Interim Results

Embargoed until 7.00 am 8thNovember 2004 Eurolink Managed Services PLC ("the Group) Interim Results for the six months ended 30th September 2004 Chairman's Statement Introduction and results I am pleased to report the results for the six months ended 30 September 2004. Turnover for the period was £4.23 million (2003: £3.83 million) resulting in a profit before tax of £227,000 (2003: loss of £165,000). Earnings per share for the period are 1.41p (2003: loss per share of 1.13p). Your Board is proposing the payment of a maiden interim dividend of 0.5 pence per share, payable on 13th December 2004, to those shareholders on the register at the close of business on 19th November 2004. The shares will be declared "ex dividend" on 17th November 2004. Business review As indicated in my last statement, issued in May 2004, the long term contracts, which were negotiated during the last financial year, have enabled the Group to optimise staffing levels and reduce overheads. This has resulted in increased margins and profits for the half year. Growth in business with existing clients has remained strong in both new technology and legacy areas, which has allowed us to focus on new sales initiatives, from which the company is already beginning to benefit. oUTLOOK Your Directors are confident that the Group is well positioned to take advantage of improving market conditions, without the need to increase infrastructure costs. Arrangements have been made to ensure that an adequate cost-effective supply of skilled resources is available to meet the demands of our existing and future clients. Increased investment in sales activities is beginning to have a positive effect, with a number of promising opportunities currently under discussion. Retained client business is set to maintain or increase levels over the next 6 months. Therefore, subject to unforeseen circumstances, your Directors are confident that the second half of the year should produce a further satisfactory outcome. George Kynoch Chairman 8th November 2004 Group profit and loss account for the six months ended 30th September 2004 Unaudited six months Audited to 30th September twelve months to 31st March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 4,227 3,827 7,365 Cost of sales (3,210) (3,013) (5,833) Gross Profit 1,017 814 1,532 Operating expenses Administrative before exceptional (778) (891) (1,625) Exceptional (note 2) - (69) (69) (778) (960) (1,694) Operating profit/(loss) 239 (146) (162) Net interest payable (12) (19) (34) Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before 227 (165) (196) taxation Taxation on profit from ordinary activities (80) 47 54 (note 3) Profit/(loss) for the financial period 147 (118) (142) Dividends proposed 52 - - Retained profit/(loss) 95 (118) (142) Earnings/(loss) per share (note 4) Basic 1.41p (1.13)p (1.36)p Diluted 1.40p (1.13)p (1.36)p All disclosures relate only to continuing operations. There are no recognised gains or losses other than the profit for the period. Group balance sheet at 30th September 2004 Unaudited Audited 30th September 31st March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 187 233 208 Current assets Debtors 1,685 1,851 1,717 Cash at bank and in hand 209 3 - 1,894 1,854 1,717 Creditors: amounts falling due within one (1,094) (1,170) (1,032) year Net current assets 800 684 685 Total assets less current liabilities 987 917 893 Provisions for liabilities and charges Deferred tax (18) (19) (19) 969 898 874 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 208 208 208 Share premium account 103 103 103 Profit and loss account 658 587 563 Equity shareholders' funds 969 898 874 Group cash flow statement for the six months ended 30th September 2004 Unaudited six months Audited to 30th September twelve months to 31st March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 417 418 283 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest paid (12) (19) (34) Net capital expenditure and financial (5) (24) (29) investment Taxation UK corporation tax - (63) (65) Net cash inflow before financing 400 312 155 Financing Capital element of finance leases and hire - (12) (13) purchase contracts Amount advanced against trade debtors - 9 - Net cash (outflow) from financing - (3) (13) Increase in cash in the period 400 309 142 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities Operating profit/(loss) 239 (146) (162) Depreciation charges 26 32 62 Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets - 15 15 (Increase)/decrease in debtors (11) 553 695 Increase/(decrease) in creditors 163 (36) (327) Net cash inflow from operating activities 417 418 283 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds/(debt) Opening net (debt) (191) (575) (346) Increase in cash in period 400 309 142 Cash outflow from changes in debt - 3 13 Closing net funds/(debt) 209 (263) (191) Analysis of funds/(debt) At 1st Cash flow At 30th April September 2004 £'000 2004 £'000 £'000 Cash at bank and in hand - 209 209 Overdrafts (191) 191 - Total (191) 400 209 Notes to the interim results 1. Basis of Preparation The financial information for the six month period ended 30th September 2004 is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information contained in this statement has been prepared using accounting policies consistent with those set out in the Group's statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2004 and should be read in conjunction therewith. The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2004 has been extracted from the statutory accounts of Eurolink Managed Services Plc which contained an unqualified audit report and which did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or 237(3) of the Companies Act 1985 and which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. 2. Exceptional expenses The exceptional expenses in the prior periods consisted of legal fees and severance costs relating to the group re-organisation. 3. Tax Unaudited six months Audited to 30th September twelve months to 31st March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 United Kingdom Corporation Tax On ordinary activities (81) 20 47 On exceptional costs - 20 - Deferred tax movement 1 7 7 (80) 47 54 The tax (charge)/credit provided at the half year is based on the estimated effective tax rate for the Group applicable to the year ending 31 March 2005 as applied to the pre-tax profits for the period. 4. Earnings per share The calculation of basic earnings/(loss) per share of 1.41p (30 September 2003 (loss) 1.13p, 31 March 2004 (loss) 1.36p) is based on the profit/(loss) on ordinary activities after taxation of £147,000 (30 September 2003: loss £ 118,000), 31 March 2004: loss £142,000) and on the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period throughout the previous year of 10,400,000. The full diluted earnings/(loss) per share amounting to 1.40p (30 September 2003 (loss) 1.13p, 31 March 2004 (loss) 1.36p) has been calculated on the basis of adding 106,353 (30 September 2003 nil, 31 March 2004 nil) to the weighted average number of shares to take account of the dilutive effect of outstanding share options to give 10,506,353 (30 September 2003 10,400,000, 31 March 2004 10,400,000) shares in issue assuming that options where the exercised price is lower than fair value are exercised. 5. Copies of report Copies of this report will be posted to shareholders and are available on request from the Company Secretary, Queen Square House, 15 Queen Square, Brighton, BN1 3FD. Enquiries: Eurolink Managed Services Plc David Wood/Paul Jewell Tel: 01273 200100 John East & Partners Limited Jeffrey Coburn/Simon Clements Tel: 020 7628 2200
UK 100

Latest directors dealings