Interim Results

Comino Group PLC 27 November 2001 Comino Group plc Interim Results Announcement Comino Group plc ('Comino'), the provider of software solutions for the local government, housing association and occupational pensions sectors, announces Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2001. Comino is a market leader in each of its chosen sectors and owns its own workflow and electronic document management software which it uses to provide process based applications. Workflow and Electronic Document Management are increasingly regarded as essential to any successfully automated business process. Results summary * A difficult trading period with a loss before tax of £1.1m (2000 £1.6 million profit), stated before amortisation of goodwill (£148k) and investment in the new venture Comino Techflow (£165k) on turnover of £9.3 million (2000 £ 9.4 million). * Order intake rate from Local Government at an acceptable level for the second quarter. * Growth expected to recommence by financial year-end in Occupational Pensions sector. * Strong services order book and prospects in Social Housing. * Improving outlook for the second half with an expected return to profitability for the year as a whole. A healthy medium term growth outlook. * Dividend maintained at 1.9 pence per share (2000 1.9 pence per share) reflecting an improving outlook. * Cash at £4.2 million (2000 £6.8 million) after expenditure on property and growth infrastructure. Commenting on the interim period and prospects Chairman David Quysner said: 'In the September trading statement, Comino reported that performance in the first half of its financial year was significantly below expectation. This was due to a combination of three factors: a first quarter reduction in the number of local authority contracts, an increase in development in occupational pensions and overhead levels which had been set to support strong growth.' 'In recent years, Comino has consistently demonstrated a capacity for growth and it is disappointing to report a first half loss. However, the Company is well positioned in markets that have some immunity to short term economic pressure. We therefore expect to see a return to profitability for the year as a whole.' Enquiries Comino plc Binns & Co PR Ltd Garth Selvey, Chief Tel: 020 7786 9600 on the Peter Binns, Paul McManus Executive day Paul Clifford, Finance Thereafter: 01628 525 433 Tel: 020 7786 9600 Director Editor's notes: Comino's operating companies are based near Maidenhead and in Leeds, Croydon and the West Midlands. Comino provide workflow and electronic data management systems to over 400 organisations in Occupational Pensions, Social Housing and Local Government: * Comino serves some 50 organisations looking after more than 1.2 million pensioners. Three of these organisations manage more than 170,000 pension accounts each. Its new Universal Pensions Management (UPM) was awarded the 'software & systems provider of the year' award in 2000 and 2001 by Professional Pensions. * Comino serves some 250 Registered Social Landlords looking after more than 800,000 homes and some two million occupants. The largest organisation Comino's systems handle has 55,000 homes; the smallest just a few hundred. * Comino serves over 70 Local Authority Revenue and Benefit departments who look after more than four million council tax payers, business rate payers and benefit recipients. Chairman's Statement As anticipated in the Company's trading statement of 12 September 2001, Comino has recorded a loss for the first half. However, prospects for the second half are such that we expect to see a return to profitability for the year as a whole. Comino is disappointed to report a loss before tax for the half year to 30 September 2001 of £1.1 million (2000 £1.6 million profit) which is stated before amortisation of goodwill of £148,000 and before charging costs of £ 165,000 associated with the new venture, Comino Techflow. Turnover for the period was £9.3 million compared with £9.4 million in the comparable period last year and gross profit margin reduced to 75% (2000 78%). The results include Saffron for the full period. Overheads were substantially higher because of the recent investment in building the general infrastructure of the business necessary for future growth. The minority interest in Saffron was acquired on 18 May and the operation is now integrated into Comino plc. Given the improving outlook, an interim dividend of 1.9p per share, the same as at this time last year, will be paid on 29 January 2002. In the September trading statement, Comino reported that performance in the first half of its financial year was significantly below expectation. This was due to a combination of three factors: a first quarter reduction in the number of local authority contracts, an increase in development in occupational pensions and overhead levels which had been set to support strong growth. Order intake from Local Government was particularly poor in the first quarter. In the second quarter, the order rate returned to an acceptable level but with many orders arriving too late to allow any revenue to be recognised in the first half of the year. A contributory factor is believed to have been that Local Authorities delayed purchasing to meet the July deadline to submit funding applications for the Implementation of Electronic Government, some of the proceeds of which will ultimately be spent with Comino. In the Occupational Pensions sector, the Company underestimated the development resource that would be needed to deliver new modules for Third Party Administration. These will significantly enhance the product range in a sector from which the Company expects to see substantial future growth. In order to maintain our quality of service to existing customers, development resource has been diverted into this activity, leaving a reduced capacity for new business in the short term. The time and costs needed to make this correction are known and manageable and it is expected that growth will recommence by the financial year-end. Our customers are very appreciative of our commitment to understanding and meeting their needs in this area. New sales into the Social Housing market began the year slowly but there is a strong services order book and initiatives are in place that should add significantly to business in the second half. Comino Techflow is developing products in the area of Professional Services Automation. This sector is sensitive to economic conditions and the Company has contained its costs and related development in light of the current uncertain economic climate. Towards the end of the last financial year, we had invested heavily in both staff and infrastructure for growth and expansion. This was a long-term commitment to the future of Comino and we intend to maintain this investment in place. Cash at the half-year was £4.2 million compared with £6.8 million a year earlier. Part of this reduction was attributable to an investment of some £800,000 in 8,000 sq.ft. of new-build freehold property in the West Midlands and further expenditure has been incurred on refitting our new office in Leeds. Our national infrastructure is now substantially complete but there will be further investment of approximately £600,000 to complete the West Midlands office in the second half of the current year. In recent years, Comino has consistently demonstrated a capacity for growth and it is disappointing to report a first half loss. However, the Company is well positioned in markets that have some immunity to short term economic pressure. We therefore expect to see a return to profitability for the year as a whole. I would like to thank all our employees for their efforts and commitment and our customers for their continued support. David Quysner Chairman Consolidated Profit and Loss Account 6 months 6 months Year to to to 30 30 31 September September March 2001 2000 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover Continuing operations 9,310 8,453 17,984 Acquisitions - 994 3,452 9,310 9,447 21,436 Cost of sales (2,369) (2,120) (4,517) Gross profit 6,941 7,327 16,919 Administrative expenses (8,487) (6,058) (14,052) Operating (loss)/profit Continuing operations (1,546) 1,294 3,200 Acquisitions - (25) (333) (1,546) 1,269 2,867 Share of (loss)/profit from associate (24) (8) 1 Net interest receivable 129 238 365 (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before (1,441) 1,499 3,233 taxation (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation analysed between (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation, amortisation of goodwill and costs of Comino Techflow (1,128) 1,623 3,623 Amortisation of goodwill (148) (124) (277) Costs of Comino Techflow (165) - (113) (1,441) 1,499 3,233 Tax on profit on ordinary activities 521 (486) (990) (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after (920) 1,013 2,243 taxation Minority interest - equity 22 5 46 (Loss)/profit for the financial period (898) 1,018 2,289 Dividends (266) (260) (785) Retained (loss)/profit for the period (1,164) 758 1,504 Earnings per share (6.6p) 7.4p 16.7p Diluted earnings per share (6.5p) 7.2p 16.3p Earnings per share excluding goodwill amortisation (5.6p) 8.3p 18.7p Dividend per share 1.90p 1.90p 5.70p The dividend of 1.90 pence per share will be paid on 29 January 2002. The dividend record date is 4 January 2002. Consolidated Balance Sheet 30 September 30 September 31 March 2001 2000 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 2,556 1,180 1,421 Intangible assets - goodwill 2,439 1,740 1,991 Investment in associate 999 1,011 1,021 5,994 3,931 4,433 Current assets Stocks 121 159 67 Debtors & prepayments 6,329 6,438 9,535 Cash at bank and in hand 4,236 6,823 8,136 10,686 13,420 17,738 Creditors falling due within one year (3,343) (5,114) (6,349) Net current assets 7,343 8,306 11,389 Total assets less current liabilities 13,337 12,237 15,822 Creditors falling due after more than one year - (513) - Deferred income (4,867) (3,390) (6,763) 8,470 8,334 9,059 Capital and reserves Share capital 694 685 690 Share premium reserve 4,773 4,375 4,511 Shares to be issued 360 - - Profit and loss account 2,660 3,078 3,824 Equity shareholders' funds 8,487 8,138 9,025 Minority interest - equity (17) 196 34 8,470 8,334 9,059 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 6 months 6 months Year to to to 30 30 31 September September March 2001 2000 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating (2,006) (1,703) 2,172 activities Net returns on investments and servicing of finance Net interest received 129 238 365 129 238 365 Tax paid (129) (574) (1,927) Capital expenditure Purchase of tangible fixed assets (1,414) (163) (681) Sale of tangible fixed assets 48 - 12 Net cash outflow from capital expenditure (1,366) (163) (669) Acquisitions and disposals Purchase of subsidiary undertaking - (1,947) (2,640) Cash and overdrafts acquired - - 1 Investment in associate - (1,019) (1,020) - (2,966) (3,659) Equity dividends paid (528) (424) (684) Financing Issue of shares - 2 143 Repayment of borrowings - (21) (39) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing - (19) 104 (Decrease)/increase in cash (3,900) (5,611) (4,298) Net cash (outflow)/ inflow from operating activities Operating (loss)/profit (1,546) 1,269 2,867 Depreciation 246 186 463 Amortisation of goodwill 148 124 277 Profit on sale of fixed assets (15) - (12) (Increase)/decrease in stocks (54) 170 262 Decrease/(increase) in debtors 3,206 (410) (4,121) (Decrease)/increase in creditors (2,095) (458) 621 (Decrease)/increase in deferred income (1,896) (2,584) 1,815 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities (2,006) (1,703) 2,172 Notes to the Interim Accounts 1. The charge for taxation is based on the expected rate for the financial year. 2. The calculation of earnings per share for the six months ended 30 September 2001 is based on the loss for the financial period of £920,000 (2000 - profit £1.013,000) and on 13,855,802 (2000 - 13,670,802) ordinary shares being the average number of shares in issue during the period. 3. The interim statement has been prepared on the same accounting basis as those set out in the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2001 and was approved by the board on 26 November 2001. The foregoing financial information does not represent accounts within S240 of the Companies Act 1985 and has not been reported on by the auditors or delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 4. Following the adoption of FRS 10 (Goodwill and intangible fixed assets), goodwill arising on acquisitions has been capitalised and will be depreciated over its estimated useful economic life. Goodwill previously eliminated against reserves has not been reinstated. 5. The above results for the year ended 31 March 2001 have been abridged from the full Group accounts for that year, which received an unqualified auditors' report and which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Independent Review Report to Comino Group plc Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the interim 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 in Bulletin 1999/4 'Review of Interim Financial Information' 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 accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit procedures such as tests of control 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 audit. Accordingly, we do not express an 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 interim financial information as presented for the six months ended 30 September 2001. Grant Thornton Registered Auditors Chartered Accountants London 26 November 2001

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