Interim Results

LPA Group PLC 22 June 2006 NEWS RELEASE Interim Unaudited Group Results for the Six Months ended 31 March 2006 LPA Group Plc, the electrical and electronic equipment manufacturer and distributor, announces a pre-tax loss of £149,000 (2005: profit of £96,000) for the six months ended 31 March 2006. KEY POINTS 2006 2005 • TURNOVER £6.7m £6.6m • (LOSS) / PROFIT BEFORE TAX (£149,000) £96,000 • BASIC (LOSS) / EARNINGS PER SHARE (1.19p) 0.76p • DIVIDENDS 0.15p 0.15p • GEARING 39.2% 49.6% • DIFFICULT TRADING CONDITIONS AND DELAYS IN CONTRACT AWARD WILL RESTRICT PROGRESS THIS YEAR • TENDERING ACTIVITY REMAINS AT A HIGH LEVEL • FOLLOWING ADOPTION OF FRS17 £2M PENION SURPLUS RECOGNISED • POSITIVE CASH FLOW IN THE PERIOD AND GEARING REDUCED Peter Pollock, Chief Executive, commented The continuing delays in contract award are very frustrating. We await a very high level of outstanding tenders to be adjudicated. In the meantime our markets have become more competitive and progress in the second half will be limited. In the event of these conditions continuing we will keep strategy under review. We have had some success in procuring components, tooling and traction batteries from low cost country sources. Enquiries: Peter Pollock Chief Executive 01799 512844 Stephen Brett Finance Director 01799 512860 James Glancy Teather & Greenwood Limited 020 7426 9000 Robert Naylor Teather & Greenwood Limited 020 7426 9000 22 June 2006 Interim Unaudited Group Results for the Six Months ended 31 March 2006 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT In my remarks to the Annual General Meeting held on 8 March 2006, I commented that the start to the new financial year had been disappointing and that this would be reflected in the results for the first half. A loss before tax of £149,000 has been incurred against a profit of £96,000 in the same period last year, on sales of £6.7m (2005: £6.6m). Basic loss per share amounted to 1.19p against earnings of 0.76p last year. There was net cash inflow before financing of £86,000 (2005: outflow of £18,000). The interim divided of 0.15p has been maintained and will be paid on 29 September 2006 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 8 September 2006. Following the adoption in full of accounting standard FRS17 the surplus on the final salary pension scheme is included in the results for the first time, and previous years figures have been restated for comparison purposes. The surplus of £2.0m (2005: £1.3m), shown in the balance sheet under pension asset, is the difference between the market value of scheme assets and the present value of scheme liabilities net of deferred tax. The surplus is the product of two large numbers whose values can fluctuate widely and shareholders should not assume that it can be realised. I also remarked that orders received during February had been encouraging and that these, together with a number of near term opportunities, had the potential to deliver a better second half. The near term opportunities have not manifested themselves as strongly as we had hoped, however the volume and value of tenders outstanding remains very high. Only one tender of any significance has been lost in the period, but the others have been delayed. We are awaiting the imminent award of several million pounds worth of contracts. The cost base has been reduced and the cost of this taken in the first half. Some limited progress is expected in the second half of the year. The strategy of developing relationships with Rail Rolling Stock manufacturers supplying the UK market continues to make progress and all of Alstom Transport, Bombardier Transportation, Hitachi and Siemens now deal with Group companies. However this strategy is taking more time to deliver the base load required by the Group to rebuild that lost when train building ceased in Birmingham in 2002 and more recently with the slow down in new build in Derby. The market is also becoming ever more competitive. Progress in Europe has been encouraging and the potential business in France is very considerable. The Group has lost further business as a result of the globalisation of procurement in its aerospace markets. More positively, the Group's infrastructure products have performed better. Aircraft Ground Power Supply Products, Relays and Industrial Connectors have sold well. New products, based on the Group's LED technology, are evoking a lot of interest and important new orders from defence, infrastructure and rail vehicle markets are anticipated. The Group has been building a position in the UK defence equipment market albeit from a low base. Initial progress has been encouraging, with some small contracts won and invitations to tender for multi-million pound opportunities. Efforts to source components and tooling from low cost countries are succeeding in reducing costs. The Group has been appointed European agent and distributor for a range of traction batteries. Order entry just kept pace with sales during the first six months but at lower margins. The Group has been selected for some notable projects, in some cases more than a year ago, but the orders have not yet been placed and these have not been included in order entry. Shareholders will share management's frustration with these delays, which are limiting and damaging the Group's progress. In the light of the challenging trading conditions, Management are keeping strategy under review. Your board expects only limited progress during the remainder of this year. In the longer term, the award of the major projects currently under adjudication, together with development of the shorter-term order base, will determine the Group's progress. Michael Rusch Chairman 22 June 2006 LPA GROUP PLC Interim Unaudited Group Results for the Six Months ended 31 March 2006 CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT 6 months to * 6 months to * Year to 31 March 2006 1 April 2005 30 Sept 2005 Unaudited Unaudited Audited £000's £000's £000's Turnover 6,668 6,614 13,469 Operating (loss) / profit (181) 92 263 Net finance income 32 4 10 (Loss) / profit on ordinary activities before taxation (149) 96 273 Tax on (loss) / profit on ordinary activities 19 (13) (40) (Loss) /profit on ordinary activities after taxation (130) 83 233 Basic (loss) / earnings per share (1.19p) 0.76p 2.14p * As restated. See note 3. 1. The financial information contained in this interim statement does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the full preceding year is based on the statutory accounts for the financial year ended 30 September 2005. Those accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 2. The calculation of loss per share is based upon the loss after tax of £130,000 (2005: profit of £83,000) and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period of 10.903m (2005: 10.903m). 3. The interim financial information has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Group's statutory accounts for the year ended 30 September 2005, except that FRS17 'Retirement Benefits' will be adopted in full for the first time in place of SSAP24 'Pension Costs', and dividends will be accounted for in line with FRS21 'Events after the Balance Sheet Date' in the accounts to the year ended 30 September 2006. Comparative figures have been restated to reflect the above. The Group previously accounted for its defined benefit pension scheme under SSAP24. Under SSAP24 a regular pension cost was determined using actuarial methods and charged to the profit and loss account. Variations from the regular pension cost were spread over the average remaining service lives of employees. The cumulative difference between the profit and loss account expense and employer contributions was held in the balance sheet as either a prepayment or accrual. Under FRS17 pension scheme deficits or surpluses are recognised on the balance sheet. The profit or loss account comprises the current service cost, the appropriate proportion of any past service cost, the interest cost and the expected return on any plan assets. The net impact of this change in the accounts is to increase net assets at September 2005 and March 2005 by £1,622,000 and £1,386,000 respectively, and to increase earnings in the year to September 2005 and the half year to 1 April 2005 by £93,000 and £48,000 respectively. The company has changed its accounting treatment of proposed dividends. FRS21 no longer permits proposed dividends to be included as an expense in the profit and loss account, with the corresponding liability in the balance sheet. Dividend distributions are not recognised in the profit and loss account, they are disclosed as a component of the movement in shareholders' funds. A liability is recorded for a final dividend when the dividend is approved by the company's shareholders, and for an interim dividend when the dividend is paid. The net impact of this change in the accounts is to increase net assets at September 2005 and March 2005 by £39,000 and £16,000 respectively. 4. Copies of this Interim Report are being sent to shareholders. Copies are also available to the public from the Company's Registered Office, Tudor Works, Debden Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4AN LPA GROUP PLC Interim Unaudited Group Results for the Six Months ended 31 March 2006 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET As at * As at * As at 31 March 2006 1 April 2005 30 Sept 2005 Unaudited Unaudited Audited £000's £000's £000's Fixed assets Intangible assets 1,281 1,374 1,327 Tangible assets 2,183 2,331 2,235 3,464 3,705 3,562 Current assets Stocks 2,383 2,398 2,604 Debtors 2,996 3,146 3,085 Cash at bank and in hand 3 2 3 5,382 5,546 5,692 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (3,708) (3,698) (3,743) Net current assets 1,674 1,848 1,949 Total assets less current liabilities 5,138 5,553 5,511 Creditors: Amounts falling due after more than one year (1,083) (1,368) (1,211) Provisions for liabilities and charges (31) (10) (44) Net assets excluding pension asset 4,024 4,175 4,256 Pension asset 1,996 1,314 1,558 Net assets 6,020 5,489 5,814 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 1,090 1,090 1,090 Share premium account 254 254 254 Revaluation reserve 313 314 313 Merger reserve 230 230 230 Profit and loss account 4,133 3,601 3,927 Equity shareholders' funds 6,020 5,489 5,814 * As restated. See note 3. LPA GROUP PLC Interim Unaudited Group Results for the Six Months ended 31 March 2006 CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 6 months to * 6 months to * Year to 31 March 2006 1 April 2005 30 Sept 2005 Unaudited Unaudited Audited £000's £000's £000's Net cash inflow from operating activities 301 238 787 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (86) (93) (183) Taxation - - (28) Capital expenditure (90) (130) (223) Equity dividends paid (39) (33) (49) Net cash inflow / (outflow) before financing 86 (18) 304 Financing (214) (222) (448) (Decrease) in cash (128) (240) (144) RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING (LOSS) / PROFIT TO NET CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Operating (loss) / profit (181) 92 263 Depreciation and amortisation 228 240 482 Changes in working capital and other non cash items 197 (145) (49) Adjustment for pension funding 57 51 91 Net cash inflow from operating activities 301 238 787 * As restated. See note 3. RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT (Decrease) in cash in the period (128) (240) (144) Cash outflow from decrease in debt and lease financing 214 222 448 Change in debt resulting from cash flows 86 (18) 304 New hire purchase agreements (38) - - Amortisation of loan costs (5) (5) (11) Movement in net debt in the period 43 (23) 293 Opening net debt (2,404) (2,697) (2,697) Closing net debt (2,361) (2,720) (2,404) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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