,140,000
compared with a pre-tax profit of £61,000 for the corresponding period last
year. Turnover was £1,625,000 compared with £3,262,000. No dividend is
proposed.
Review
It was announced on 14 July 1999 that the Group had disposed of Datacab
Limited, its remaining business. Hansom Group is now a shell with net assets
of £3,402,000, most of which are in cash. Further sums of up to £650,000 will
be received in respect of an earnout arrangement relating to the disposal of
Datacab if the profits of Datacab for the year to 31 March 2000 exceed certain
levels.
It has been widely canvassed that Hansom Group is seeking a major acquisition
and the Board is seeking an attractive opportunity to this end.
Reduction in Capital
The High Court has recently granted The Hansom Group permission to reduce the
adverse balance on its profit and loss account to enable it to commence the
payment of dividends out of future profits.
Jonathan Mervis
Chairman
Consolidated Profit And Loss Account
for the six months ended 30 September 1999
6 months 6 months Year to
to 30 Sept to 30 Sept 31 Mar
1999 1998 1999
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
Notes £'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover
Continuing operations - - -
Discontinued operations 1 1,625 3,262 7,086
------- ------- -------
Total turnover 1,625 3,262 7,086
Cost of sales 2 (1,385) (2,763) (5,971)
------- ------- -------
Gross profit 240 499 1,115
Net operating costs 3 (252) (406) (791)
------- ------- -------
(Loss) on continuing operations (121) (126) (242)
Profit on discontinued activities 1 109 219 566
------- ------- -------
Operating (loss)/profit (12) 93 324
------- ------- -------
Exceptional items profit/(loss) 4 1,110 - (297)
Net interest receivable/(payable) 42 (32) (38)
------- ------- -------
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
before taxation 1,140 61 (11)
Taxation payable - - (10)
------- ------- -------
Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities
after taxation 1,140 61 (21)
Dividends - - -
------- ------- -------
Transfer to reserves 1,140 61 (21)
======= ======= =======
Basic earnings/(loss) per
Ordinary Share 7 2.98p 0.16p (0.05)p
Adjusted earnings per Ordinary
Share before exceptional items 7 0.08p 0.16p 0.72p
Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at 30 September 1999
As at As at As at
30 Sept 30 Sept 31 Mar
1999 1998 1999
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Tangible assets - 2,024 290
Investments 238 - 238
------- ------- -------
238 2,024 528
Current assets
Stocks - 3 3
Debtors 188 1,098 1,447
Cash at bank and in hand 3,038 114 942
------- ------- -------
3,226 1,215 2,392
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year (62) (1,140) (658)
------- ------- -------
Net current assets 3,164 75 1,734
------- ------- -------
Total assets less current liabilities 3,402 2,099 2,262
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year - (67) -
------- ------- -------
Net assets 3,402 2,032 2,262
======= ======= =======
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital 383 383 383
Share premium account 4,784 4,784 4,784
Profit and loss account (1,765) (3,135) (2,905)
------- ------- -------
Equity shareholders' funds 3,402 2,032 2,262
======= ======= =======
SUMMARISED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT
for the six months ended 30 September 1999
6 months 6 months Year
to 30 Sept to 30 Sept to 31 Mar
1999 1998 1999
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Net cash inflow from operating
activities 8 264 484
Net interest received/(paid) 42 (32) (38)
------- ------- -------
Net cash inflow before investing
and finance 50 232 446
Capital expenditure - (105) (108)
Sale of fixed assets - 109 163
Net cash inflow from disposals
of operations 2,046 - 890
------- ------- -------
Net cash inflow before financing 2,096 236 1,391
Principal payment under hire
purchase obligations - (252) (411)
Net (repayment) in respect of
factored receivables - (98) (170)
------- ------- -------
Increase/(decrease) in cash
in the period 2,096 (114) 810
======= ======= =======
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN DEBT
6 months 6 months Year
to 30 Sept to 30 Sept to 31 Mar
1999 1998 1999
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
Increase/(decrease) in cash in
the period 2,096 (114) 810
Principal payment under hire
purchase obligations - 252 411
Hire purchase obligations in
subsidiary disposed of - - 252
Repayment/(advance) in respect of
factored receivables - 98 170
------- ------- -------
Movement in net debt in the period 2,096 236 1,643
Net (debt)/funds at beginning of
the period 942 (701) (701)
Net funds at end of period 3,038 (465) 942
======= ======= =======
Notes to the Consolidated Results
for the six months ended 30 September 1999
1. The discontinued activities related to Datacab Limited and Richmond
Road Cab Centre Limited activities.
6 months 6 months Year
to 30 Sept to 30 Sept to 31 Mar
1999 1998 1999
(unaudited) (unaudited) (audited)
£'000 £'000 £'000
2. Cost of sales
Continuing operations - - -
Discontinued operations 1,385 2,763 5,971
------- ------- -------
1,385 2,763 5,971
------- ------- -------
3. Net Operating Costs
Continuing operations 121 126 242
Discontinued operations 131 280 549
------- ------- -------
252 406 791
======= ======= =======
4. The exceptional item in the six months to 30 September 1999 represents a
profit on disposal of Datacab Limited and the exceptional item in the year to
31 March 1999 represents a loss on the disposal of the Richmond Road Cab
Centre Limited. Further profits of up to £650,000 will be earned in respect
of the disposal of Datacab Limited if profits of Datacab Limited for the year
ending 31 March 2000 exceed certain levels.
5. The Group has no recognised gains and losses other than the gains and
losses set out in the profit and loss account.
6. There is no difference between the profit on ordinary activities
before taxation and their historical cost equivalents.
7. The earnings/(loss) per Ordinary Share are calculated on the profit on
ordinary activities after taxation and on a weighted average number of
Ordinary Shares in issue of 38,289,858.
8. The financial information contained in this interim report does not
constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the
Companies Act 1985. The financial statements for the year ended 31 March
1999, incorporating an unqualified report of the auditors, have been filed
with the Registrar of Companies.
This announcement has been released by English Trust Company Limited on behalf
of The Hansom Group PLC