Half-year Report

RNS Number : 8014E

Northamber PLC

14 February 2018

 

Northamber PLC

("Northamber" or the "Company")

Interim Report for the Six months to 31 December 2017

Chairman's Statement

Results

It is refreshing to be able to open a report to shareholders with an overdue sense of delivered achievement.  Turnover at £31.6 million for the first six months of the current year was 9.1% greater than the corresponding period of last year with an increase in Gross Profit of £173,000, resulting in a reduced loss before tax of £201,000 down from £539,000 a year ago.

Not only is it pleasing to report an improvement, but gratifying when the constituent elements of that improvement vindicate our policy of constantly moving towards more specialised, technical and higher margin products.  We have continued to reduce exposure to the evaporating net margins on many of the older established technology products, albeit with a reduction in revenues.

Many of those more mature technology products, originally carrying worthwhile revenue and gross profits, now form the basic IT foundations of a business user's installation. Against newer technologies bringing performance gains and efficiencies, they have evolved to become near commodity products as reflected by falling prices and margins.  The number of higher margin opportunities has increased in our first half compared with the same period of the previous year.

The more commodity aspects of the business did however also see a small improvement in turnover for this half compared with the first half of last year.  It recovered from the slow-down in the first half of 2017, returning towards its previous level, albeit at the now almost inevitable slightly reduced margin.

Further efficiency gains were made in both Distribution and Administration overhead and costs. There was also a minimal increase in the contribution in our investment income.

Financial Position

With Tangible Net Book value Fixed Assets at almost £8 million and Net Current Assets at £9.9 million with zero borrowings, the company remains financially strong.

Overall net cash balances were £2.2 million at the end of December 2017 and the trading improvement was reflected in increased debtors within terms, compared with £4.3 million at end December 2016 and £4.9 million at end June 2017. 

The differing trading profile of the newer technology resellers, resulted in our debtor days increasing from 49 days to 57 days and our creditor days from 43 days to 52 days.  The resultant impact on net liquidity has been marginal, with the Current Assets ratio (excluding cash) only falling from 1.77 times to 1.74 times.

Dividend

As in previous years, your board has had regard to the strength of our debt free, tangible asset strong balance sheet and is proposing the interim dividend be 0.1p, at a total cost of only £28,159.  The dividend will be paid on 11 May 2018 to shareholders on the register as at 20 April 2018.

Staff

Much of the improved position is due to the efforts of  management and staff.  To make headway in newer areas within the present very difficult trading conditions evidenced by the published and rumoured weaknesses in previously undoubted trading names, requires constant diligence and for this I am as always deeply grateful to each and every one of our staff.

Outlook

Whilst now moving faster in a better, and we hope a right, direction, the current position is far from satisfactory. Each step forward appears to be thwarted by adverse happenings undermining the confidence of our customers' ultimate users, which hampers achieving the goals and targets we set for ourselves.

Nevertheless we will continue to strive and take advantage of every opportunity to take the company forward, with a return to profitability when we can make use of the accumulated pre-tax losses, for the benefit of all shareholders.

Realistically, we cannot be over-optimistic on short term results but more hopeful than not that those improvements we have shown might continue as we move through 2018 and beyond.

D.M. Phillips

Chairman

14 February  2018

For more information please contact:

Northamber plc	020 8296 7000
David Phillips, Chairman
Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (Nominated Adviser & Broker)	020 7894 7000
Phil Davies

 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
6 months to 31 December 2017
			6 months		6 months	Year
			Ended		ended	ended
			31.12.17		31.12.16	30.06.17
			£'000		£'000	£'000
			Unaudited		Unaudited	Audited
	Revenue		31,659		29,003	57,288
	Cost of sales		(29,239)		(26,756)	(52,896)
	Gross Profit		2,420		2,247	4,392
	Distribution cost		(1,471)		(1,575)	(3,042)
	Administrative expenses		(1,176)		(1,234)	(2,401)
	(Loss) from operations		(227)		(562)	(1,051)
	Investment revenue		26		23	52
	(Loss) before tax		(201)		(539)	(999)
	Tax credit/(charge)		-		-	-
	Loss and total comprehensive income
	for the period		(201)		(539)	(999)
	Basic and diluted (loss) per ordinary share		(0.71)p		(1.91)p	(3.55)p

 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2017
				As at	As at	As at
				31.12.17	31.12.16	30.06.17
				£'000	£'000	£'000
				Unaudited	Unaudited	Audited
	Non current assets
	Property, plant and equipment			7,953	7,914	8,025
	Current assets
	Inventories			5,953	5,028	4,176
	Trade and other receivables			12,005	9,488	9,052
	Cash and cash equivalents			2,247	4,357	4,972
				20,205	18,873	18,200
	Total assets			28,158	26,787	26,225
	Current liabilities
	Trade and other payables			(10,294)	(8,206)	(8,160)
	Total liabilities			(10,294)	(8,206)	(8,160)
	Net assets			17,864	18,581	18,065
	Equity
	Share capital			281	281	281
	Share premium account			5,734	5,734	5,734
	Capital redemption reserve fund			1,505	1,505	1,505
	Retained earnings			10,344	11,061	10,545
	Equity shareholders' fund			17,864	18,581	18,065

 

Company Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2017
			As at	As at	As at
			31.12.17	31.12.16	30.06.17
			£'000	£'000	£'000
			Unaudited	Unaudited	Audited
	Non current assets
	Property, plant and equipment		1,864	1,769	1,900
	Investments		6,588	6,588	6,588
			8,452	8,357	8,488
	Current assets
	Inventories		5,953	5,028	4,176
	Trade and other receivables		12,005	9,487	9,052
	Cash and cash equivalents		2,210	4,316	4,934
			20,168	18,831	18,162
	Total assets		28,620	27,188	26,650
	Current liabilities
	Trade and other payables		(13,515)	(10,850)	(11,080)
	Total liabilities		(13,515)	(10,850)	(11,080)
	Net assets		15,105	16,338	15,570
	Equity
	Share capital		281	281	281
	Share premium account		5,734	5,734	5,734
	Capital redemption reserve fund		1,505	1,505	1,505
	Retained earnings		7,585	8,818	8,050
	Equity shareholders' fund		15,105	16,338	15,570

 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
As at 31 December 2017
		Share capital	Share premium account	Capital redemption reserve	Retained earnings	Total Equity
		£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
	Period to 31 December 2016
	Unaudited
	Balance at 1 July 2016	281	5,734	1,505	11,600	19,120
	Dividends	-	-	-	-	-
	Loss and total comprehensive
	loss for the period	-	-	-	(539)	(539)
	Balance at 31 December  2016	281	5,734	1,505	11,061	18,581
	Period to 31 December 2017
	Unaudited
	Balance at 1 July 2017	281	5,734	1,505	10,545	18,065
	Dividends	-	-	-	-	-
	Loss and total comprehensive	-	-	-	(201)	(201)
	loss for the period
	Balance at 31 December  2017	281	5,734	1,505	10,344	17,864
	Year to 30 June 2017
	Audited
	Balance at 1 July 2016	281	5,734	1,505	11,600	19,120
	Dividends	-	-	-	(56)	(56)
	Transactions with owners	-	-	-	(56)	(56)
	Loss and total comprehensive
	loss for the period	-	-	-	(999)	(999)
	Balance at 30 June 2017	281	5,734	1,505	10,545	18,065

 

Company Statement of Changes in Equity
As at 31 December 2017
		Share capital	Share premium account	Capital redemption reserve	Retained earnings	Total Equity
		£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000	£'000
	Period to 31 December 2016
	Unaudited
	Balance at 1 July 2016	281	5,734	1,505	9,620	17,140
	Dividends	-	-	-	-	-
	Loss and total comprehensive
	loss for the period	-	-	-	(802)	(801)
	Balance at 31 December  2016	281	5,734	1,505	8,818	16,338
	Period to 31 December 2017
	Unaudited
	Balance at 1 July 2017	281	5,734	1,505	8,050	15,570
	Dividends	-	-	-	-	-
	Loss and total comprehensive
	loss for the period	-	-	-	(465)	(465)
	Balance at 31 December  2017	281	5,734	1,505	7,585	15,105
	Year to 30 June 2017
	Audited
	Balance at 1 July 2016	281	5,734	1,505	9,620	17,140
	Dividends	-	-	-	(56)	(56)
	Transactions with owners	-	-	-	(56)	(56)
	Loss and total comprehensive
	loss for the period	-	-	-	(1,514)	(1,514)
	Balance at 30 June 2017	281	5,734	1,505	8,050	15,570

 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
6 months to 31 December 2017
			6 months	6 months	Year
			Ended	ended	Ended
			31.12.17	31.12.16	30.06.17
			£'000	£'000	£'000
			Unaudited	Unaudited	Audited
	Cash from operating activities
	Operating (loss) from
	continuing operations		(227)	(562)	(1,051)
	Depreciation of property, plant
	and equipment		91	83	166
	(Profit)/loss on disposal of property,		-	(4)	(4)
	plant and equipment
	Operating (loss) before changes in
	working capital		(136)	(483)	(889)
	(Increase)/decrease in inventories		(1,777)	(22)	830
	(Increase)/decrease  in trade and
	other receivables		(2,953)	(1,029)	(593)
	Increase/(decrease)  in trade and
	other payables		2,134	400	355
	Cash (used)/generated from operations		(2,732)	(1,134)	(297)
	Income taxes received/(paid)				-
	Net cash from operating activities		(2,732)	(1,134)	(297)
	Cash flows from investing activities
	Interest received		26	23	52
	Proceeds from disposal of property,
	plant and equipment		-	4	4
	Purchase of property, plant and
	Equipment		(19)	(2)	(197)
	Net cash from investing activities		7	25	(141)
	Cash flows from financing activities
	Dividends paid to equity shareholders		-	-	(56)
	Net cash used in financing activities		-	-	(56)
	Net (decrease)/increase in cash and
	cash equivalents		(2,725)	(1,109)	(494)
	Cash and cash equivalents at
	beginning of period		4,972	5,466	5,446
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		2,247	4,357	4,972

 

Company Statement of Cash Flows
6 months to 31 December 2017
			6 months	6 months	Year
			Ended	Ended	Ended
			31.12.17	31.12.16	30.06.17
			£'000	£'000	£'000
			Unaudited	Unaudited	Audited
	Cash from operating activities
	Operating (loss) from
	continuing operations		(491)	(824)	(1,567)
	Depreciation of property, plant
	and equipment		55	45	94
	(Profit)/loss on disposal of property,
	plant and equipment		-	(4)	(4)
	Operating (loss) before changes in
	working capital		(436)	(783)	(1,477)
	(Increase)/decrease in inventories		(1,777)	(22)	830
	(Increase)/decrease in trade and
	other receivables		(2,953)	(1,029)	(593)
	Increase/(decrease)  in trade and
	other payables		2,435	699	931
	Cash (used)/generated from operations		(2,731)	(1,135)	(309)
	Income taxes received/(paid)		-	-	-
	Net cash from operating activities		(2,731)	(1,135)	(309)
	Cash flows from investing activities
	Interest received		26	23	52
	Proceeds from disposal of property,
	plant and equipment		-	4	4
	Purchase of property, plant and
	Equipment		(19)	(2)	(183)
	Net cash from investing activities		7	25	(127)
	Cash flows from financing activities
	Dividends paid to equity shareholders		-	-	(56)
	Net cash used in financing activities		-	-	(56)
	Net (decrease)/increase in cash and
	cash equivalents		(2,724)	(1,110)	(492)
	Cash and cash equivalents at
	beginning of period		4,934	5,426	5,426
	Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		2,210	4,316	4,934

 

Notes to the financial statements

1.            Corporate Information

The financial information for the half year ended 31 December 2017 set out in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The group's statutory financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2017 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain statements under Sections 498(2) and 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006. The interim results are unaudited. Northamber Plc is a public limited company incorporated and domiciled in England and Wales. The company's shares are publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange's AIM market.

2.            Basis of preparation

These interim consolidated financial statements are for the six months ended 31 December 2017. They have been prepared in accordance with IAS34 Interim Financial Reporting. They do not include all the information required for full annual financial statements, and should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements of the group for the year ended 30 June 2017.

These interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention.

These interim consolidated financial statements (the interim financial statements) have been prepared in accordance with accounting policies adopted in the last annual financial statements for the year to 30 June 2017 except for the adoption of IAS1 Presentation of Financial Statements (Revised 2007).

The adoption of IAS1 (Revised 2007) does not affect the financial position or profits of the group, but gives rise to additional disclosures. The measurement and recognition of the group's assets, liabilities, income and expenses is unchanged. A separate 'Statement of changes in equity' is now presented.

The accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the group for the purposes of preparation of these interim consolidated financial statements.

3.            Basis of Consolidation

For the periods covered in these interim consolidated financial statements all trading has been carried out by the parent company alone. The group includes some non-trading dormant subsidiaries.  All the assets and liabilities of all subsidiaries have been included in the statements of financial position.

 

4.            Segmental Reporting

Although the sales of the group are predominantly to the UK there are sales to other countries and the following schedule sets out the split of the sales for the period. Revenue is attributable to individual countries based on the location of the customer. There are no non current assets outside the UK.

	UK		Other		Total
	£'000		£'000		£'000
6 months to December 2017
Total Segment revenue	31,554		105		31,659
Year to 30 June 2017
Total Segment revenue	56,996		292		57,288

One customer accounted for more than 10% of the group's revenue for the period, being £5.9m.

5.            Taxation

No tax charge has been provided in the interim consolidated financial statements due to the losses accumulated both in prior years and in the current period.

6.            Earnings per Share

The calculation of earnings per share is based on the loss after tax for the six months to 31 December 2017 of £201,000 (2016: loss £539,000) and a weighted average of 28,158,735 (2016: 28,158,735) ordinary shares in issue.

7.            Property, Plant and Equipment

There were no significant additions to or disposals of property, plant or equipment in the period to 31 December 2017.  The reduction in the total value of property, plant and equipment was primarily due to the depreciation charge for the year.

8.            Risks and Uncertainties

The principal risks and uncertainties affecting the business activities of the group are detailed in the strategic report which can be found on pages 7 to 11 of the Annual Report and Accounts for the year ended 30 June 2017 (the Annual Report). A copy of the Annual Report is available on the company's web site at www.northamber.com

The risks affecting the business remain the same as in the Annual Report. In summary these include:-

Market risk particularly those relating to the suppliers of products to the group

Financial risks including exchange rate risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk and credit risk

In the opinion of the directors, these will remain the principal risks for the remainder of the year, however, the directors have reviewed the company's risk analysis and are of the opinion that steps have been taken to minimise the potential impact of such risks.

9.            Related Party Transactions

Mr D M Phillips is the ultimate controlling party of the Company.

During the six months period, the company paid £300,500 (2016: £300,500) rent to Anitass Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary. At 31 December 2017 Northamber plc owed Anitass Ltd £3,259,000 (2016:£2,676,000).

10.          Directors' Confirmation

The Directors confirm that to the best of their knowledge these condensed consolidated half year financial statements have been prepared in accordance with IAS 34 and that the interim management report herein includes a fair review of the information required by DTR 4.2.7R, an indication of important events during the first 6 months and descriptions of principal risks and uncertainties for the remaining six months of the year, and DTR 4.2.8R the disclosure of related party transactions and changes therein.

 

END

 

 

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