Interim Results

Dewhurst PLC 09 June 2005 Dewhurst plc Directors' Interim Report FIRST HALF Turnover at the Group increased by 6% to £15.1 million. Profit before tax rose 4% to £1.45 million (£1.40 million). Earnings per share rose to 9.57p (9.01p), an increase of 6%. The Keypad Division had a strong start to the year with the demand for retrofit EPP encrypting pinpads continuing for the first few months. However, as expected, this demand has now fallen back from its peak to normal levels. This factor, together with price erosion over the period, meant it was necessary to implement a reduction in staffing at the main Hounslow factory by a little over 10% during March. The Lift Division achieved another improvement compared to the prior year helped by the introduction of the new Ethos lift controller and continuing demand for lift equipment to meet the disabled access codes. There have been considerable rises in base material costs during the period that we have been unable to pass on to our customers. We have been able to contain most of the increases through improved component sourcing and greater efficiency with our Lean manufacturing programme, so overall margins have only fallen slightly. ACQUISTION We are pleased to report that we have exchanged contracts for the acquisition of the business and assets of the partnership trading as Lift Material in Australia for a maximum consideration of £875,000 in cash. Lift Material distributes a wide range of lift products to the industry throughout Australia, including Dewhurst pushbuttons. The final price is dependent on stock values and profits for the year to June 30, 2005. Sales and profits before taxes for the year to June 30, 2004 were £1.3 million and £290,000 respectively at current exchange rates. The net assets of the business at June 30, 2004 were £290,000. AIM We are currently investigating whether it would be appropriate to transfer the Group's listing to AIM. There should be considerable potential benefits to shareholders in lower capital gains tax and inheritance tax under current legislation. There do not appear to be any significant disadvantages. No firm decision has yet been taken, but we are aiming to reach a conclusion in the next six months. OUTLOOK In addition to the fall in keypad demand from the high level in the early part of the year, we have had to implement price reductions that will impact the second half. However, our new keypad products have been well received and should gradually build sales in the longer term. There are indications that the worldwide economy is slowing and customers in the UK are becoming more cautious. The Monitoring Division, which depends on major contracts, is finding that these contracts are being deferred or scaled down. In addition, margin pressures are likely to intensify as demand falls. As a result we expect the second half to be a challenging period for the Group. DIVIDENDS The Directors have declared an interim dividend of 1.63p, compared with 1.55p last year. The interim dividend is payable on 30th August 2005 and warrants will be posted on 25th August 2005 to shareholders appearing in the Register at 3:00 p.m. on 15th July 2005. By Order of the Board M N GREEN Secretary 9th June 2005 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 2005, as compared with the corresponding half-year ended 31st March 2004 and the year ended 30th September 2004, shows the following results: Consolidated profit and loss account Half year ended Half year ended Year ended 31st March 2005 31st March 2004 30th September 2004 £(000)'s £(000)'s £(000)'s ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Turnover 15,134 14,343 29,265 Operating costs (13,778) (12,986) (26,039) ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Operating profit 1,356 1,357 3,226 Net interest 97 44 107 ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Profit on ordinary activities before tax 1,453 1,401 3,333 Taxation Est. (510) Est. (513) (1,142) ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Profit for the financial period 943 888 2,191 Dividends (161) (153) (458) ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Retained profit for the period 782 735 1,733 ----------------------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Basic earnings per share 9.57p 9.01p 22.24p Diluted earnings per share 9.57p 9.01p 22.24p Dividends per share 1.63p 1.55p 4.65p 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 2005 2004 2004 £(000)'s £(000)'s £(000)'s ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Fixed assets Intangible 767 936 812 Tangible - Land and buildings 1,535 1,541 1,535 - Plant and machinery 1,420 1,686 1,509 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- 2,955 3,227 3,044 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- 3,722 4,163 3,856 Current assets Stocks 4,067 3,683 4,153 Debtors 5,083 5,493 5,067 Short-term deposits 3,270 2,015 2,982 Cash 2,053 1,272 2,465 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- 14,473 12,463 14,667 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (3,717) (4,052) (5,066) ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Net current assets 10,756 8,411 9,601 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Total assets less current liabilities 14,478 12,574 13,457 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year - - (1) Provisions for liabilities and charges (210) (250) (210) ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Net assets 14,268 12,324 13,246 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- 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 12,551 10,607 11,529 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- Equity shareholders' funds 14,268 12,324 13,246 ------------------------ --------- ---------- ----------- The results for the 2004 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 31st March 30th September 2005 2004 2004 £(000)'s £(000)'s £(000)'s ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash inflow from operating activities 939 1,108 3,865 Returns on investment and servicing of finance: Interest and dividends received 97 44 108 Interest element from finance lease rental payments - - (1) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) from returns on investment and servicing of finance 97 44 107 Taxation: UK taxation (502) (416) (724) Overseas taxation (252) (185) (282) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash outflow from taxation (754) (601) (1006) Capital expenditure and financial investment: Purchase of fixed assets (112) (531) (768) Sale of tangible fixed assets 10 37 176 ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash outflow from capital expenditure & financial investment (102) (494) (592) Equity dividends paid (305) (288) (440) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- Net cash inflow/(outflow) before use of liquid resources and financing (125) (231) 1,934 Management of liquid resources (Placed)/withdrawn from short-term deposit (288) (791) (1,758) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- (288) (791) (1,758) Financing Capital element of finance lease rental payments - (7) (11) ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- - (7) (11) Increase/(decrease) in cash in period (413) (1,029) 165 ----------------------- ---------- ----------- ---------- This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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