Half Yearly Report

RNS Number : 4912I
Arcontech Group PLC
26 March 2015
 

ARCONTECH GROUP PLC

 

("Arcontech" or the "Group")

 

INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2014

 

 

Arcontech (AIM: ARC), the provider of products and services for real-time financial market data processing and trading, is pleased to report its unaudited results for the six months ended 31 December 2014.

 

Financial and business highlights:

 

·    Turnover increased by 7% to £1,041,599 (six months ended 31 December 2013: £976,578).

·    Operating profit increased to £115,900 (six months ended 31 December 2013: loss of £68,976).

·    Annual run-rate of recurring revenues at 31 December 2014 amount to £2.1 million (2013: £1.9 million) and cover 112% of the cost base.

·    Net cash of £1,073,948 at 31 December 2014 (31 December 2013: £664,098).

 

Richard Last, Chairman of Arcontech, said:

 

"The Board is pleased that the Group is making progress in delivering increasing levels of turnover and profitability in the medium to longer term. However, the level of profitability for the current year ending 30 June 2015 is uncertain, due to a significant customer requesting the termination of its contract 18 months early for reasons outside of our control. We are currently working to resolve the situation. Although we expect to achieve new sales wins before the year end, due to revenue on our contracts being taken to profit on a monthly basis, it is unlikely that we will be able to fully compensate for the loss of revenue should the contract be terminated. Nevertheless, the Board believes Arcontech will deliver a positive result for the six months ending 30 June 2015. With current net cash balances in excess of £1.2m and a healthy sales pipeline, we remain positive about the Group's prospects."

 

Enquiries:

 

Arcontech Group plc

 

Richard Last, Chairman and Non-Executive Director

07713 214484

Matthew Jeffs, Chief Executive

020 7256 2300

 

 

finnCap Ltd

 

Charlotte Stranner/ Simon Hicks

020 7220 0500

 

 

To access more information on the Group please visit: www.arcontech.com

 

The interim report will only be available to view online enabling the Group to communicate with shareholders in a more environmentally friendly and cost effective manner.

 

 



Chairman's Statement

 

I am pleased to report that Arcontech has moved into profitability in the six months ended 31 December 2014. The operating profit for the period was £115,900, compared to an operating loss of £68,796 in the corresponding six month period ended 31 December 2013. This was achieved by an increase in turnover as well as operating efficiencies and cost reductions. Turnover for the six month period increased by 7% to £1,041,599 (six month period ended 31st December 2013: £976,578) of which £1,035,399 relates to recurring annual licence fees (six month period ended 31 December 2013: £962,378). At the same time, operating efficiencies and tight control of expenses resulted in cost reductions amounting to £119,855 compared to the corresponding period last year.

 

The sales cycle continues to take longer than we would like, however, our pipeline of qualified prospects remains encouraging. We are committed to product development focused both on enhancing our solutions for existing customers in response to their feedback, as well as developing new products. In particular, we have developed an interface to Open MAMA and Solace Systems, as well as working with FactSet Systems to enable them to receive and display real time data.

 

Financing

 

Arcontech is well financed, with net cash balances at 31 December 2014 of £1,073,948 (31 December 2013: £664,098). This represents an increase of £409,850 since the year end at 30 June 2014. Net cash at 19 March 2015 was £1,294,061. This places Arcontech in a positive position to maintain its level of product development and increase its sales capability.

 

Employees

 

I would like to thank our employees and my fellow directors for their hard work and support over the last six months. It is essential, particularly in small businesses, that everyone works together as a team and has a flexible approach. As a result this has enabled the Group to achieve profitability.

 

Outlook

 

The Board is pleased that the Group is making progress in delivering increasing levels of turnover and profitability in the medium to longer term. However, the level of profitability for the current year ending 30 June 2015 is uncertain, due to a significant customer requesting the termination of its contract 18 months early for reasons outside of our control. We are currently working to resolve the situation. Although we expect to achieve new sales wins before the year end, due to revenue on our contracts being taken to profit on a monthly basis, it is unlikely that we will be able to fully compensate for the loss of revenue should the contract be terminated. Nevertheless, the Board believes Arcontech will deliver a positive result for the six months ending 30 June 2015. With current net cash balances in excess of £1.2m and a healthy sales pipeline, we remain positive about the Group's prospects.

 

 

Richard Last

Chairman and Non-Executive Director

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT

 


 

Six months ended 31

 December


Six months ended 31

 December


Year ended

30 June


 

2014


2013


2014



(unaudited)


(unaudited)


(audited)



£


£


£








Revenue


1,041,599


976,578


1,981,375








Distribution costs


-


-


(31,439)








Administrative costs


(925,699)


(1,045,554)


(1,989,156)















Operating profit/(loss)


115,900


(68,976)


(39,220)








Finance income


1,032


2,241


3,655















Profit/(loss) before taxation


116,932


(66,735)


(35,565)








Taxation


109,378


-


100,251















 

Profit/(loss) for the period after tax

 

 

226,310


(66,735)


 

64,686















Total comprehensive income


226,310


(66,735)


64,686















Profit/(loss) per share (basic)


0.015p


(0.004)p


0.004p








Profit/(loss) per share (diluted)


0.014p


(0.004)p


0.004p

 

All of the results relate to continuing operations.

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

 

 

31 December


 

 

31 December


 

 

30 June


 

2014


2013


2014



(unaudited)


(unaudited)


(audited)



£


£


£








Non-current assets







Goodwill


1,715,153


1,715,153


1,715,153

Property, plant and equipment


15,531


22,162


19,112















Total non-current assets


1,730,684


1,737,315


1,734,265















Current assets







Trade and other receivables


757,616


254,526


361,016

Cash and cash equivalents


1,073,948


664,098


733,676















Total current assets


1,831,564


918,624


1,094,692















Current liabilities







Trade and other payables


(609,224)


(485,184)


(561,434)

Deferred income


(1,303,096)


(892,790)


(850,638)















Total current liabilities


(1,912,320)


(1,377,974)


(1,412,072)















Net current liabilities


(80,756)


(459,350)


(317,380)















Net assets


1,649,928


1,277,965


1,416,885















Equity







Share capital


1,536,672


1,531,315


1,536,672

Share premium account


9,430,312


9,428,169


9,430,312

Share option reserve


79,295


271,912


72,562

Retained earnings


(9,396,351)


(9,953,431)


(9,622,661)

















1,649,928


1,277,965


1,416,885








 

 

 

 



CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

 


 

Six months ended 31

December


Six months ended 31

December


Year ended

30 June


 

2014


2013


2014



(unaudited)


(unaudited)


(audited)



£


£


£








 

Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities


340,259


(213,830)


 

 

(151,013)








Investing activities














Interest received


1,032


2,241


3,655

 

Sales of plant and equipment


 

166


 

-


 

-

 

Purchases of plant and equipment


 

(1,185)


 

(3,117)


 

(5,270)








Issue of shares


-


-


7,500















Net cash generated from/(used in) investing activities


13


(876)


5,885








 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents


 

 

340,272


 

 

(214,706)


 

 

(145,128)















Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period


 

733,676


 

878,804


 

878,804








Cash and cash equivalents at end of period


1,073,948


664,098


733,676

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 


Share

capital

Share

premium

Share-based paymentsreserve

Retained

earnings

    Total

   


     £

      £

     £

      £

     £

At 1 July 2013

 

1,531,315

 

9,428,169

 

253,234

 

(9,886,696)

 

1,326,022

Loss and comprehensive income for the period

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

(66,735)

 

(66,735)

Share-based payments

 

-

 

-

 

18,677

 

-

 

18,677

At 31 December 2013

1,531,315

9,428,169

271,911

(9,953,431)

1,277,964

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

 

 

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

131,421

 

131,421

 

Issue of shares

5,357

2,143

-

-

7,500

Share-based payments

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

 

-

-

Share-based payments provision released

-

-

(199,349)

199,349

-

At 30 June 2014

1,536,672

9,430,312

72,562

(9,622,661)

1,416,885

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

-

 

 

226,310

 

 

226,310

 

Share-based payments

 

-

-

 

6,733

 

 

-

 

6,733

 

At 31 December 2014

1,536,672

9,430,312

79,295

(9,396,351)

1,649,928

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

1.   The figures for the six months ended 31 December 2014 and 31 December 2013 are unaudited and do not constitute statutory accounts. The interim results have been prepared using accounting policies which are consistent with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union and are expected to be adopted in the next annual accounts.

The financial information for the year ended 30 June 2014 set out in this interim report does not comprise the Group's statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 June 2014, which were prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted for use in the EU, applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either Section 498(2) or Section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006 and did not include references to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis

 

2.   Copies of this statement are available from the Company Secretary at the Company's registered office at 8th Floor Finsbury Tower, 103-105 Bunhill Row, London, EC1Y 8LZ or from the Company's website at www.arcontech.com.

3.   Earnings per share have been calculated based on the profit after tax and the weighted average number of shares in issue during the half year ended 31 December 2014 of 1,536,672,013 (31 December 2013: 1,531,314,870; 30 June 2014: 1,536,672,013). The number of dilutive shares under option at 31 December 2014 was 56,247,024 (31 December 2013: Nil; 30 June 2014: 13,314,419).The calculation of diluted earnings per share assumes conversion of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares, all of which arise from share options. A calculation is done to determine the number of shares that could have been acquired at fair value, based upon the monetary value of the subscription rights attached to outstanding share options.

4.   Taxation is based on the unaudited results and provision has been estimated at the rate applicable to the Company at the time of this statement and expected to be applied to the total annual earnings, adjusted for cash recovery of Research & Development tax credits during the period.

5.   There were no dividends paid or proposed during the period (2013: Nil).

6.   The Directors have elected not to apply IAS34 Interim financial reporting.

 

 

 

 

 

 


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