Interim Results

Manpower Software PLC 7 February 2002 MANPOWER SOFTWARE PLC INTERIM REPORT : 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 NOVEMBER 2001 RELEASE DATE : 7 FEBRUARY 2002 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Results In the first six months of the trading year, the Company made a loss of £0.58 million on turnover of £1.70 million. The progression over the last five half-year trading periods has been as follows: HY ended HY ended HY ended HY ended HY ended 30 Nov 1999 31 May 2000 30 Nov 2000 31 May 2001 30 Nov 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 747 864 1090 1680 1698 Total costs 2517 1884 1584 1929 2282 Loss 1770 1020 494 249 584 Review The events of September 11th had a damaging effect on the cruise industry, which is currently our largest market. This and the recent merger and acquisition activity among the major companies in that sector has resulted in some cancellations and lost and postponed orders. We estimate, therefore, that turnover for the period is at least £500,000 less than expected. In spite of this, we were pleased to sign in November a major contract with Carnival Cruise Lines ('Carnival'), the largest division of Carnival Corporation, the world's leading cruise shipping company. Our software will be utilised across Carnival's fleet, which currently consists of 14 ships employing 20,000 crew. We have also recently signed an agreement with P&O Princess ('Princess'), the world's third largest cruise line, which gives Princess, for $150,000, an option to acquire our major cruise software on terms already negotiated. If exercised the value of this contract will be in excess of $1.6 million. Elsewhere in the cruise sector, Sun Cruises are now using our software on shore and at sea for the scheduling and resource management of their sea-going crew, as well as for ship-side control of access to gangways, passenger check-in desk facilities, customs and immigration reporting, and maritime safety management. BP Shipping have made considerable use of our strategic planning software within their maritime organisation. The Royal Fleet Auxiliary are using our software to manage the scheduling and deployment of maritime and supply staff throughout their fleet of 22 vessels. This implementation will shortly be extended to include our new 'Cash Afloat' product, which provides banking and foreign currency bookkeeping facilities for crew and passengers at sea. During the period, we also achieved the second sale of our CRESTA software for use within MEDMIS, the management information system used by the UK Ministry of Defence's HQ Medical Group to staff and manage field hospitals. CRESTA was deployed at short notice to meet an urgent operational requirement and the software is currently being rolled out further across all of HQ Medical Group to assist with force generation and capability for deployment. An earlier version of CRESTA was used by HQ 29 Brigade Royal Engineers during the foot and mouth epidemic, when it allowed rapid identification and scheduling for deployment of highly skilled resource. CRESTA software has since been mentioned in a response to questions in the UK Houses of Parliament, as it is now being used to improve the state of readiness of the Territorial Army. Following the successful development of sales into the US by the Company, particularly in the cruise sector, and the opening of an office in Miami, Philip Morgan was appointed Director, US Operations. UK sales now come under the control of Paul Scandrett, Director of Product & Marketing. As I previously reported to you, there has been a planned increase in total costs in the first half of the year, mainly to enhance our sales force and marketing capability. Over the last half-year, the sales and marketing headcount has doubled from six to twelve and we incurred a one-off cost of approximately £150,000 in relocating to a single floor open plan office. Dividend The Directors have declared that there will be no interim dividend. Current trading and outlook The Company now has customers for its products representing over 40% of the cruise sector as measured by number of berths covered. Actions to substantially increase this market share are being taken. In the military sector, several large opportunities have been identified and sales discussions are taking place, including some with potential channel partners. The investment in sales and marketing capability has already resulted in numerous new sales opportunities in various commercial sectors including shipping, professional services, construction and in the health industry. These opportunities are at all stages of the sales cycle. Sales activity out of our US office is being directed at non-cruise sectors as well as capitalising on our dominant position in the cruise sector. We anticipate the Company's investment in sales and marketing will result in substantial increases in revenue, which, with overall costs being kept tightly managed, should provide growing and sustainable profits in due course. Finally, I would like to thank all our shareholders, employees, customers and suppliers for their continued support. Ian Lang CHAIRMAN 7 February 2002 Manpower Software plc Consolidated Profit and Loss Account For the Six Months Ended 30 November 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) 6 months ended 6 months ended 6 months ended 30 November 2001 31 May 2001 30 November 2000 Note £ £ £ Turnover - continuing operations 1,698,657 1,680,049 1,089,618 Cost of sales (74,632) (337,754) (235,517) Selling and operational expenses (1,523,168) (1,163,936) (954,437) Gross profit 100,857 178,359 (100,336) Administrative expenses (699,575) (402,505) (384,767) Operating loss Continuing operations (598,718) (224,146) (485,103) (598,718) (224,146) (485,103) Interest receivable 19,375 1,243 502 Interest payable (4,314) (22,774) (9,848) Loss on ordinary activities before (583,657) (245,677) (494,449) taxation Taxation 2 - (2,730) - Loss for the financial period (583,657) (248,407) (494,449) Dividends - - - Loss retained (583,657) (248,407) (494,449) Loss per share Basic 3 (2.44)p (1.53)p (3.74)p Diluted 3 (2.44)p (1.53)p (3.74)p Dividends per share 4 - - - Fully diluted dividends per share 4 - - - There were no recognised gains or losses during the six month periods above other than the result for the six month periods. Manpower Software plc Consolidated Balance Sheet For the Six Months Ended 30 November 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) 6 months ended 6 months ended 6 months ended 30 November 2001 31 May 2001 30 November 2000 £ £ £ Fixed Assets Tangible assets 378,543 186,461 178,743 Current Assets Work in progress 14,031 - - Trade and other debtors 1,706,509 1,188,093 778,707 Cash at bank and in hand 49,410 1,318,260 788 1,769,950 2,506,353 779,495 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (1,019,837) (1,087,837) (1,294,176) Net current assets 750,113 1,418,516 (514,681) Total assets less current liabilities 1,128,656 1,604,977 (335,938) Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (114,115) (6,779) (6,289) Net (liabilities)/assets 1,014,541 1,598,198 (342,227) Capital and reserves Called up share capital 1,195,813 1,195,813 683,322 Share premium account 5,148,874 5,148,874 3,472,533 Profit and loss account (5,330,146) (4,746,489) (4,498,082) Equity shareholders' funds/(deficit) 1,014,541 1,598,198 (342,227) Notes: 1. Basis of preparation: The interim financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards and under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies of the Group have remained unchanged from those set out in the Group's 31 May 2001 annual report and financial statements. The interim financial statements have been reviewed by the Group's auditors. A copy of the auditors' review report is attached to this interim report. 2. Taxation: There are no tax charges for the half-year as there are sufficient tax losses to extinguish any liability for the period. 3. Earnings per share 6 months ended 6 months ended 6 months ended 30 November 2001 31 May 2001 30 November 2000 Loss for the financial period £583,657 £248,407 £494,449 Number Number Number Weighted average number of shares of shares of shares of shares For basic earnings per share 23,916,263 16,242,895 13,205,671 For diluted earnings per share 23,929,720 16,259,576 13,229,356 4. Dividends: No dividends have been paid or proposed for the period. 5. Publication of non-statutory accounts: The financial information set out in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The figures for the year ended 31 May 2001 have been extracted from the statutory financial statements which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditors' report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) of the Companies Act 1985. Manpower Software plc Consolidated Cash Flow Statement For the Six Months Ended 30 November 2001 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Unaudited) 6 months ended 6 months ended 6 months ended 30 November 2001 31 May 2001 30 November 2000 Note £ £ £ Net cash outflow from operating activities (1,350,143) (227,419) (825,296) Returns on investment and servicing of finance Interest received 19,375 1,243 502 Interest paid (3,021) (20,645) (6,307) Interest element of finance lease payments (1,292) (2,129) (3,541) 15,062 (21,531) (9,346) Taxation UK corporation tax paid - - - Capital expenditure and financial investment Payments to acquire tangible fixed assets (256,776) (31,660) (35,302) Equity dividends paid - - - Cash outflow before financing (1,591,857) (280,610) (869,944) Financing Issue of ordinary shares - 2,562,457 496,000 Expenses of share issue - (373,625) (36,479) New loans 171,864 - - Capital element of finance leases (24,318) (25,365) (22,999) 147,546 2,163,467 436,522 (Decrease)/increase in cash in the year (1,444,311) 1,882,857 (433,422) Note 1: Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities Operating loss (598,718) (224,146) (485,103) Depreciation and amortisation charges 57,008 30,376 22,373 Loss on disposal of fixed assets 7,687 3,390 - (Increase)/decrease in debtors (518,416) (409,386) (155,152) (Increase)/decrease in work in progress (14,031) - - (Decrease)/increase in creditors (283,673) 372,347 (207,414) Net cash outflow from operating activities (1,350,143) (227,419) (825,296) Note 2: Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net (debt)/funds (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (1,444,311) 1,882,857 (433,422) Capital (outflow)/inflow from decrease in debt and (148,986) 25,365 22,999 finance leases Change in net debt resulting from cash flows (1,593,297) 1,908,222 (410,423) New finance leases - (9,825) - Movement in net (debt)/funds in the period (1,593,297) 1,898,397 (410,423) Net (debt)/funds at beginning of the period 1,277,719 (620,678) (210,255) Net (debt)/funds at end of the period (315,578) 1,277,719 (620,678) Note 3: Analysis of net (debt)/funds Cash at bank and in hand 49,410 1,318,260 788 Overdrafts (175,462) - (565,385) Finance leases (19,045) (40,541) (56,081) New loans (170,481) - - Net (debt)/funds at end of the period (315,578) 1,277,719 (620,678) Independent review report by the Auditors TO MANPOWER SOFTWARE PLC Introduction We have been instructed by the Company to review the financial information for the six months ended 30 November 2001, which comprises the profit and loss account, balance sheet, cash flow statement and the related notes. We have read the other information contained in the interim report which comprises only the Chairman's Statement and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. Our responsibilities do not extend to any other information. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority, which 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 'Review of Interim Financial Information' issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. 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 United Kingdom 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 November 2001. GRANT THORNTON CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS LONDON 7 February 2002 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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