Preliminary Results

BILLAM PLC: PRELIMINARY RESULTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006 The Board of Billam PLC ("Billam" or "the Company") today announces its preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2006. Key Points: * Shareholders approved wider investment powers in July 2006 * First investment made by wholly owned subsidiary, Development Funding Limited ("DFL") in February 2007 to provide mezzanine finance to a privately owned house building company * Deficit on ordinary activities before taxation reduced to £0.9 million (2005: £5.1 million) * Net asset value per share 12.3p (2005: 20.0p) Commenting on the results, Simon Bennett, Chairman of Billam said: "The Company's investment portfolio has been thoroughly reviewed by the Board. Whilst a number of the investee companies have made progress during the year, your Board is committed to making investments in the future that will generate profitable returns for shareholders. As a consequence, whilst we will continue to look at investments in the life sciences and information technology sectors, where the majority of Billam's investments have historically been made, we intend to take advantage of the attractive opportunities that we are seeing through DFL, our development financing business. The Board will be looking to make further realisations from our investment portfolio, as and when offers are received for our holdings at valuations that meet our expectations." For further information contact: Simon Bennett 0207 222 1918 Nish Malde 01923 713600 Chairman's Statement Background The year has been one of considerable change for your Company. At an Extraordinary General Meeting in March, 2006 Nish Malde and Dimitri Dimitriou were appointed to the Board of Billam Plc ("Billam") and following this meeting, I was asked to be Chairman. At our Annual General Meeting in July 2006 shareholders approved a widening of Billam's investment powers, which will allow your Board to invest in businesses that will generate new revenues and cash flow for the Company and will, as a result, increase our net assets. Indeed, we recently announced on 15 February 2007 that our wholly owned development finance subsidiary, Development Funding Limited ("DFL"), which started trading after the year end, has made its first investment by providing mezzanine finance of a little over £900,000 to a privately owned housebuilding company. This mezzanine facility has been provided in connection with a specific development in Northamptonshire, which is expected to be completed in the summer of 2008. The gross development value of the project is £5.1 million. DFL are sharing the development risk with the housebuilder concerned, and we anticipate that the annualised return from this investment will be in excess of 20 per cent. The financing for DFL's investment has been provided by Billam's principal shareholder, Mr Stephen Wicks, who since the year end has made new loans to the Group of approximately £800,000 on commercial terms. Mr Wicks has the option to convert part of his loans into ordinary shares in Billam. The Board expects to make further development financing investments through DFL, as and when suitable opportunities present themselves. PERFORMANCE DURING YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006 The Board announce that the deficit on ordinary activities before taxation has been reduced to £0.9 million from the £5.1 million recorded for 2005, but we are disappointed to note that Billam's net assets have now fallen to £1.3 million (2005: £2.2 million). As referred to above, the Board intend in the future to make investments that will generate profitable returns for Billam shareholders. The directors are not propsing the payment of a dividend for the year ended 31st December 2006. During the year we have further rationalised the investment portfolio. We have sold our investments in Sareum plc and Sosei Limited and since the year end, as recently announced, we have sold at a profit above book values, our holdings in Intellego PLC, TMO Biotec Limited and a small part of our investment in Cybit Holdings PLC for a total consideration of £215,000 to Angus Forrest, the former Chief Executive of Billam, in part settlement of the outstanding amounts due to him. As far as the principal investments in our portfolio are concerned, I would like to draw your attention to the achievements of these investee companies, as follows:- Quoted investments Cybit Holdings plc Cybit Holdings plc ("Cybit") is one of Europe's leading telematics service providers, that provides organisations with a comprehensive suite of online solutions to improve the management and control of their mobile assets. In its latest interim results, for the six months ended 30 September, 2006 Cybit reported an 18 per cent increase in revenues to £5.8 million and a return to profitability. Shareholders funds totalled in aggregate £8 million, including cash balances of £2 million. In June, 2006 Cybit acquired BlueFinger for £1.6 million, one of the world's leading suppliers of coastal surveillance and monitoring systems. The integration of this business has strengthened Cybit's core telematics business and will provide cross selling opportunities for the company's other products. Cybit have recently announced that Bluefinger had won an order worth more than £1 million for a vessel monitoring system. Cybit has also recently announced the acquisition of Thales Telematics Plc, a UK based vehicle telematics and wireless asset management business. Following this acquisition, Cybit now provides its services to over 1,500 organisations who collectively have over 35,000 mobile assets. EiRx Therapeutics plc EiRx Therapeutics plc ('EiRx") is a drug discovery company developing targeted therapies for cancer. The company has its own in-house research department and achieved a major milestone in August, 2005 when it filed its first ever patents on potential new cancer drugs. The company, which at this stage in its development is largely pre-revenue, announced its preliminary results for the year ended 30 June, 2006 in December. These results showed a loss on ordinary activities before taxation of £1.8 million (2005: loss £2.9 million). In September, the company announced the results of tests for one of its products, used in the treatment of breast cancer, which showed a 50 per cent reduction in tumour volume with no evidence of systemic toxicity. The results are encouraging as they demonstrate that EiRx's product can enter the circulation, reach the site of the tumour and prevent its growth. During the year, EiRx has also entered into collaborative agreements with Almac Diagnostics and bioMérieux SA. Physiomics plc In March, 2007 Physiomics plc ("Physiomics") announced its interim results for the 6 months ended 31 December, 2006 which showed a loss before taxation of £0.154 million (2005: loss before taxation £0.184 million). The company reported that they are pushing ahead with the development of their cell cycle technology and have filed a patent in respect of the company's SystemCell® technology. During the period under review, Physiomics continued its programme with Cyclacal, Inc and received the first tranche of funds from the EU funded TEMPO grant aided programme. In addition, the company signed a 7 month agreement with ValiRx plc, to use SystemCell® technology, as a means to optimise the latter's oncology drug discovery programmes. Unquoted investments TRI-MEX Group Limited TRI-MEX Group Limited ("TRI-MEX") provides monitoring and protection solutions for the protection of vehicles and goods in transit. The accounts for the year ended 31 March, 2006 showed a loss before taxation of £1.3 million (2005: loss before taxation of £1.3 million) on turnover of £0.354 million (2005: £0.477 million). The Group is now focussed on its "EUROWATCH" system and the group's principal source of revenue was sales of subscriptions from this source. Whilst the contract TRI-MEX signed with Mercedes-Benz in February, 2004 did not deliver the expected turnover, the company has agreements with Jaguar Cars and Land Rover to provide pan-European EUROWATCH services for each of their own brand tracking products. In addition, TRI-MEX has recently signed a master agreement with Aston Martin Lagonda and the company's unit is now fitted as standard on DB9 and V8 cars built for the UK and as a factory fit for Europe. Whilst there can be no certainty, the Directors of TRI-MEX believe that there will be a significant increase in revenue this year. Overheads During the year we have made further efforts to reduce our cost base. I am therefore pleased to report that total overheads have been reduced to £0.5 million for the year (2005: £0.6 million) and we anticipate that with the actions already taken our costs will be substantially lower during 2007. Management I am pleased to be able to report that we have recruited Howard Cramer, as Managing Director of our development financing subsidiary Development Funding Limited. Howard brings with him a wealth of experience of the property market. Howard worked for Bovis Homes and Rosehaugh's housing division and the privately owned Buxton Homes as Land & Marketing Director, before establishing Howard Cramer Associates in 1988. Howard has been responsible for site acquisition on behalf of a number of the UK's leading housebuilders and has successfully completed the developments of both residential and mixed use projects. As referred to above, we have in the last 12 months considerably reduced the number of investments in our portfolio. As a consequence, Dimitri Dimitriou agreed to step down from the Board on 14 May, 2007 as he originally joined the Board to provide advice on the investment portfolio. I would like to take this opportunity to thank him for his contribution to the Board. Shareholders The free share-dealing scheme for small shareholders will be offered. This year eligible shareholders, those with holdings of 5,000 or fewer Ordinary 20 pence shares, will receive a personal letter and details of the scheme allowing them to sell or buy shares at no transaction cost until 14 September 2007. Outlook The Company's investment portfolio has been thoroughly reviewed by the Board and we have met with the management teams of all our investee companies. Whilst a number of these companies have made progress during the year, as referred to above, your Board is committed to making investments in the future that will generate profitable returns for shareholders. As a consequence, whilst we will continue to look at investments in the life sciences and information technology sectors, where the majority of Billam's investments have historically been made, we intend to take advantage of the attractive opportunities that we are seeing through DFL, our development financing business. The Board will be looking to make further realisations from our investment portfolio, as and when offers are received for our holdings at valuations that meet our expectations. Simon Bennett Chairman 26 June, 2007 +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ |CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF TOTAL RETURN | |(INCORPORATING THE REVENUE ACCOUNT) | |FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006 | | | |----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | || 2006| 2006| 2006| 2005| 2005| 2005| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| | || £'000| £'000| £'000| £'000| £'000| £'000| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| | ||Capital|Revenue| Total|Capital|Revenue| Total| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Losses on investments || (454)| -| (454)|(4,530)| -|(4,530)| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Income || -| 86| 86| -| 52| 52| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Gross revenue and capital || (454)| 86| (368)|(4,530)| 52|(4,478)| |deficit || | | | | | | |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Administrative expenses || -| (513)| (513)| -| (607)| (607)| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Operating deficit || (454)| (427)| (881)|(4,530)| (555)|(5,085)| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Interest payable and similar|| -| (11)| (11)| -| (3)| (3)| |charges || | | | | | | |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Deficit on ordinary || (454)| (438)| (892)|(4,530)| (558)|(5,088)| |activities before taxation || | | | | | | |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Tax on ordinary activities || -| -| -| 28| (28)| -| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Deficit attributable to || (454)| (438)| (892)|(4,502)| (586)|(5,088)| |equity shareholders || | | | | | | |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Deficit per ordinary share || | | | | | | |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Basic and fully diluted || (4.3p)| (4.2p)|(8.5p)|(44.1p)| (5.7p)|(49.8p)| |----------------------------++-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| +----------------------------------------------------------------------------+ All of the above results arise from continuing activities. There are no recognised gains and losses for the year other than those reflected in the above Statement of Total Return. +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | BALANCE SHEET AT 31 DECEMBER 2006 | | | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| | | ||| 2006 | 2005 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | | ||| £'000 | £'000 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Fixed assets | ||| | | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Investments | ||| 2,446 | 3,106 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Current assets | ||| | | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Debtors | ||| 171 | 171 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Cash at bank and in hand | ||| 1 | 9 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | | ||| 172 | 180 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Creditors: amounts falling due within one | ||| (745) | (259) | | year | ||| | | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Net current liabilities | ||| (573) | (79) | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Total assets less current liabilities | ||| 1,873 | 3,027 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| |----------------------------------------------++---------+---------| | Creditors: amounts falling due after more || | | | than one year || (567) | (872) | |----------------------------------------------++---------+---------| |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Net assets | ||| 1,306 | 2,155 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Capital and reserves | ||| | | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Called up share capital | ||| 2,279 | 2,250 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Share premium account | ||| 5,423 | 5,409 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Capital reserve realised | ||| (708) | (842) | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Capital reserve unrealised | ||| (3,245) | (2,657) | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Merger reserve | ||| 1,012 | 1,012 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Revenue account | ||| (3,455) | (3,017) | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Shareholders' funds | ||| 1,306 | 2,155 | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Net asset value per share | ||| | | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Ordinary shares | ||| 12.3p | 20.0p | |-------------------------------------------+-+++---------+---------| | Deferred shares | ||| - | - | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | CASH FLOW STATEMENT | | FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2006 | | | |-------------------------------------------------------------------| | || 2006 | 2006 | 2005 | 2005 | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | || £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Net cash outflow from operating || | (626) | | (263) | | activities || | | | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Returns on investment and || | | | | | servicing of finance || | | | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Interest paid || - | | (3) | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Net cash outflow from returns on || | | | (3) | | investment and servicing of || | | | | | finance || | | | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Capital expenditure and || | | | | | financial investment || | | | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Purchase of investments || (46) | | (27) | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Sale of investments || 352 | | 255 | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Net cash inflow from capital || | 306 | | 228 | | expenditure and financial || | | | | | investment || | | | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Net cash outflow before || | (320) | | (38) | | financing || | | | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Financing || | | | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Loans received || 335 | | - | | | Loans repaid || (54) | | - | | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Net cash inflow from financing || | 281 | | - | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| | Decrease in cash in the year || | (39) | | (38) | |----------------------------------++-------+-------+-------+-------| +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ NOTES TO THE PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT for the year ended 31 December 2006 BASIS OF PREPARATION The financial information in this preliminary announcement has been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies set out in the financial statements of Billam PLC for the year ended 31 December 2006 which have remained unchanged from the previous financial year. 1.TAX ON DEFICIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES The tax credit / (charge) for the year is made up as follows: +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2005 | 2005 | 2005 | |------+----+---------+---------+-------+---------+---------+-------| | | | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |------+----+---------+---------+-------+---------+---------+-------| | | | Capital | Revenue | Total | Capital | Revenue | Total | |------+----+---------+---------+-------+---------+---------+-------| |-----------+---------+---------+-------+---------+---------+-------| | Deferred | - | | | 28 | | | | tax | | - | - | | (28) | - | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ 2.DEFICIT PER ORDINARY SHARE The deficit per ordinary share is based on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year of 10,524,035 ordinary shares of 20 pence (2005: 10,206,154 ordinary shares of 20 pence) and the following figures: +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | |2006 |2006 |2006 |2005 |2005 |2005 | | |£'000 |£'000 |£'000 |£'000 |£'000 |£'000 | |--------------------------+-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| | |Capital|Revenue|Total |Capital|Revenue|Total | |--------------------------+-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |--------------------------+-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Deficit attributable to |(454) |(438) | (892)|(4,502)|(586) |(5,088)| |equity shareholders | | | | | | | |--------------------------+-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |--------------------------+-------+-------+------+-------+-------+-------| |Deficit per ordinary | (4.3p)| (4.2p)|(8.5p)|(44.1p)| (5.7p)|(49.8p)| |shares | | | | | | | +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 3.SHARE CAPITAL +----------------------------------------------------------------+ | | 2006 | 2005 | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | | £'000 | £'000 | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | Authorised | | | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | 19,210,250 ordinary shares of 20p each | | | | (2005: 19,210,250 ordinary shares of 20p each) | 3,842 | 3,842 | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | 157,950,000 deferred shares of 0.1p each | 158 | 158 | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | | 4,000 | 4,000 | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | Allotted, called up and fully paid | | | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | 10,603,835 ordinary shares of 20p each | | | | (2005: 10,460,000 ordinary shares of 20p each) | 2,121 | 2,092 | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | 157,950,000 deferred shares of 0.1p each | 158 | 158 | |------------------------------------------------+-------+-------| | | 2,279 | 2,250 | +----------------------------------------------------------------+ 4.NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE The net asset value per share and the net asset values attributable to each class of share at the year end calculated in accordance with the Articles of Association were as follows: +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ | | | 2006 | 2006 | 2006 | 2005 | 2005 | 2005 | |------+----+---------+---------+-------+---------+---------+-------| | | | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |------+----+---------+---------+-------+---------+---------+-------| | | | Capital | Revenue | Total | Capital | Revenue | Total | |------+----+---------+---------+-------+---------+---------+-------| |-----------+---------+---------+-------+---------+---------+-------| | Deferred | - | | | 28 | | | | tax | | - | - | | (28) | - | +-------------------------------------------------------------------+ The net asset value per ordinary share is based on net assets at the year end after allowances for the deferred shares and on 10,603,835 ordinary shares of 20 pence (2005: 10,460,000 ordinary shares of 20 pence) being the number of ordinary shares in issue at the year end. The net asset value per deferred share is based on net assets at the year end and on 157,950,000 deferred shares of 0.1p each (2005: 157,950,000) being the number of deferred shares in issue at the year end. 5.PRELIMINARY ANNOUNCEMENT The preliminary statement, which has been agreed with the auditors, was approved by the Board of Directors on 26 June 2007. Copies of the Company's audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 2006 will be dispatched to shareholders and the AIM team by 30 June 2006.Copies will also be available, free of charge, on request from the company's Registered office, Trinity Court, Batchworth Island, Church Street, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 1RT. The financial information set out above do not constitute statutory accounts as defined by Section 240 of the UK Companies Act 1985. The summarised balance sheet at 31 December 2006, the summarised profit and loss account and the summarised cash flow statement for the year then ended have been extracted from the Company's statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2006. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2006 and the year ended 31 December 2005 received audit reports which were unqualified and did not contain statements under Section 237(2) or Section 237 (3) of the UK Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2005 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, but the statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2006 have not yet been filed. The Annual General Meeting of the company will be held at 10.30am on 24 July 2007at the offices of KBC Peel Hunt Limited at 111 Old Broad Street, London, EC2N 1PH. ---END OF MESSAGE---

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