Final Results

Dewhurst PLC 06 December 2005 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Results I am delighted to report another record set of results for the Group. Sales were up 2.5% at £30.0 million and profits were up 4.6% to £3.5 million. The improved figures were primarily achieved through the effect of the acquisition of Lift Material in Australia together with increased interest earned on our higher cash balances. The strong cash flow has been one of the encouraging aspects of the year's performance. It has been accomplished, in part, by improving the reliability of our deliveries and working with suppliers to enable us to reduce our stock levels. The results are a credit to the determination and resourcefulness of our employees and I thank all members of staff for the part they have played in the year's achievements. Operations & Products As outlined at the Half Year, we reduced staffing at the main Hounslow factory by around 10% in March. We have simplified our administrative processes and, as a result, have removed some management functions. These actions are all part of our strategy of making the company 'leaner'. We started 'lean' initiatives in Canada during the year and the programme is currently being extended to other companies in the Group. Our focus is on simplification and reducing lead times. Our new pushbutton range was launched at the major European and North American lift industry exhibitions recently and was well received. It has already been specified for a major refurbishment project in Chicago. The new keypad products are generating considerable interest for a range of different applications, including cash dispensers, petrol pumps and ticket machines. Lift Material We completed the acquisition of Lift Material at the end of June. We welcome Tony Pegg, the General Manager, and his team to the Group. Lift Material distributes pushbuttons, displays, safety edges, cable and a wide range of other products to the lift industry in Australia. The company has a well- respected product range and there are further opportunities to expand and enhance that range. Management After 16 years as managing director and more than 9 as a non-executive, Colin Johnson is retiring from the Board on 31st December 2005. He joined us at a difficult time for the company and made a major contribution to the resurgence since that time. He has provided calm and wise counsel to me over many years and this and his breadth of experience will be greatly missed. We wish Colin a full and happy retirement. AIM It is now our intention to recommend to shareholders a move to AIM.The proposal will be outlined in a separate circular. Outlook Spurred by falling prices we have achieved significant efficiency improvements in recent years and have established cheaper sources of component supplies. We continue to look for further gains in these areas, but are reaching the point where the savings are harder to find and less valuable. At the same time, costs are rising in a number of areas, particularly those related to oil such as energy and plastics. To maintain our position in existing markets we have to work hard to improve value for the customer. This means better products, higher service levels and shorter lead times, not just lower prices. We have invested heavily in all these areas during the year. The above factors lead me to believe that in the current environment our most significant prospect for growth is with acquisitions. We continue our active programme of searching for such investment opportunities. Richard Dewhurst Chairman REVIEW OF OPERATIONS Operating Highlights In the current business environment, the critical driver, other than cost is service. Across all companies the key objective is to seek continual improvement in service levels. This is being achieved in a number of areas. We are putting more focus on our website, to ensure customers have easy access to product information. We are ensuring close contact between customers and our in-house sales administration teams. Leadtimes are being driven down and we constantly strive for 100% on time delivery. At the end of the day service needs to be our differentiator. We have made significant progress at all companies in this area and this has been the key factor in delivering this year's figures. UNITED KINGDOM At the start of the year price erosion was significantly out stripping cost erosion and we spent the first half of the year addressing this situation. This lead to a further reduction in headcount at our Hounslow factory and an on- going movement of sourced items from UK suppliers to suppliers in low cost regions. The size of the team at Hounslow is now in line with current requirements. We need to be able to cope with both peaks and troughs in demand and with the further cross training that has been carried out in the last twenty-four months, we are well set up for the shifts in demand. Our Lean Manufacturing programme continues in most areas and continuous improvement through Lean Manufacturing is critical to our business. Stock and work in progress have both reduced sharply and we expect further improvement over the next twelve months. Despite this our on time delivery in all three areas of the business has remained at over 90%. Alan Orr and his Operations Team have transformed these figures over the last two years: a great achievement and one they are keen to continue to build on. Activity in new product design has continued through the year at a high level, with a large number of new products coming to market in both the keypad and lift businesses. It is very rewarding and great fun to see so many new products take the step from a picture on a screen into something you can hold in your hand. The pipeline of new ideas is still very full and will keep our team of designers busy throughout the coming year. Although we have reduced our time to market for new products, there are still opportunities to reduce this lead-time further and we will continue to work on this in the future. Keypad Division It has been an interesting year for the Keypad Division and one full of challenges. Sales of encrypting pinpads (EPP) have declined, as expected following the completion of a large retrofit programme by one of our customers. However, new sales into non-banking applications, particularly petrol pumps, helped to minimise this effect. The launch of our new generation of Unipad encrypting pinpads was met with a great deal of interest and several customers are building Unipad into their new product designs. The product has been launched in three variants, the standard stainless steel product, a plastic version and also an eye-catching illuminating version. Rail Division We have had a similar year in the Rail Division to last year, with no significant projects and the focus has been on smaller repair and modernization orders. We still feel there are opportunities in the industry and we are looking at a number of options to raise our profile. Lift Division As with the Keypad Division, the Lift Division has had an interesting and challenging year. All our subsidiary companies have worked hard to reduce their stock levels and this has had an impact on our business at Hounslow in terms of reduced demand. This factor coupled with weak demand from the Far East markets has made the business more difficult and has led to flat sales within the Lift Division. Neither of these issues though is long term, so we would expect to see a strengthening of sales over the coming year. The new products that were launched last year have performed well, with our Jumbo pushbutton achieving annual sales in its first full year significantly higher than those we achieved with its predecessor. The design team have been busy on new products for the Lift Division and through the course of the year we have introduced three major new products to the market and a host of additions to our various ranges. The most important launch was our new M-20 entry-level button, which will allow us to compete with products from the Far East and Southern Europe. Initial response to this product has been exciting and it will become an important part of our product range. A new dot matrix vandal resistant display has also been launched and has achieved a high level of early sales in local authority housing upgrades. LiftStore Ethos, our new generation lift controller, has been well received since launch and sales of the product are growing each month. We have seen a significant reduction in the number of installation-related site call outs, proving that Ethos is considerably easier to install than our traditional controllers. As we aim to improve service levels, ease of installation of our products is a key driver and our customers require fit and forget products. It has been a busy year for the Monitoring Division and once again they have won contracts to install monitoring systems into a wide range of facilities. This year, for the first time we are providing systems for retail applications, where it is not only lifts that are being monitored, but also plant and machinery. In the Fixture Division, demand for pushbuttons and complete lift fixtures has increased and we are continuing to put resource into ensuring that our fixtures meet the changing requirements of our customers. It is important that we continue to add value through the supply of complete fixtures with displays, autodiallers and other ancillary items. Achieving the value added sales will be key to ensuring that the business grows, following the expected reduction in Disability Discrimination Act work. NORTH AMERICA Dupar Controls Sales at Dupar rose once again, with a strong increase in lift sales more than offsetting a reduction in keypad sales. Profits were slightly down on the previous year as a result of a currency write down on the intercompany loan between Dupar and The Fixture Company. This is the most tangible effect of the sharp change in value between the Canadian and US Dollars, but it has also had an impact on Dupar's margins on sales to US customers. In 2004 we invested heavily in plant and machinery at Dupar. This year the focus has very much been on lean manufacturing and improving the flow of work through the factory. We have recruited a new operations manager who has been working with our UK based lean manufacturing team and together they have revised the layout of the shop floor to create a smoother flow of work around the factory. The new layout has worked well, giving the team at Dupar greater visibility of work around them. It has helped to improve on time deliveries, but there is still work to be done on further improvement. In June, Dupar moved on to the same computer system that is in use here at Hounslow. The changeover was completed without any major disruption, which is a tribute to the team involved. We now have the four largest companies in the Group on the same system and this is bringing benefits to all in numerous areas. Keypad sales fell back with the expected reduction in EPP keypads but remain an important part of the business. The Fixture Company The Fixture Company (TFC) had relatively solid growth once again this year and the sales team continue to work hard to increase their market share. TFC have been successful in winning new contracts for fixtures to go into Home Lifts, which is a fast growing sector of the US elevator industry. AUSTRALASIA Australian Lift Components As had been anticipated the Australian market has flattened off over the last twelve months and ALC saw a slight reduction in sales. However like Hounslow, ALC have done a great deal of work in improving processes and ensuring that they drive hard on efficiencies. They were therefore able to show an improvement once again in profits. ALC continue to win many projects to install their fixtures in prestigious buildings throughout Australia. The demands of customers and the product we offer in markets like Australia can be more sophisticated than in other areas. Rolling some of these ideas out across other markets will help to boost revenues across all companies. Lift Material We were very pleased in July to announce the acquisition of Lift Material. The company has been our distributor in Australia for approximately eighteen years. They began by solely distributing our products but have added world class lift component brands to their portfolio over the years. They now have an excellent range of products that they sell widely throughout the Australasian market. We believe that there are good opportunities to add to this range and to take the business forward. The team at Lift Material have built a good reputation for customer service, which is critical in the distribution business, and we are certain that we can transfer some of their ideas to other more manufacturing based companies within the Group. David Dewhurst Group Managing Director FINANCIAL REVIEW Results Turnover increased by 2.5% from £29.3 million to £30.0 million. Operating profits before amortisation of goodwill rose by £72,000, from £3,383,000 to £3,455,000. Goodwill amortisation was £160,000, up from £157,000. Net interest earned rose £83,000 from £107,000 to £190,000. Profit before tax rose from £3,333,000 to £3,485,000. Capital Investments Additions to fixed assets were £166,000 for the year. The major additions for the group were the implementation of the new group computer system at Dupar, an engraving machine and a new linishing machine. This lower level of capital investment is a direct result of the lean focus on improving through people, processes and manufacturing practices. Capital commitments at the year end include a new bending machine and improved networking hardware and software. Cash Flow The group ended the year with cash and short-term deposits, up £1.0 million to £6.4 million. This position was achieved after acquiring the business and assets of the partnership trading as Lift Material in Australia for a total consideration of £871,000. The cash generated is a direct result of improved performance, reduced capital expenditure and continuing tight stock controls as instigated in 2003. Operating cash flow for the year was £3.6 million, down from £3.9 million due to adverse movements to trade debtors and creditors. Dividends aid increased from £440,000 to £466,000. Treasury Policy The group seeks to reduce or eliminate financial risk, to ensure sufficient liquidity is available to meet foreseeable needs, and to invest cash assets safely and profitably. The policies and procedures operated are regularly reviewed and approved by the board. By varying the duration of its fixed and floating cash deposits, the group maximises the return on interest earned. There is no formal policy for matching foreign currency cash flows or matching exposure to foreign currency net assets. However these issues are regularly monitored. There is no material currency exposure to the group at the year end. The group's reported trading profit was not significantly affected by currency movement with approximately 36% being earned in foreign currencies during the year ended 30 September 2005. Tax and Dividends The current tax charge for the year rose to £1,193,000 (34.2%) from £1,141,000 (34.2%) an increase of £52,000. Although there is no movement in the effective tax rate, £29,000 of the increase in tax charge relates to a prior years adjustment. The proposed total dividend of 4.89p per share, up 5.2% against last year's 4.65p, is covered 4.6 times by earnings. Shareholders' funds improved from £13.2 million to £15.7 million. There was no reduction of shares during the year. International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') From 1 October 2005 onwards, the group will prepare its consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS. The interim and annual report and accounts for 2005/6 will therefore contain restated comparatives for 2004/5 prepared under IFRS. There will be some presentational differences, but in summary the impact on trading results is not expected to be material. Despite the inclusion in the Balance Sheet of a pension deficit and the change from goodwill amortisation to impairment, the move to IFRS will not change how the group is managed and will have no impact on cash flow. Jared Sinclair Finance Director Consolidated profit and loss account For the year ended 30 September 2005 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2005 2004 £ £ £ £ -------------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Turnover - Continuing Operations 29,648,927 29,265,462 - Acquisitions 345,517 - 29,994,444 29,265,462 Operating costs - Continuing Operations (26,456,165) (26,039,522) - Acquisitions (243,263) - (26,699,428) (26,039,522) ----------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating profit before amortisation of goodwill 3,455,368 3,383,033 Amortisation of goodwill (160,352) (157,093) ----------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Operating profit - Continuing Operations 3,192,762 3,225,940 - Acquisitions 102,254 - 3,295,016 3,225,940 Net interest 190,200 107,093 ------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 3,485,216 3,333,033 Tax on profit on ordinary activities (1,250,612) (1,142,345) ----------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Profit for the financial year 2,234,604 2,190,688 Dividends per 10p ordinary share Interim paid of 1.63p (2004: 1.55p) (160,586) (152,704) Proposed final of 3.26p (2004: 3.10p) (321,172) (305,408) ----------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- (481,758) (458,112) ----------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Retained profit for the financial year 1,752,846 1,732,576 ----------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Basic and diluted earnings per share 22.68p 22.24p ----------------------- --------- --------- --------- --------- Consolidated balance sheet At 30 September 2005 2005 2004 £ £ £ £ -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Fixed assets Intangible 1,371,134 811,964 Tangible - Land and buildings 1,569,367 1,534,814 - Plant and machinery 1,341,306 1,509,245 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 2,910,673 3,044,059 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 4,281,807 3,856,023 Current assets Stocks 3,777,966 4,152,556 Debtors 5,726,107 5,067,207 Short-term deposits 3,034,362 2,982,472 Cash at bank and in hand 3,403,649 2,465,272 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- 15,942,084 14,667,507 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 4,372,981 5,066,109 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net current assets 11,569,103 9,601,398 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Total assets less current liabilities 15,850,910 13,457,421 Creditors: due after one year - 974 Provisions for liabilities and charges 200,000 210,000 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Net assets 15,650,910 13,246,447 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Capital and reserves Called up share capital 985,190 985,190 Share premium account 157,083 157,083 Revaluation reserve 423,001 423,001 Capital redemption reserve 151,570 151,570 Profit and loss account 13,934,066 11,529,603 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- Equity shareholders' funds 15,650,910 13,246,447 -------------------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- The financial statements were approved by the board of directors on 5 December 2005 and were signed on its behalf by: Richard Dewhurst, Chairman Jared Sinclair, Finance Director Consolidated cash flow statement For the year ended 30 September 2005 2005 2004 -------------------- ---------- --------- ---------- -------- £ £ £ £ Net cash inflow from operating activities 3,625,514 3,865,186 Returns on investments and servicing of finance: Interest and dividends received 191,517 107,761 Interest paid (1,317) (107) Interest element from finance lease rental payments - (561) --------------------- ---------- --------- ---------- -------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) from returns on investments and servicing of finance 190,200 107,093 Taxation: UK taxation (873,550) (724,294) Overseas taxation (424,729) (281,368) ------------------------ ---------- --------- ---------- -------- Net cash outflow from taxation (1,298,279) (1,005,662) Capital expenditure and financial investment: Purchase of tangible fixed assets (165,673) (768,742) Sale of tangible fixed assets 17,773 176,303 ------------------------ ---------- --------- ---------- --------- Net cash outflow from capital expenditure & financial investment (147,900) (592,439) Acquisitions and disposals: Purchase of subsidiary undertakings (913,274) - ------------------------ ---------- --------- ---------- --------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) from acquisitions and disposals (913,274) - Equity dividends paid (465,994) (440,379) ------------------------ ---------- --------- ---------- --------- Net cash inflow before use of liquid resources and financing 990,267 1,933,799 Management of liquid resources Placed on short-term deposit (51,890) (1,758,327) ------------------------ ---------- --------- ---------- --------- (51,890) (1,758,327) Financing Capital element of finance lease rental payments - (10,764) ------------------------ ---------- --------- ---------- --------- - (10,764) ------------------------ ---------- --------- ---------- --------- Increase/(decrease) in cash in year 938,377 164,708 ------------------------ ---------- --------- ---------- --------- AGM, results and dividends The trading profit for the year, after taxation, amounted to £2,234,604 (2004: £2,190,688). A final dividend on the Ordinary and 'A' ordinary shares of 3.26p per 10p share (2004: 3.10p) will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 2 February 2006. If approved, this dividend will be paid on 6 March 2006 to members on the register at 13 January 2006. An interim dividend of 1.63p per share (2004: 1.55p) was paid on 30 August 2005. These dividends absorb £481,758 (2004: £458,112) of the profit for the year leaving a balance retained of £1,752,846 (2004: £1,732,576) which has been transferred to group reserves. Basis of preparation The above financial information does not constitute full accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the year ended 30 September 2004 is extracted from the group's financial statements to that date which received an unqualified auditors' report and have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The financial information for the year ended 30 September 2005 is extracted from the group's financial statements to that date which received an unqualified auditors' report and will be filed with the Registrar of Companies. The financial information presented in the preliminary announcement has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the most recently published set of annual financial statements. Earnings per share and dividend per share Weighted average number of shares ------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- 2005 2004 No No ------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- For basic and diluted earnings per share 9,851,898 9,851,898 ------------------------------------- ----------- ----------- The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the profit attributable to shareholders and on 9,851,898 Ordinary 10p and 'A' ordinary 10p shares, being the weighted average number of shares in issue throughout the financial year. The final proposed dividend is based on 3,570,700 Ordinary 10p shares and 6,281,198 'A' ordinary 10p shares, being the number of shares in issue at the balance sheet date. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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