Interim Results

LPA Group PLC 25 June 2003 LPA GROUP PLC 25 JUNE 2003 - EMBARGOED FOR 7AM LPA GROUP PLC ('LPA' or the 'Company') INTERIM UNAUDITED GROUP RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2003 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT As I reported to Shareholders in the Annual Report for last year and as commented at the Annual General Meeting, the start of this financial year has been very difficult. The factory load during the period was weak, and as a consequence the cost base has been reduced. As a result a loss before tax of £288,000 was incurred during the six month period ended 31 March 2003, against a profit of £49,000 in the first half of last year and a loss of £318,000 for the year as a whole. Sales during the period amounted to £5.919m against £7.819m last year, a fall of 24.3%. The loss per share amounted to 2.33p against basic earnings per share of 0.46p last year. Your board does not propose to pay a dividend in respect of the half year result. Gearing reduced from 85% at the year end to 81% at the half year end. Net debt reduced from £3.491m to £3.122m at 31 March 2003. This was achieved despite the losses, through tight control of working capital and the disposal of two properties, which had become surplus to requirements. The profit on the sale of these properties amounted to £106,000. As reported at the Annual General Meeting, order entry has been much improved and this has continued. Order entry for the first eight months of the year is £2.3m ahead of the same period last year, up 36%. The Group returned monthly profits during the quarter ended 30 April 2003. There are still issues to be faced but less challenging times are now being enjoyed. The cost reduction implemented during the first half was essential to the future of the Group and the cost base is more in line with the sustainable work load, which when translated in to sales has allowed the Group to make profits. The improvement in order entry is fairly general across the Group and no really large orders have been received, most significant orders being in the £250,000 to £750,000 range. There is an expectation that this level of order entry can be maintained and maybe exceeded, but we will remain cautious and vigilant, to try to avoid the feast and famine which has been so damaging over the last three years. Despite the not unexpected news that Alstom will cease the manufacture of new rolling stock in the UK, rail has been a better market recently. We expect aerospace and defence to decline and telecoms to remain depressed although there are some signs of recovery. Infrastructure, industrial and exports remain opportunities. It is early days but the new management structure and the unified sales force appears to be making progress. There is clear evidence of the business units working together to reduce cost and improve performance. Conditions have improved. Much remains to be done and issues resolved. Progress will be limited during the second half. MICHAEL RUSCH CHAIRMAN 25 June 2003 Enquiries: Peter Pollock Chief Executive 07881 626 123 Christopher Hardie Teather & Greenwood Limited 020 7426 9000 Robert Naylor Teather & Greenwood Limited 020 7426 9000 CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT For the six months ended 31 March 2003 £000's 6 months to 6 months to Year to 31 March 2003 31 March 2002 30 Sept 2002 Unaudited Unaudited Audited TURNOVER 5,919 7,819 13,806 OPERATING (LOSS) / PROFIT (277) 192 (56) Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets 106 - - (LOSS) / PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE INTEREST (171) 192 (56) Net interest payable (117) (143) (262) (LOSS) / PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION (288) 49 (318) Tax on profit on ordinary activities 34 1 (27) (LOSS) / PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES AFTER TAXATION (254) 50 (345) Dividends - (27) (27) RETAINED (LOSS) / PROFIT (254) 23 (372) (LOSS) / EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic (2.33p) 0.46p (3.16p) Diluted (2.33p) 0.46p (3.16p) Adjusted (before amortisation of goodwill) (1.91p) 0.95p (2.17p) DIVIDEND PER SHARE Nil 0.25p 0.25p CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET £000's As at As at As at 31 March 2003 31 March 2002 30 Sept 2002 Unaudited Unaudited Audited FIXED ASSETS Intangible assets 1,560 1,967 1,606 Tangible assets 2,891 3,486 3,320 Investments - 2 - 4,451 5,455 4,926 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 2,535 2,712 2,350 Debtors 2,645 3,461 2,276 Cash at bank and in hand 4 6 5 5,184 6,179 4,631 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due within one year (3,497) (3,811) (2,611) NET CURRENT ASSETS 1,687 2,368 2,020 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 6,138 7,823 6,946 CREDITORS: Amounts falling due after more than one year (2,194) (3,209) (2,713) PROVISIONS FOR LIABILITIES AND CHARGES (69) (90) (104) NET ASSETS 3,875 4,524 4,129 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 1,090 1,090 1,090 Share premium account 254 254 254 Revaluation reserve 316 317 317 Merger reserve 230 230 230 Profit and loss account 1,985 2,633 2,238 EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 3,875 4,524 4,129 CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT £000's 6 months to 6 months to Year to 31 March 2003 31 March 2002 30 Sept 2002 Unaudited Unaudited Audited Net cash inflow from operating activities 390 771 1,596 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (112) (138) (251) Taxation - - - Capital expenditure 263 (155) (240) Acquisition costs (being deferred consideration) (167) (16) (14) Equity dividends paid - (54) (81) Net cash inflow before financing 374 408 1,010 Financing (265) (309) (627) Increase in cash 109 99 383 RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING (LOSS) / PROFIT TO NET CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Operating (loss) / profit (277) 192 (56) Depreciation and amortisation 320 359 723 Changes in working capital and other non cash items 347 220 929 Cash inflow from operating activities 390 771 1,596 RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET DEBT Increase in cash in the period 109 99 383 Cash outflow from decrease in debt and lease financing 265 309 627 Change in debt resulting from cash flows 374 408 1,010 New hire purchase agreements - (12) (27) Amortisation of loan costs (5) (5) (11) Movement in net debt in the period 369 391 972 Opening net debt (3,491) (4,463) (4,463) Closing net debt (3,122) (4,072) (3,491) NOTES TO THE INTERIM ACCOUNTS 1. The financial information contained in this interim statement does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the full preceding year is based on the statutory accounts for the financial year ended 30 September 2002. Those accounts, upon which the auditors issued an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 2. The calculation of earnings per share is based on the loss after tax of £254,000 (2002: profit after tax of £50,000) and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period of 10,903,229 (2002: 10,903,229). The diluted earnings per share are the same as the basic earnings per share. The calculation of adjusted earnings per share is based upon an adjusted loss after tax (which excludes the amortisation of goodwill) of £208,000 (2002: profit of £104,000). 3. The interim financial information has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the Group's statutory accounts for the year ended 30 September 2002. 4. All of the tax charge relates to liabilities within the UK. Note: Copies of this Interim Report are being sent to shareholders. Copies are also available to the public from the Company's Registered Office, Tudor Works, Debden Road, Saffron Walden, Essex, CB11 4AN. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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