Interim Results

Feedback PLC 19 December 2001 Feedback PLC Interim Statement for the period to 30th September, 2001 CHAIRMAN'S INTERIM STATEMENT In the half year to 30 September, the Group traded very much as indicated at the time of the Annual General Meeting held in August. On turnover of £4.06M, down 12% on the same period last year, the Group made a pre-tax loss of £ 516,000 for the six months, which included £169,000 related to our share of losses in our joint venture Company, TekniCAL. This result reflects the very difficult trading conditions arising from the downturn in the UK manufacturing sector and the current turbulent World markets in which the Group operates. As a result of the poor trading experiences, some limited staff reduction of the Group has been carried out since September, the benefits of which should begin to show in the second half and will result in savings of some £250,000 in a full year. In implementing this, care has been taken to retain core competency within the Group and maintain the level of both product development and marketing effort to ensure we are able to meet market requirements. The trading situation of the educational sector of the Group has been disappointing. At Feedback Instruments export business continued to run behind anticipated levels with delays in finalising contracts adversely affecting the level of shipments in the first half of the year. We believe that business has been delayed, not lost, by recent World events. Our sales staff continue to be active in most areas of the World and this is viewed as very positive by our customers, particularly those in politically sensitive regions and has resulted in orders being secured. In the UK we have seen a significant increase in business. This reflects the current strength of the UK education market coupled with the release of the Company's new Discovery Manager software and Internet based educational products. Discovery Manager and the supporting educational content puts the Company in a strong position in the developed markets of the World. I have previously stated that TekniCAL represents both a major opportunity and challenge for the Group. This is still the case and whilst the first half results of TekniCAL have been below expectations they do show an improvement on the comparable period last year. TekniCAL's channels to market have increased significantly working with several prestigious organisations including the consultancy arm of KPMG. This, together with routine business now being secured, should lead to better results in the future. We remain committed to acquiring our joint venture partner's 50% holding in TekniCAL and it is hoped to conclude negotiations shortly. The process of integrating the hardware/software products of Feedback Instruments with TekniCALs Internet based virtual learning environments and delivery systems continue. The education/training market has expectations of ever increasing computer support in the teaching process and we believe the current Feedback/TekniCAL products meet this requirement. The current product development programme will keep us in the forefront of education and training trends. Feedback Incorporated operated broadly in line with expectations and was profitable in the first half year. The slow down in the UK manufacturing sector has had an adverse effect on the results of Feedback Data during the first half year. Demand for Data Capture Terminals, the Company's core business, was weaker than anticipated and served to reinforce the strategy of developing data capture related products for a broad range of market sectors outside the traditional core business area. Overall, these efforts are showing encouraging signs. The Access Control range of products now has an established user base and continues to secure both new and repeat business. A new Staff Scheduling and Rostering System, aimed at small to medium sized businesses, has been launched. Set against a background of on-going employment legislation changes and general movement towards more flexible working practices, the product has generated significant interest from the service sector and leisure industry. We continue new product development aimed at niche markets and an opportunity has been recognised within the catering industry for a low cost innovative product designed to record the temperature of fridges, freezers and chiller cabinets. Initial orders and interest shown by the industry is already putting the product on a sound footing. The German subsidiary operated satisfactorily during the period . The Group's trading generally has been adversely affected by market conditions and, whilst the prospects and quotation levels remain very positive, the timing of this potential business is even more difficult to predict than it has been in the past. However, we are confident that the strategies which we have in place are appropriate for developing and widening our market position in data capture and meets the potential that now exists in the computer based learning and training market, which is widely recognised as a major growth area. D H Harding, Chairman 19 December 2001 INTERIM REPORT SUMMARISED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT 6 months to 30 6 months to 30 Year to 31 Sept 2001 Sept 2000 March 2001 £'000s £'000s £ '000s Turnover 4,057.1 4,625.9 9,320.7 Operating (loss) / profit (355.4) ( 140.0) 387.8 Share of operating (loss) of (168.9) (218.6) ( 380.9) joint venture Net interest receivable / 8.2 6.4 ( 6.8) (payable) (Loss) / profit on ordinary ( 516.1) (352.2) 0.1 activities before taxation Tax on (loss) on ordinary - - 192.1 activities (Loss) / profit on ordinary (516.1) (352.2) 192.2 activities after taxation Ordinary dividends paid and - - - proposed Preference dividends paid and (43.4) (46.1) (89.5) proposed Preference share costs - (2.1) (10.2) appropriation Retained (loss) / profit for (559.5) (400.4) 92.5 the period (Deficit)/ earning's per (4.70)p (3.43)p 0.8p share Diluted (deficit)/ earning's (4.70)p (3.43)p 0.8p per share Note: The interim figures for the six months to 30 September 2001, which are unaudited, have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Annual Report for the year ended 31March 2001. The Financial information contained in this Interim Report does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The results for the year ended 31 March 2001 are extracted from the published accounts for that period on which the auditors gave an unqualified report under section 235 of the companies act and which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The deficit per share for the six months ended 30 September 2001 is based on the Group loss on ordinary activities after taxation and preference dividends of £559,500 attributable to 11,895,181 ordinary shares, being the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue. The diluted earnings per share is calculated allowing for the full conversion of the Preference Shares and the full exercise of outstanding share options. However, in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 14, as neither of these conversions have a dilutive effect the earnings per share figure remains unaltered. INTERIM REPORT SUMMARISED BALANCE SHEET 6 months to 30 6 months to 30 Year to 31 Sept 2001 Sept 2000 March 2001 £'000s £'000s £'000s Fixed assets 634.7 579.2 582.7 Current assets Stock 2,028.9 1,787.7 1,958.6 Debtors 3,820.9 4,649.1 4,191.5 Cash at bank and in hand 649.4 915.1 628.6 ----------- ----------- ----------- 6,499.2 7,351.9 6,778.7 Creditors: amounts falling (2,779.5) (3,780.6) (2,631.7) due within one year Net current assets 3,719.7 3,571.3 4,147.0 Total assets less current 4,354.4 4,150.5 4,729.7 liabilities Creditors: amounts falling (167.8) (182.9) (152.5) due after more than one year Provisions for liabilities (402.7) (71.5) (233.8) and charges ----------- ---------- ---------- 3,783.9 3896.1 4343.4 Ordinary share capital 1,191.5 1,164.1 1,189.5 Preference share capital 864.2 919.1 868.2 Reserves 1,728.2 1,812.9 2,285.7 Shareholders' funds 3,783.9 3,896.1 4,343.4 INTERIM REPORT CASH FLOW STATEMENT 6 months to 30 6 months to 30 Year to 31 Sept 2001 Sept 2000 March 2001 £'000s £'000s £'000s Net cash (outflow)/ inflow (309.6) (417.3) 72.3 from operating activities Returns on investments and 8.2 6.4 (6.8) servicing of finance Preference dividend paid (43.4) (46.1) (89.5) Corporation tax (paid)/ (1.7) 83.3 39.6 recovered Capital expenditure (102.5) (128.6) (136.3) Financing (15.0) (18.7) (42.2) Management of liquid - 650.0 550.0 resources (Decrease)/ increase in cash (464.0) 129.0 387.1 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities Operating (loss)/profit (355.4) (140.0) 387.8 Depreciation charges 50.5 57.5 113.3 (Profit) on sale of tangible fixed assets - (13.5) (16.4) Exchange difference - (8.8) (113.9) (Increase) in stocks (70.3) (343.0) (513.9) Decrease/(increase) in debtors 406.5 (502.1) 7.6 (Decrease)/increase in creditors (340.9) 532.6 207.8 Net cash (outflow) / inflow from (309.6) (417.3) 72.3 INTERIM REPORT Independent Review Report to Feedback plc Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information for the six months ended 30 September 2001 set out on pages 4 to 6. 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 directors are responsible for preparing the interim report in accordance with Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority which 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 contained in Bulletin 1999 /4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review consists principally of making enquiries of group management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review excludes audit procedures such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and transactions. It is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with United Kingdom Auditing Standards and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly we do not express an audit 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 financial information as presented for the six months ended 30 September 2001. BDO Stoy Hayward Chartered Accountants 69 Tweedy Road Bromley Kent BR1 3WA Copies of the interim statement will be sent to all shareholders in due course. Enquiries: Roger Barnett Feedback plc 01892 653 322

Companies

Feedback (FDBK)
UK 100

Latest directors dealings