Interim Results

Dewhurst PLC 10 June 2004 Dewhurst plc Directors' Interim Report FIRST HALF Turnover at the Group increased by 8% to £14.3 million. Profit before tax rose to £1.4 million (£955,000). Earnings per share rose to 9.01p (6.33p), an increase of 42%. The gain in sales was evenly spread between the Lift and Keypad Divisions. At the Lift Division there were improvements in sales both in the UK and overseas. For the Keypad Division, the growth was in overseas sales offset by a decline in the UK, with a major customer transferring more of its manufacturing offshore. The first half improvement in profit was assisted by the absence of the major redundancy costs incurred last year. This effect is likely to lead to this year being more evenly balanced between the first and second half than last year. OUTLOOK Worldwide the Lift market is expected to remain reasonable for the second half. Inflationary clouds on the horizon are not anticipated to have any material impact for this year at least. The strength in keypad sales is currently underpinned by the demand for EPP pinpads, which are being retrofitted to existing bank cash machines to meet new security and encryption requirements. This demand is expected to continue during the second half and into next year before tailing off. DIVIDENDS The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 1.55p, compared with 1.46p last year. The interim dividend is payable on 31st August 2004 and warrants will be posted on 26th August 2004 to shareholders appearing in the Register at 3:00 p.m. on 16th July 2004. By Order of the Board M N GREEN Secretary 10th June 2004 Dewhurst plc The unaudited consolidated profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement of Dewhurst plc and its subsidiaries for the half-year ended 31st March 2004, as compared with the corresponding half-year ended 31st March 2003 and the year ended 30th September 2003, shows the following results: Consolidated profit and loss account Half year ended Half year ended Year ended 31st March 2004 31st March 2003 30th September 2003 £(000)'s £(000)'s £(000)'s ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Turnover 14,343 13,290 27,205 Operating costs (12,986) (12,337) (24,764) ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Operating profit 1,357 953 2,441 Net interest 44 2 24 ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Profit on ordinary activities before tax 1,401 955 2,465 Taxation Est. (513) Est. (331) (814) ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Profit for the financial period 888 624 1,651 Dividends (153) (144) (431) ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Retained profit for the period 735 480 1,220 ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Basic earnings per share 9.01p 6.33p 16.76p Diluted earnings per share 9.01p 6.33p 16.76p Dividends per share 1.55p 1.46p 4.38p All disclosures relate only to continuing operations Dewhurst plc Consolidated balance sheet Half year Half year Year ended ended ended 31st March 31st March 30th September 2004 2003 2003 £(000)'s £(000)'s £(000)'s ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Fixed assets Intangible 936 1,025 999 Tangible - Land and buildings 1,541 1,480 1,572 - Plant and machinery 1,686 1,563 1,534 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- 3,227 3,043 3,106 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- 4,163 4,068 4,105 Current assets Stocks 3,683 4,466 4,107 Debtors 5,493 4,724 4,589 Short-term deposits 2,015 213 1,224 Cash 1,272 1,838 2,301 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- 12,463 11,241 12,221 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (4,052) (4,058) (4,355) ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Net current assets 8,411 7,183 7,866 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Total assets less current liabilities 12,574 11,251 11,971 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year - (303) (7) Provisions for liabilities and charges (250) (109) (250) ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Net assets 12,324 10,839 11,714 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Capital and reserves Called up share capital 985 985 985 Share premium account 157 157 157 Revaluation reserve 423 423 423 Capital redemption reserve 152 152 152 Profit and loss account 10,607 9,122 9,997 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Equity shareholders' funds 12,324 10,839 11,714 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- The results for the 2003 year set out above are abridged. Full accounts for that year, on which the auditors of the company made an unqualified report, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Dewhurst plc Consolidated cash flow statement Half year ended Half year ended Year ended 31st March 2004 31st March 2003 30th September 2003 £(000)'s £(000)'s £(000)'s ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash inflow from operating activities 1,108 1,217 4,133 Returns on investment and servicing of finance: Interest and dividends received 44 18 61 Interest paid - (15) (36) Interest element from finance lease rental payments - (1) (1) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) from returns on investment and servicing of finance 44 2 24 Taxation: UK taxation (416) (120) (442) Overseas taxation (185) (182) (358) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash outflow from taxation (601) (302) (800) Capital expenditure and financial investment: Purchase of fixed assets (531) (434) (724) Sale of tangible fixed assets 37 101 63 ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash outflow from capital expenditure & financial investment (494) (333) (661) Equity dividends paid (288) (274) (418) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) before use of liquid resources and financing (231) 310 2,278 Management of liquid resources (Placed)/withdrawn from short-term deposit (791) 190 (821) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- (791) 190 (821) Financing Bank loan repayments - (45) (546) Capital element of finance lease rental payments (7) (19) (13) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- (7) (64) (559) Increase/(decrease) in cash in period (1,029) 436 898 ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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