Interim Results for the 6 months ended 28 Feb 2015

RNS Number : 4490L
AB Dynamics PLC
28 April 2015
 

28 April 2015

AB Dynamics plc
("ABD" or the "Company" or the  "Group" )

Interim Results for the 6 months ended 28 February 2015

 

AB Dynamics plc (AIM:ABDP), a designer, manufacturer and supplier of advanced testing systems and measurement products to the global automotive industry, is pleased to announce its Interim Results for the six month period to 28 February 2015.   

Financial Highlights

·      Revenues increased 13% to £7.56 million (H1 2014: £6.69 million)

·      Profit Before Tax increased 30% to £1.51 million (H1 2014: £1.16 million)

·      Net Cash at 28 February 2015 of £7.03 million (H1 2014: £4.55 million)

·      Interim dividend increased  10% to 1.1p per ordinary share (H1 2014: 1.0p)

 

Operational Highlights

·      Company receives first Brazilian order for SPMM

·      New interim manufacturing facility on-line and generating efficiencies

·      AB Dynamics Japan now established to serve all Company  product lines in the region

·      Track testing demand rising with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) targets

·      Awarded conditional grant of up to £2.3 million  from UK government Regional Growth Fund

 

Tim Rogers, Managing Director of AB Dynamics, commented:

"For the past six months the Company has delivered significant revenue and profit growth, combined with operational efficiencies leading to improved gross margins and cash generation. The Group continues to go from strength to strength: the progress of the new factory remains on track with completion expected in the latter part of 2016; and the Company continues to successfully attract key personnel having passed the 60 employees landmark. With a strong order book in place and continuing product development, the Board is pleased to announce an increased interim dividend of 1.1p per share."

 

For further information please contact:

AB Dynamics plc

Tim Rogers, Managing Director

Tony Best, Chairman

 

01225 860 200

Cairn Financial Advisers LLP (Nomad)

Tony Rawlinson

Avi Robinson 

 

0207 148 7900

Charles Stanley Securities Limited (Broker)

Dugald J. Carlean

Karri Vuori 

 

0207 149 6000

Newgate  (PR)

Adam Lloyd

Tim Thompson

Andre Hamlyn

Helena Bogle

0207 653 9850

 

 

Overview of AB Dynamics plc

ABD is a leading designer, manufacturer and provider of advanced testing and measurement products for vehicle suspension, brakes and steering to the global automotive research and development sector. The Group was founded in 1982 and listed on AIM in May 2013. The Group is headquartered in Bradford on Avon employing over 60 staff. ABD currently supplies all of the top twenty automotive manufacturers, including Honda, Toyota, Ford and Volkswagen, who routinely use the Group's products to test vehicle safety.

 

 

 

Managing Director's and Chairman's Statement

 

We are pleased to report on a successful first half of the financial year for AB Dynamics.  The continued strong performance resulted in profit before tax for the half year to 28 February 2015 of £1.51 million (2014: £1.16 million), an increase of 30%, and revenues of £7.56 million (2014: £6.69 million); an increase of 13%. Cash at the period end was £7.03 million (2014: £4.55 million).

Over the last six months, the considerable efforts of the Group have resulted in an improved gross margin driven in part, by manufacturing efficiencies derived from our new robot assembly facility - which came on line last year - and in part, by the improved margins obtained from our recently introduced new Track Testing products. The business has benefited from the recent establishment of AB Dynamics MF Japan Ltd, allowing the Group to support all of its products in the region via one single entity.

We see the global automotive industry investing more money in R&D with both regulatory factors and global competition driving the industry to develop new cars in a timely and efficient way.
Our Lab Testing and Track Testing products enable car companies to develop and design vehicles that are safe and pleasing to drive by factoring in precise dynamic measurements derived on their products from our machines.

The European and Japanese car makers continue to invest heavily in the field of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), where our package of Driverless Robots synchronising with our latest Soft Targets, assist the automotive industry in meeting the latest vehicle passenger and pedestrian safety standards, such as Euro NCAP.

We remain committed to building and establishing our new high-tech manufacturing and office facility. Now that many of the planning obstacles have been overcome we are optimistic that we will complete the build in the latter part of 2016.

The Company is pleased to have applied for and to have received in this period a conditional offer for UK Government Regional Growth Fund money of up to £2.3 million. What the Company will actually receive will be dependent on a protracted due diligence phase and meeting qualifying criteria, however it is expected that the funds will be applied to  building our new facility and  enabling us to embark on a more aggressive product development program.

The Group continues to attract and retain some of the very best talent in UK engineering, with several of our colleagues having been with the Company for more than 20 years. As in previous years we would both like to thank all of the team for their continued hard work and dedication.

Current trading is in line with management expectations and we remain confident of meeting our financial targets this financial year.

Our strong balance sheet and cash generation provides a good basis for an increase in the dividend and as indicated in our Trading Update on 20 March 2015, we are pleased to announce that the Directors are declaring an interim dividend of 1.1p per ordinary share. The ex-dividend date will be 7th May, the record date 8th May and the payment date 22nd May 2015.

 

 

Anthony Best

Chairman

28 April 2015

 

Tim Rogers

Managing Director

28 April 2015

 

 

 

 

AB Dynamics plc

 

                                                 Unaudited consolidated statement of comprehensive income

                                                         for the six months ended 28 February 2015

                                                                                     

                                                                                                  Unaudited          Unaudited               Audited        

                                                                                                     6 months             6 months                      Year

                                                                                                          ended                  ended                  ended

                                                                                                28 February        28 February           31 August                                         2015       2014                                                                               2014

                                                                                                                     £                             £                             £

 

                                                                            Notes

 

Revenue                                                                                  7,559,015             6,694,460          13,846,562        

Cost of sales                                                                         (5,275,393)         (4,895,035)         (9,816,570)       

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Gross profit                                                                             2,283,622             1,799,425            4,029,992

Administrative expenses                                                   (757,955)             (651,413)         (1,378,718)                                                                                                                                               

Operating profit                                                                   1,525,667             1,148,012            2,651,274

Net finance income and (costs)                                         (19,275)                 16,362                  25,692

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Profit before taxation                                                        1,506,392             1,164,374            2,676,966

Income tax expense                                                             (241,686)             (292,852)             (525,055)

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Profit after taxation and total

comprehensive income for the period                       1,264,706                871,522            2,151,911

                                                                                                                                                                                              

 

Earnings per share-Basic                                  2                7.53p                   5.34p                          13.08p         

Earnings per share-Diluted                               2                7.12p                   4.90p                         12.11p         

 

                                                                                       

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                     Unaudited             Unaudited                 Audited        

                                                                                                  28 February          28 February             31 August                                                         2015                                                                               2014                      2014

                                                                                                                     £                             £                             £

 

ASSETS

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

Property, plant and equipment                                              1,441,445             1,141,123             1,219,983

                                                                                                                                                                                               

CURRENT ASSETS

Inventories                                                                                 2,445,096             1,831,655             1,998,831

Trade receivables                                                                     3,008,620             1,933,902             4,339,755

Other receivables, deposits and prepayments                      372,491                 407,351                185,007

Amount owing by contract customers                                     959,518             1,884,811                949,197

Cash and cash equivalents                                                    7,027,164             4,550,221             4,896,206                                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                   13,812,889           10,607,940           12,368,996        

                                                                                                                                                                                               

TOTAL ASSETS                                                                          15,254,334           11,749,063           13,588,979

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                                       

EQUITY AND LIABILITIES

Called up share capital                                                              168,357                 163,470                167,757

Share premium account                                                          2,436,910             2,336,528             2,385,910

Reconstruction reserve                                                        (11,284,500)        (11,284,500)        (11,284,500)

Merger relief reserve                                                             11,390,000           11,390,000           11,390,000

Retained earnings                                                                    8,687,650             6,537,891             7,666,718

                                                                                                                                                                                               

TOTAL EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO OWNERS OF

THE COMPANY AND TOTAL EQUITY                                       11,398,417             9,143,389           10,325,885

                                                                                                                                                                                               

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

Deferred tax liabilities                                                               133,731                 117,048                   79,273

                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

CURRENT LIABILITIES

Trade and other payables                                                       3,420,627             2,251,536             2,913,843

Derivative financial instrument                                                  41,790                              -                              -

Provision for taxation                                                                259,769                 237,090                269,978

                                                                                                                                                                                               

                                                                                                     3,722,186             2,488,626             3,183,821

                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                                      3,855,917             2,605,674             3,263,094

                                                                                                                                                                                               

TOTAL EQUITY AND LIABILITIES                                            15,254,334           11,749,063           13,588,979

                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

                                                           Share               Share            Merger    Reconstruction   Retained                Total

                                                        capital         premium               relief            reserve             profits              equity

                                                                                                          reserve

 

                                                                   £                       £                       £                       £                       £                       £                        

 

At 31 August 2014                    167,757       2,385,910    11,390,000   (11,284,500)     7,666,718     10,325,885

 

Share based payment                             -                        -                        -                        -               7,861               7,861

reserve

 

Profit after taxation and

Total comprehensive

Income for the financial year               -                        -                        -                        -       1,264,706       1,264,706

                                                                                                                                                                         

Dividend paid                                          -                        -                        -                        -         (251,635)        (251,635)

 

Issue of shares, net of share           600             51,000                        -                        -                        -             51,600

issue costs

                                                                    

At 28 February 2015                 168,357       2,436,910    11,390,000   (11,284,500)     8,687,650     11,398,417

                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

 

 

At 31 August 2013                    163,070       2,302,528    11,390,000   (11,284,500)     5,650,416       8,221,514

                                                                    

Share based payment                             -                        -                        -                        -            15,953             15,953

reserve

 

Profit after taxation and

Total comprehensive

Income for the financial year               -                        -                        -                        -          871,522          871,522

 

Issue of shares, net of share           400             34,000                        -                        -                        -             34,400

issue costs

                                                                    

At 28 February 2014                 163,470       2,336,528    11,390,000   (11,284,500)     6,537,891       9,143,389

                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 

 

At 31 August 2013                    163,070       2,302,528    11,390,000   (11,284,500)     5,650,416       8,221,514

 

Share based payment                             -                        -                        -                        -            27,861             27,861

reserve

 

Profit after taxation and

Total comprehensive

Income for the financial year               -                        -                        -                        -       2,151,911       2,151,911

 

Dividend paid                                          -                        -                        -                        -         (163,470)        (163,470)

                                                                                                                      

Issue of shares, net of share        4,687             83,382                        -                        -                        -             88,069

issue costs

 

At 31 August 2014                    167,757       2,385,910    11,390,000   (11,284,500)     7,666,718     10,325,885                        

 

                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                    Unaudited            Unaudited                 Audited

                                                                                                      6 months              6 months                       Year

                                                                                                            ended                    ended                    ended

                                                                                                 28 February         28 February             31 August                                         2015       2014                                                                               2014

                                                                                                                     £                             £                             £

Cash flow from operating activities

Profit before taxation                                                            1,506,392             1,164,374            2,676,966

 

Adjustments for:-

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 86,036      57,234                135,645

Loss on sale of property, plant and equipment                                 -                              -                        257

Finance income and costs                                                           41,790                              -                              -

Interest income                                                                            (22,515)                (16,362)                (25,692)

Share based payment                                                                     7,861                   15,953                  27,861

                                                                                                                                                                                              

Operating cash flows, before

working capital changes                                                     1,619,564             1,221,199            2,815,037

 

Decrease/(increase) in inventories                                       (446,265)              (345,265)             (512,441)

Decrease/(increase) in trade and

other receivables                                                                    1,133,330           (1,089,891)          (2,337,786)

(Decrease)/increase in other payables                                  506,784               (911,557)             (249,250)

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Cash flow (used in) / from operations                            2,813,413           (1,125,514)             (284,440)

Interest received                                                                           22,515                   16,362                  25,692

Income tax paid                                                                         (197,437)              (178,955)             (416,046)

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Net cash flow (used in) / from operating                       2,638,491           (1,288,107)             (674,794)

activities

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Cash flow used in investing activities

Purchase of property, plant and equipment                       (307,498)              (186,248)             (344,942)

Sale of property, plant and equipment                                               -                              -                     1,167

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Net cash flow used in investing activities                        (307,498)              (186,248)             (343,775)

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Cash flow used in financing activities

Dividends paid                                                                            (251,635)                             -               (163,470)

Proceeds from issue of share capital, net of share               51,600                   34,400                  88,069

issue costs                                                                                                   

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Net cash flow from/(used in) financing activities          (200,035)                 34,400                 (75,401)       

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash                  2,130,958           (1,439,955)          (1,093,970)

equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period    4,896,206             5,990,176            5,990,176

                                                                                                                                                                                               

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period                7,027,164             4,550,221            4,896,206

                                                                                                                                                                                               

 

 

 

1.         Basis of preparation
 

The Company is a public limited company limited by shares and incorporated under the UK Companies Act.  The Company is domiciled in the United Kingdom and the registered office and principal place of business is Holt Road, Bradford upon Avon, Wiltshire, BA15 1AJ.

 

The principal activity is the specialised area of design and manufacture of test equipment for vehicle suspension, steering, noise and vibration. The company also offers a range of services which include analysis, design, prototype manufacture, testing and development.

 

The interim financial information has been prepared in accordance on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the annual report and accounts for the year ended 31 August 2014, which have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted for use by the European Union. The interim accounts are unaudited and do not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006.

The same accounting policies, presentation and methods of computation have been followed in this unaudited interim financial information as those which were applied in the preparation of the Group's annual statements for the year ended 31 August 2014, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, and which have been delivered to the registrar of companies.

The interim financial information has been drawn up using accounting policies and presentation expected to be adopted in the Group's full financial statements for the year ended 31 August 2015. Any new standards that will be adopted in full for the first time in the year-end financial statements did not have a material impact on this interim financial information.

The interim financial information for the six months ended 28 February 2015 was approved by the Board on 27th April 2015.

The Directors are declaring an interim dividend of 1.1p per ordinary share. The ex-dividend date will be 7th May, the record date 8th May and the payment date 22nd May 2015.

 

 

 

 

 

2.         Earnings per share

 

The calculation of earnings per share is based on the following earnings and number of shares:

 

                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                  Unaudited          Unaudited               Audited        

                                                                                                     6 months             6 months                      Year

                                                                                                          ended                  ended                  ended

                                                                                                28 February        28 February           31 August                                         2015       2014                                                                               2014

                                                                                                                     £                             £                             £

 

Profit after tax attributable to

owners of the company                                        1,264,706                871,522            2,151,911

 

Weighted average number of shares

Basic                                                                           16,804,480          16,322,446          16,452,254        

Diluted                                                                      17,772,645          17,772,645          17,772,645

 

Earnings per share                                     

Basic                                                                     7.53 pence    5.34 pence       13.08 pence

Diluted                                                                 7.12 pence                4.90 pence       12.11 pence

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.            Analysis of revenue by geographical area and major customers

 

Material revenues attributable to individual foreign countries are as follows:

 

 

 

Unaudited

6 months

ended

 February 2015

 

 

Unaudited

6 months

ended

February 2014

 

 

Audited

Year

ended

 August 2014

 

£

 

£

 

£

 

United Kingdom

 

198,041

 

 

1,030,456

 

 

1,705,775

Rest of the European Union

2,632,580

 

2,109,872

 

3,752,538

North America

742,440

 

555,268

 

1,388,510

Rest of the World

3,985,954

 

2,998,864

 

6,999,739

 

7,559,015

 

6,694,460

 

13,846,562

 

Revenues derived from major customers, which individually represent 10% or more of total Company revenue are as follows:

 

 

 

Unaudited

6 months

ended

February 2015

 

 

Unaudited

6 months

ended

 February 2014

 

 

Audited

Year

ended

 August 2014

 

£

 

£

 

£

Customer A

85,785

 

930,522

 

1,411,745

Other customers

7,473,230

 

5,763,938

 

12,434,817

 

7,559,015

 

6,694,460

 

13,846,562

 

                There were no material non current assets located outside the United Kingdom.

 

                Revenues are derived from the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revenue from sale of goods

5,984,379

 

4,525,466

 

9,609,493

Revenue from construction contracts

1,574,636

 

2,168,994

 

4,237,069

 

7,559,015

 

6,694,460

 

13,846,562

 

4.            Share Capital

 

                On 3rd December 2014 the Company announced that Cairn Financial Advisers LLP had exercised warrants to subscribe for 60,000 new ordinary shares of 1p each at a price of 86 pence per share. These warrants were granted to Cairn at the time of the Company's admission to AIM in May 2013. Following the issue of the new ordinary shares the company's enlarged issued share capital now comprises 16,835,640 shares.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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