Interim Results

Feedback PLC 17 December 2002 Feedback PLC Interim Statement for the Six months to 30th September 2002. Chairman's Interim Statement I am pleased to report that the Group has seen a marked improvement in operations during the half-year to 30 September 2002. On a significant increase in turnover and an improvement in margins, the Group reduced losses on ordinary activities before taxation to £100,400. This compares, on the same basis, with losses of £516,100 for the corresponding period last year. With the exception of Feedback Instruments all trading companies in the Group operated profitably. I indicated in the statement released at the Annual General Meeting in August 2002 that Feedback Instruments had experienced delays in finalising negotiations on major project business. This continued late into the first half of the year and there was a noticeable increase in the time taken between the announcement of a successful project submission and the issuing of contracts. However, the Company did secure a number of projects, albeit later than anticipated, which has added significantly to the order book carried forward to the second half of the year. The improvement seen in the UK education market has been maintained and the Company continues to benefit from the increased sales and marketing effort made in the area in the past two years. The Company's development program for fully integrated teaching laboratory solutions, incorporating TekniCAL e-learning systems, is now complete and a number of large installations have been commissioned. TekniCAL has had a particularly pleasing first half-year. In line with expectations this Company returned to profitability after a period of heavy losses. The long awaited release of government funding to the UK Further Education Sector for Virtual Learning Environments has led to a significant increase in sales. Many of these are on an annual licence basis and will result in further revenues and value added e-learning content sales in subsequent years. The Company's continued investment in both the development of its product range and in the strategic partnerships already established is also proving beneficial. The Company, in conjunction with these partners, now supplies product for the schools market and has developed a Virtual Learning Support Centre, to complement the Virtual Campus. The market for e-learning continues to evolve, with significant Government and European funding being made available for regional broadband provisions, for the delivery of education and training services across the Internet. The Company is well placed to continue to take advantage of these opportunities. Feedback Incorporated had a very good first half year. Turnover increased 30% on the corresponding period last year resulting in a significant increase in profits. Despite the present uncertainties in the US economy, it is anticipated that the Company should continue to progress in the second half year. Feedback Data, and its German subsidiary, operated profitably in the first half-year. The overall trading environment in the Company's traditional data capture terminal market continued to reflect the general weakness in the IT sector particularly in manufacturing. However, the level of interest and orders for all the Company's new product solution areas - building access control, staff scheduling, temperature monitoring and software integration increased. The Company has continued with its substantial commitment to new, innovative, product development of data capture related products and software designed to establish alternative revenue streams to the traditional core business area. This has resulted in widening the customer base for the Company's products into such diverse markets as the residential and community care environment, exhibitions, catering, leisure and theme park organisations. The level of both interest and initial orders in these new business sectors is promising. In all our areas of operation, we strive to keep abreast of market needs and current technology. Our order books are somewhat fuller than at this time last year and prospects for a number of both UK and overseas projects within the educational sector are encouraging. D H Harding Chairman 17 December 2002 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 Sept 2002 30 Sept 2001 31 March 2002 £'000s £'000s £'000s SUMMARISED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Turnover 5,118.3 4,057.1 8,908.2 Operating loss (83.3) (355.4) (307.5) Share of operating loss of joint venture - (168.9) (301.9) Net interest (payable) / receivable (17.1) 8.2 16.4 Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (100.4) (516.1) (593.0) Tax on loss on ordinary activities - - 5.2 Loss on ordinary activities after taxation (100.4) (516.1) (587.8) Ordinary dividends paid and proposed - - - Preference dividends paid and proposed (43.2) (43.4) (86.6) Preference share cost appropriation - - (11.1) Retained loss for the period (143.6) (559.5) (685.5) Loss per share (1.20)p (4.70)p (5.70)p Diluted loss per share (1.20)p (4.70)p (5.70)p 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 Sept 2002 30 Sept 2001 31 March 2002 £'000s £'000s £'000s SUMMARISED BALANCE SHEET Fixed Assets 1,289.6 634.7 1,302.9 Current Assets Stock 1,555.7 2,028.9 1,810.3 Debtors 3,485.7 3,820.9 3,305.5 Cash at bank and in hand 775.8 649.4 365.3 5,817.2 6,499.2 5,481.1 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (3,051.7) (2,779.5) (2,584.3) Net current assets 2,765.5 3,719.7 2,896.8 Total assets less current liabilities 4,055.1 4,354.4 4,199.7 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (292.6) (167.8) (338.6) Provisions for liabilities and charges - (402.7) - 3,762.5 3,783.9 3,861.1 Ordinary share capital 1,192.0 1,191.5 1,192.0 Preference share capital 863.2 864.2 863.2 Share premium account 24.8 24.8 24.8 Revaluation reserve 313.8 268.8 268.8 Capital reserve 299.9 299.9 299.9 Other reserve 342.5 342.0 342.5 Profit and loss account 726.3 792.7 869.9 Reserves 1,707.3 1,728.2 1,805.9 Shareholders' funds 3,762.5 3,783.9 3,861.1 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30 Sept 2002 30 Sept 2001 31 March 2002 £'000s £'000s £'000s CASH FLOW STATEMENT Net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities 31.8 (309.6) (204.0) Returns on investments and servicing of finance (17.1) 8.2 16.4 Preference dividend paid (43.2) (43.4) (86.6) Corporation tax recovered / (paid) 39.5 (1.7) 17.5 Capital expenditure (13.9) (102.5) (72.2) Financing (24.3) (15.0) 237.8 Acquisitions - - (300.0) Management of liquid resources - - 450.0 (Decrease) / increase in cash (27.2) (464.0) 58.9 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash flow from operating activities Operating loss (83.3) (355.4) (307.5) Depreciation and amortisation charges 72.2 50.5 133.2 Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets - - (5.7) Exchange difference 0.4 - 176.0 Decrease / (increase) in stock 254.6 (70.3) 148.3 (Increase) / decrease in debtors (219.8) 406.5 927.1 Increase / (decrease) in creditors 7.7 (340.9) (1,275.4) Net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities 31.8 (309.6) (204.0) Notes: The interim figures for the six months to 30 September 2002, which are unaudited, have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2002. 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 2002 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 loss per share for the six months ended 30 September 2002 is based on the Group loss on ordinary activities after taxation and preference dividends of £143,600 attributable to 11,920,181 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. Copies of the interim statement will be sent to all shareholders in due course. Enquiries: Roger Barnett Feedback PLC 01892 653 322 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Feedback (FDBK)
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