Interim Results
Eurolink Managed Services PLC
5 December 2000
EUROLINK MANAGED SERVICES PLC
Interim Results
Chairman's statement for the six month
period ended 30 September 2000
Introduction and Results
It is with pleasure I, as interim chairman, present the chairman's statement
for the six month period to 30 September 2000. This has been a very active
period for the company both in internal organisation and in external
development as further outlined below. Turnover for the period was £4.03m
(1999 £4.07m) with operating profit £0.20m (1999 £0.19m). Earnings per share
were 1.16p (1999 1.29p). An interim dividend is not being recommended.
Business Review
This period has seen an increasing level of sales activity as businesses have
put the millennium date change behind them and moved on to new IT
developments, particularly new technology related. With demand in the first
three months of this financial period slower than anticipated, sales are at a
similar level to last year. However in the last three months of the period the
number of chargeable consultants grew by 26% resulting in a 23% increase in
turnover on the three months to June. This improvement has arisen from the
gradual widening of the customer base in mainframe development, a significant
order from an existing client, and the introduction of new technology
opportunities.
Encouragingly, the gross margin has increased from 20.4% to 23.5% on a level
of turnover similar to last year. This has been achieved through balancing the
mix of technical staff between permanent and contract labour depending on the
nature of client project requirements.
With the improvement in demand, the directors have increased the off-site
development facilities and made further investment in the sales and support
team.
The overhead cost of these investments in facility and staff, both this year
and last, together with a full period of costs associated with being a public
company, has resulted in an increase in administration costs when compared to
last year, but in turn provides a strong platform on which to support the
anticipated increase in new business.
Outlook
Amongst the company's existing clients there is a positive outlook for
maintaining and enhancing present levels of business. In particular a
commitment has recently been secured from a major financial institution for
continuing development and maintenance activities for the next twelve months .
Generally, for our core managed service, recent concentrated sales initiatives
have provided a pipeline of opportunities from clients, several of which we
would expect to convert into business. Many of these opportunities are in the
area of new technology and our recent investment in new technology skills
leaves us well positioned to take advantage of these.
The directors continue to remain confident that the Group is well positioned
to provide a cost effective source of managed IT professionals and see an
increasing demand for the managed service concept as offered by EMS.
Notwithstanding the investments made in infrastructure we anticipate the
profits this year to be in line with last year. The benefits of this year's
investment are expected to arise within the next financial year. With a
widening client base, strengthening of relationships with existing clients and
recently created increase in capacity, the directors consider the company to
be exceptionally well placed for growth.
David S Wood
Chairman & Managing Director
5 December 2000
GROUP PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT
for the six months ended 30 September 2000
Unaudited Audited
six months to twelve months to
30 30 31 March
September September
2000 1999 2000
£'000 £'000 £'000
Turnover 4,027 4,069 7,596
Cost of sales (3,082) (3,238) (5,932)
Gross profit 945 831 1,664
Administrative expenses (749) (639) (1,287)
Operating profit 196 192 377
Net interest payable (23) (3) (37)
Profit on ordinary activities before
tax 173 189 340
Tax (52) (59) (113)
Retained profit for the period 121 130 227
Earnings per share - Basic 1.16p 1.29p 2.21p
- Fully Diluted 1.16p 1.28p 2.19p
All disclosures relate to continuing operations.
There are no recognised gains or losses other than the profit for the period.
GROUP BALANCE SHEET
At 30 September 2000
Unaudited Audited
30 30 31 March
September September
2000 1999 2000
£'000 £'000 £'000
Fixed assets
Tangible assets 453 277 300
Current assets
Debtors 1,578 1,408 1,186
Cash at bank 6 163 193
1,584 1,571 1,379
Creditors - amounts falling
due within one year
Borrowings (129) (41) (47)
Other creditors (1,067) (1,217) (957)
(1,196) (1,258) (1,004)
Net current assets 388 313 375
Total assets less current liabilities 841 590 675
Creditors - amount falling
due after one year
Borrowings (128) (87) (83)
713 503 592
Capital and reserves
Share capital 208 208 208
Share premium 122 130 122
Profit and loss account 383 165 262
Shareholders' funds 713 503 592
GROUP CASH FLOW
for the six months ended 30 September 2000
Unaudited Audited
twelve
six months to months
to
30 30 31
September September March
2000 1999 2000
£'000 £'000 £'000
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating
activities (34) 111 481
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest paid (23) (3) (37)
Net capital expenditure and financial investment (197) (119) (173)
UK corporation tax (61) - (246)
Net cash (outflow)/inflow before
financing (315) (11) 25
Financing
Issue of ordinary shares less cost - 138 130
Capital element of finance leases
and hire purchase contracts 75 73 75
Net cash inflow from financing 75 211 205
(Decrease)/Increase in cash (240) 200 230
Reconciliation of operating profit to net
cash flow from operating activities
Operating profit 196 192 377
Depreciation charges 34 30 61
Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets 10 - 1
(Increase)/Decrease in debtors (392) (73) 149
Increase/(Decrease) in creditors 118 (38) (107)
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from
operating activities (34) 111 481
Reconciliation of net cash flow to
movement in net debt
Opening net funds/(debt) 63 (92) (92)
(Decrease)/Increase in cash in year (240) 200 230
Capital element of finance leases and hire
Purchase contracts (75) (73) (75)
Closing net (debt)/funds (252) 35 63
NOTES TO THE INTERIM STATEMENT
1. Preparation of interim report
The financial information for the six month period ended 30 September 2000
is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning
of the Companies Act 1985. It has been prepared using accounting policies
consistent with those set out in the Group's statutory accounts for the
period ended 31 March 2000.
The financial information for the period ended 31 March 2000 has been
extracted from the statutory accounts of Eurolink Managed Services plc
which contained an unqualified audit report and which have been filed with
the Registrar of Companies.
2. Tax
The tax charge for the six months ended 30 September 2000 has been
calculated using the 'discrete' approach and represents the charge
applicable for the six month period.
3. Earnings per share
The calculation of earnings per share is based on the profit on ordinary
activities after tax for each period and the weighted average number of
ordinary shares in issue during the period being 10,400,000 (1999:
10,111,475). The number of shares used for the diluted earnings per share,
after taking account of share options, is 10,432,695 (1999: 10,126,614).
4. Share options
Notional gains on options in issue under the companies share option scheme
are subject to National Insurance costs. At 30 September 2000 no provision
was required.
5. Copies of results
The Interim Results will be posted to all shareholders and will be
available on request from the Company Secretary, Queen Square House,
15 Queen Square, Brighton, BN1 3FD.
INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO EUROLINK MANAGED SERVICES PLC
Introduction
We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information set
out on pages 3 to 6 and we have read the other information contained in the
interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements
or material inconsistencies with the financial information.
Directors' responsibilities
The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is
the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The Listing
Rules of the Financial Services Authority require that the accounting policies
and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with
those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where any
changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed.
Review work performed
We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999
/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board. A review consists principally of
making enquiries of management and applying analytical procedures to the
financial information and underlying financial data and based thereon,
assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been
consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit
procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities
and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in
accordance with Auditing Standards and therefore provides a lower level of
assurance than an audit. Accordingly we do not express an audit opinion on the
financial information.
Review conclusion
On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that
should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months
ended 30 September 2000.
BDO Stoy Hayward, Chartered Accountants, Brighton
5 December 2000