Final Results

Reliance Security Group PLC 24 June 2004 EMBARGOED UNTIL 7.00 AM THURSDAY 24 JUNE 2004 PRESS RELEASE Reliance Security Group plc Preliminary announcement of results for the year ended 30 April 2004 • Solid organic growth and ongoing investment in new markets and segments • Turnover up 9.0% to £292.3 million (2003 : £268.1 million) • Pre-exceptional, pre-tax profit up 4.9% to £13.2 million (2003: £12.6 million). Profit before tax up 98.3% to £11.9 million (2003: £6.0 million) • Non-cash, exceptional charge of £1.3 million to write down carrying value of quoted investment in Command Security Corporation and goodwill relating to Goldrange Limited • Basic earnings per share, excluding exceptional items, up 4.7% to 40.2p (2003: 38.4p), basic earnings per share 34.5p (2003: 9.3p) • Dividend per share up 9.7% to 16.9p (2003 : 15.4p) • Net cash generation from operations of £12.5 million (2003 : £13.9 million) and net cash of £10.5 million at the year-end (2003: £4.8 million) • Forward order book for Facilities Management businesses now £700 million (2003: £267 million) Brian Kingham, Chairman, commenting on the results said: 'We have continued to grow and improve our businesses, increasing the value added for customers, despite challenging market conditions. Recent major contract wins well position the Group for further growth' Notes to Editors Reliance is an established market leader in the provision of contract security, facilities management and support services and in business process outsourcing. Reliance employs over 12,000 people from a network of offices throughout the UK. For further information: Brian Kingham Chairman 020 7730 9716 Neil French Group Finance Director 01895 205002 Chairman's Statement Introduction I am pleased to report we have achieved solid organic growth in turnover and underlying profit in the year to 30 April 2004. Whilst we have experienced challenging market conditions in our management and manpower security business, particularly in the latter part of the year, our markets in facilities management, business process outsourcing and support services have continued to grow. We have benefited from our ongoing investment in management and business development infrastructure. In addition, major contract wins in the second half of the year leave the Group well positioned for further growth. Results Turnover for the year to 30 April 2004 increased by 9.0% to £292.3 million (2003: £268.1 million). Pre-exceptional, pre-tax profit for the year rose by 4.9% to £13.2 million (2003: £12.6 million). Excluding exceptional items, earnings per share rose by 4.7% to 40.2p (2003: 38.4p). Cash generated from operations was £12.5 million (2003: £13.9 million) and we ended the year with net cash of £10.5 million (2003: £4.8 million). Dividend A final dividend is proposed of 13.1p making a total for the year of 16.9p, 9.7% higher than last year (2003: final dividend 11.95p, total 15.4p). The proposed final dividend is subject to approval at the AGM on 7 September 2004 and payable on 24 September 2004 to shareholders on the register on 3 September 2004. Strategy Our long-term strategy is to build value for our shareholders by growing recurring revenues from a complementary range of products and support services delivered to businesses and the public sector. We will strengthen our leadership position in security and continue to increase our share of the £60 billion per annum facilities management and business process outsourcing market. A passion for excellence of service and an unremitting drive to add increasing value for our customers through high quality teamwork, appropriate technology and the use of innovative business processes are at the heart of our strategy. Growth will be generated organically and through new start-ups complementary to our core competencies. Security Services We have grown turnover by 6.7% year-on-year. Market conditions became more challenging as the year progressed, with continuing pressure on margins and lower levels of new business in our management and manpower security business. We believe that, in addition to problems in the wider economy, uncertainty about the effects of the impending regulation of the private security industry has contributed to the difficult market conditions. Regulation will take the form of licensing individuals employed in security work and starts in 2005. Despite the overall subdued market conditions, some segments were buoyant and offered considerable opportunity. We grew our dedicated security services for empty buildings, including remote monitoring, and won new business to secure ATM cash points. We increased our business with the public sector. Interesting opportunities became available in the health and education sectors to develop products and services to meet specific market needs. One such scheme involved the design of an electronic signalling system as well as the rapid response infrastructure to care for the security needs and give reassurance to lone health visitors. The increasing demands resulting from Health and Safety legislation and the duty of care on employers have created notable new opportunities. We have been active in the retail segment and, despite strong competition, have won important contracts with Boots and Tesco, among others. In partnership with a number of leading retailers, insurers and unions, we completed a project with the British Retail Consortium to provide video training to help protect front-line staff from violence, threats and intimidation. Among others, we won significant contracts with the Metropolitan Police, Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society and Kings College, London. We also won a contract to operate the tollbooths on the new Midlands Expressway. We have experienced a much increased level of customer interest in security solutions which harness new technologies through imaginative design and offer manpower savings. This is reflected in the continued growth we have enjoyed in our remote surveillance business, a welcome reward for the investment in the new and enlarged facilities and technology in 2003. Further developments in technology offer customers cost efficiency and enhanced accessibility to security systems through the utilisation of existing IT networks and we have designed and installed more than £4 million of innovative solutions for Bank of America, BAE SYSTEMS, Air Products, Mellon Bank and Arlington Securities in the year. We have been delighted to play an active part in what the Home Secretary has described as the 'wider police family'. At Manchester's Trafford Park, our Business Watch scheme operating in partnership with the Police Service and the local authority provides an exemplar; burglary and vehicle crime down by 14% and 20% respectively on the previous year. The Police Reform Act 2002 authorises Chief Constables to accredit organisations to work in partnership with the Police to enhance community safety and security. We were delighted to receive the first such accreditation from Lancashire Constabulary in May. We continued our work with the Scottish Crime Prevention Centre, and are developing a best practice register and web site which has the backing of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland. Once again, we supported youth mentoring projects and Crime Concern, the leading crime prevention charity. These initiatives serve to underline our active support for those working to develop and operate imaginative programmes which address the causes of crime. This is a long-term investment in communities which benefits our customers and makes good business sense. Regulation of Private Security Regulation of the private security industry, through licensing of individuals by the Security Industry Authority (SIA), began with the creation of the SIA in April 2003. Licensing will be phased in over two years, commencing 1 March 2005. Regulation will provide numerous benefits and open up new opportunities for growth, especially in the public sector. It is likely to improve wages and skills but will cause shortages of people available for employment in security. There will inevitably be an increased cost, which we expect to see reflected in higher average prices, highlighting the need for innovation to provide greater added value to customers and the extended use of technology. Our conference at the Strathclyde Police Headquarters Training Centre in February was the first public presentation in Scotland of the security industry regulation model for England and Wales. Regulation of the private security industry has been endorsed by the Scottish Executive and is expected to be implemented in due course. Facilities Management We have made good progress, growing turnover by 15.2% year-on-year. More significantly, we have continued to expand our long-term contracted revenue and our forward order book (being the sales value of contracts currently in hand over the life of these contracts) is now £700 million (2003: £267 million). Demand for facilities management and business process outsourcing continues to grow, particularly in the public sector, offering significant opportunities for Reliance. We already provide a wide range of facilities management services at more than 2,500 locations across the UK and employ more than 2,700 people in these activities. We offer our customers the ready means to bring about organisational change, to refine business processes through the introduction of new technology and to improve the efficiency of non-core activities. We have won a substantial contract with 3M and have renewed important contracts with Centrex, Accenture, Campbells Soups, Emersons and Unilever. We are also involved at various stages in bidding for several PFI contracts. We were delighted to be finalists in two categories of service excellence awards at the annual 'Premises and Facilities Management' magazine awards, winning the Public Service Award for our Monteray joint venture, which provides facilities management services to BT. Augmenting our capacities to provide engineering expertise for managing the work place environment, we have made a cash investment of £0.5 million to start a new business, Reliance M&E Services, providing mechanical and electrical engineering services, including the installation, maintenance and repair of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems. This supports our FM businesses as well as growing our recurring income from stand-alone engineering services provided under long-term contract. We have made further excellent progress in developing our business process outsourcing activities in the Criminal Justice System. The services we provide, throughout mainland UK, include custody provision and court services, forensic medicine, identity parades, finger printing, DNA testing, electronic monitoring of offenders, logistics services and administrative services. In January, we developed and installed in one of our monitoring centres a new IT system to support warrant enforcement work for the courts. After extensively publicised initial teething problems, the mobilisation of the 7-year £150 million contract to provide infrastructure and services for prisoner escorting and court custody in Scotland is proceeding smoothly, the first phase of service delivery having begun on 5 April. As recently announced, we have been awarded a similar, £250 million contract in South Wales, the Midlands and the West of England, with service delivery commencing at the end of August. In conjunction with our funding partner, HBOS, we have recently been awarded a 30-year £30 million PFI contract to finance, design, build and provide support services for a new Police Headquarters for Gloucester Constabulary. We continued to increase our work for the Forensic Science Service, providing a daily service for 37 of the 43 Police Service areas in England and Wales. We continue to invest in management and business development resources in pursuit of further growth. Exceptional Items In July 2003, we completed the disposal of our 16.1% investment in Chesterton International plc, as expected, for a cash consideration of £1.6 million. Last year, I explained that the federalisation of certain aviation security activities by the United States government resulted in our decision to dispose of our investment in Command Security Corporation, and we wrote down the carrying value of the investment in Command by way of a £3.3 million exceptional charge. In May 2004, we completed the sale of our interests in Command to a US institutional investor for a cash consideration of $2.85 million. We have further written down the carrying value of the investment to reflect its net realisable value, taking an exceptional charge of £0.3 million against this year's profits. In view of the disposal in May, the investment is classified as a current asset in the Group's year-end balance sheet. The contribution to Group profits from Command Security Corporation in 2003/04 was less than £0.1m (2002/ 03: £0.3million). We have reviewed the goodwill relating to Goldrange Limited, the Group's event security business, acquired in March 2001, for impairment and, in light of the current prospects for the business, have concluded that it would be prudent to write down its carrying value by £1.0 million. In total, therefore, we have incurred a non-cash, exceptional charge of £1.3 million this year. People Our people, their professionalism and skill, their commitment and optimism is what makes our businesses great and I take this opportunity to record my warmest thanks on behalf of the board. An exceptionally high proportion of our people, over 90%, are in the public eye and are called upon to provide high levels of interpersonal and communications skills. More than 1,300 letters of praise for employees were received this year, offering a wonderful commentary on the dedication of our people in delivering the Reliance Difference. It was a special pleasure to see Reliance people win 11 of the 35 British Security Industry Association commendations, the most achieved by any company. In common with our other businesses, Reliance Integrated Services and Reliance Monitoring Services achieved Investors In People and ISO 9000 accreditation. Investors In People inspires our approach to investing to enable our people to improve their knowledge and skills. It is the framework for continuously improving the performance of the business and making us more competitive through a planned approach to setting and communicating business objectives and developing our people to meet these objectives. We will be working hard to improve upon the high scores achieved this year in our employee opinion assessments, which are based on criteria used in the Sunday Times' annual survey of '100 Best Companies to work for'. In March we were delighted to welcome Nigel Forbes as Managing Director of Reliance Security Services. With a strong track record of achievement in contract services, Nigel has settled in quickly and is leading us in the changes we are making to meet the exciting opportunities of a regulated industry. In August we welcomed Barry Nealon as Chairman of Reliance Integrated Services. Barry, a chartered surveyor, brings us distinct entrepreneurial flair and a wealth of experience in major property developments and solutions. The Future The Directors believe that market conditions in security services are likely to remain challenging in the period leading up to regulation of the private security industry in the spring of 2005. We continue to believe that, when fully implemented, regulation will greatly benefit the industry and its customers and, accordingly, we are confident that market conditions will improve in the long term. Meanwhile, there are growth segments and specialist opportunities which we will pursue with imagination and vigour. We expect that demand for facilities management and business process outsourcing will continue to grow, particularly in the public sector. This dynamic, £60 billion per annum market offers significant opportunities for Reliance to sustain growth and pursue its strategy through the development of longer term, higher value added contracts. In addition, recent major contract wins well position the Group for further growth. We expect that the Group will make further progress in the coming financial year and maintain its strong financial position. Brian Kingham Chairman Financial review Overview In the year to 30 April 2004, the Group has achieved solid growth in turnover and underlying profit and has generated a substantial cash inflow. Turnover for the year increased by 9.0% to £292.3 million (2003: £268.1 million), reflecting good organic growth in the Group's operating companies. In the period 1999-2004, the Group has grown its turnover at a compound annual rate of 17.4%. Pre-exceptional, pre-tax profit for the year rose by 4.9% to £13.2 million (2003: £12.6 million), reflecting growth in both Security Services and Facilities Management. In the period 1999-2004, the Group's pre-exceptional, pre-tax profits have increased at a compound annual rate of 14.3%. Net cash inflow from operating activities, after funding significant organic growth in the year, was £12.5 million (2003: £13.9 million) and the Group ended the year with net cash of £10.5 million (2003: £4.8 million). Exceptional item The £1.3 million non-cash, exceptional charge relating to the write-down of the carrying value of the quoted investment in Command Security Corporation and the goodwill associated with Goldrange Limited is explained fully in the Chairman's Statement. Accounting matters No new accounting standards have been adopted in preparing the Group's 2003/04 accounts. The Group does not currently operate a defined benefit pension scheme, so the requirements of FRS 17 'Retirement Benefits' do not currently apply. The Group expenses all pre-contract costs except for certain directly attributable costs which, when it is virtually certain that a contract will be awarded, are capitalised and written off over the life of the contract. The element of bid costs so capitalised this year was approximately £0.2 million (2003: £nil) and the total carrying value of such costs in the Group's balance sheet at the year-end was £0.2 million (2003: £nil). The Group expenses all other business development costs, amounting to several million pounds per annum, when incurred. In connection with certain large, long-term contracts, the Group incurs start-up costs in the period between contract award and the commencement of service delivery. Where such costs are not reimbursed at the outset, they are held on the Group's balance sheet and recovered over the life of the underlying contract. The element of start-up costs so capitalised this year was approximately £1.6 million (2003: £0.2 million) and the total carrying value of such costs in the Group's balance sheet at the year-end was £1.7 million (2003: £0.4 million). The Group's policy is to minimise its investment in special purpose vehicles established in connection with PFI contracts, subject to commercial considerations, and a rigorous risk assessment is undertaken in respect of all such investments. Currently, the nature of the Group's participation in such vehicles does not require it to consolidate any share of their results. The total cost incurred by the Group to date in such investments is £0.5 million (2003: £0.3 million). The Group continues its preparations for the introduction of International Accounting Standards, which will become effective for its 2005/06 year-end. A project team has been established to review all existing and proposed changes to International Accounting Standards to assess the impact on the Group's profit and loss account, balance sheet and cash flow statement, and to identify and implement any changes to financial reporting processes that may be required. Group results Operating margin Challenging market conditions in the Security Services segment led to a slight decline in underlying gross margin in that segment. This led to Group gross margin falling slightly to 18.8% (2003: 19.0%) despite a small improvement in gross margins in the Facilities Management segment. The ratio of administrative expenses to turnover was 15.1% (2003: 15.0%), reflecting continued investment in management, systems and training to support the Group's continuing growth. Consequently, the Group's operating margin, the ratio of pre-exceptional operating profit to turnover, was 3.7% compared with 4.0% in the previous year. Goodwill amortisation The charge for goodwill amortisation in the year was £0.3 million (2003: £0.5 million), of which £nil (2003: £0.2 million) was included in share of associates' operating profit. In addition, as noted above, impairment write-downs of £1.3 million have been recognised as exceptional items. Net interest payable Net interest payable, including the Group's share of interest payable by associated undertakings, was £0.3 million (2003: £0.5 million) reflecting a strong cash flow performance throughout the year. Interest cover, excluding exceptional items, increased to 51 times (2003: 27 times, excluding exceptional items). Taxation The net taxation charge for the year was £4.1 million (2003: £3.9 million) which, excluding exceptional items, represents an effective rate of 31.0% (2003: 31.1%). The slight decline in the effective rate reflects a modest amount of unrelieved losses in 2002/03 from our electronic security business. Earnings per share Basic earnings per share, excluding exceptional items, increased by 4.7% to 40.2p (2003: 38.4p). In the period 1999-2004, the Group's underlying basic earnings per share, excluding exceptional items, have increased at a compound annual rate of 15.1%. Dividends Dividends paid or proposed were 16.9p per share, 9.7% higher than in the previous year. Dividend cover, excluding exceptional items, was 2.4 times (2003: 2.5 times), reflecting the Group's policy of retaining sufficient profit to facilitate its continuing growth. Over the past five years, the Group's return on shareholders' funds (the ratio of pre-exceptional, post-tax profit to shareholders' funds) has consistently exceeded 25%. Cash flow EBITDA, excluding exceptional items, increased by 5.0% to £13.8 million (2003: £13.2 million) reflecting unchanged operating profit year-on-year despite a significant increase in depreciation charges. Effective cash controls limited the increase in working capital to £1.4 million (2003: £0.7 million reduction) notwithstanding a £3.9 million reduction in creditors which arose as a result of the 53 week year. Consequently, net cash inflow from operating activities was £12.5 million (2003: £13.9 million). Group pre-tax profit, excluding exceptional items and associates, has increased by 1.2% to £10.5 million (2003: £10.4 million). However, after taking account of unrelieved losses in Reliance High-Tech in 2002/03 and other timing differences, taxable profits were higher than in 2002/03. As a result, UK corporation tax paid, at £3.3 million, was £0.3 million higher than in 2002/03. Lower levels of capital expenditure and financial investment, the sale of shares by the ESOP trust in satisfaction of share option arrangements and the disposal of the Group's investment in Chesterton International plc resulted in a cash inflow from investing activities of £0.2 million (2003: £5.3 million outflow). The prior year figure principally comprised significant capital expenditure relating to the successful implementation of major new IT systems and the Group's investment in a PFI special purpose vehicle. Acquisitions gave rise to a net cash outflow of £1.0 million (2003: £0.3 million). In April 2004, the Group made a £1.0 million payment on account in respect of the cost of acquiring the shares in Goldrange Limited not previously owned by the Group. Completion of this transaction spanned the year-end with a further £0.2 million paid in May 2004. The prior year figure represented costs incurred in the year in connection with the acquisition of the shares in Reliance High-Tech Limited not previously owned by the Group. Dividends paid, excluding dividends paid in respect of shares held by the ESOP trust, increased by 13.7% to £3.6 million (2003: £3.1 million). Cash inflow before financing was £5.6 million (2003: £2.8 million). For management purposes, the Group focuses on free cash flow, being cash flow from operating activities less tax and interest paid plus dividends received from associates. Over time, the Group expects to achieve free cash flow of approximately 70% of pre-exceptional, pre-tax profit. Over the period of five years, up to and including the current year, in aggregate, the Group's free cash flow has been 79.0% of pre-exceptional, pre-tax profit. As noted above, in the 53 weeks to April 2004 there were thirteen salary payments and thirteen VAT payments, in each case one more than the previous year, resulting in a 'one-off' net outflow of £3.9m. Including this structural change, the Group's free cash flow was 76.0% of pre-exceptional, pre-tax profit. Excluding these items, the percentage achieved was 105.8%. Following its success in winning substantial new contracts in the facilities management sector, the Group will incur significant contract start-up costs in 2004/05, which will be capitalised and recovered over the life of the underlying contracts. The Group will also make further investments in special purpose vehicles relating to PFI contracts. These factors notwithstanding, the Group expects to be modestly cash generative, overall, in 2004/05. The Group's policy is to maintain committed, medium term borrowing facilities that are more than sufficient to meet its foreseeable medium term financing requirements. Segment results Segment profit, for each segment, comprises profit on ordinary activities after share of associates' results and before finance charges. The 'Security Services' and 'Facilities Management' segments include the results of those of the Group's businesses and associated undertakings that provide to their customers site-based security services and facilities management services respectively. Central administrative costs and operating assets have been allocated to the two segments. Security Services Turnover increased by 6.7% to £209.3 million (2003: £196.1 million), reflecting solid organic growth. Segment profit increased by 4.3% to £9.1 million (2003: £8.8 million), principally reflecting an improvement in the performance of the Group's electronic security systems business and an increased contribution from associates, offset by some margin pressure in the manned guarding sector. As a result, operating margin, the ratio of segment profit to turnover, fell slightly to 4.4% (2003: 4.5%). Effective control over working capital resulted in a further 12.3% decrease in operating assets to £11.0 million (2003: £12.6 million). Consequently, the return on operating assets, the ratio of segment profit to operating assets, increased to 82.9% (2003: 69.7%). Facilities Management Turnover increased by 15.2% to £83.0 million (2003: £72.1 million), reflecting a number of new contract starts and organic growth in existing contracts. Segment profit remained unchanged at £4.3 million and segment operating margin reduced to 5.2% (2003: 6.0%) reflecting further significant strengthening and enlargement of management and business development teams to provide for continuing growth. Control over working capital remained tight but the timing of certain cash receipts, which fell shortly after the year-end, and a significant investment in contract start-up costs resulted in a modest increase in operating assets to £3.6 million (2003: £1.7 million). The return on operating assets therefore reduced to 118.1% (2003: 251.2%). Group profit and loss account for the year ended 30 April 2004 Pre-exceptional Exceptional items items 2004 2003 Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Group turnover 3 292,292 - 292,292 268,142 Cost of sales (237,360) - (237,360) (217,063) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gross profit 54,932 - 54,932 51,079 ------------------------------------------------------- Administrative expenses (44,262) - (44,262) (40,327) Exceptional goodwill write-off 4 - (1,000) (1,000) - ------------------------------------------------------- Total administrative expenses (44,262) (1,000) (45,262) (40,327) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating profit 10,670 (1,000) 9,670 10,752 ------------------------------------------------------- Share of associates' operating profits 2,769 - 2,769 2,299 Exceptional goodwill write-off 4 - (280) (280) (3,250) ------------------------------------------------------- Total share of associates' operating profits 2,769 (280) 2,489 (951) ------------------------------------------------------- Profit on ordinary activities before finance charges and amounts written off investments 3 13,439 (1,280) 12,159 9,801 Exceptional amounts written off investments 4 - - - (3,314) ------------------------------------------------------- Profit on ordinary activities before finance charges 13,439 (1,280) 12,159 6,487 Net interest payable Group (170) - (170) (379) Associates (91) - (91) (109) ------------------------------------------------------- Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 13,178 (1,280) 11,898 5,999 Tax on profit on ordinary activities (4,085) - (4,085) (3,903) ------------------------------------------------------- Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 9,093 (1,280) 7,813 2,096 Dividends paid and proposed 5 (3,847) - (3,847) (3,469) ------------------------------------------------------- Retained profit/(loss) for the year transferred to/(from) reserves 5,246 (1,280) 3,966 (1,373) ------------------------------------------------------- Earnings per ordinary share Basic 6 40.2p - 40.2p 38.4p Effect of exceptional items - (5.7)p (5.7)p (29.1)p ------------------------------------------------------- Restated basic 6 40.2p (5.7)p 34.5p 9.3p Diluted 6 40.0p - 40.0p 38.2p Effect of exceptional items - (5.6)p (5.6)p (29.0)p ------------------------------------------------------- Restated diluted 6 40.0p (5.6)p 34.4p 9.2p ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All material operations in the Group continued throughout both financial years. There are no material differences between reported and historical cost profits and losses. Group statement of total recognised gains and losses for the year ended 30 April 2004 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Profit/(loss) for the financial year Group 6,226 3,742 Associates 1,587 (1,646) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7,813 2,096 Loss on foreign currency translation (82) (74) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total gains and losses for the year 7,731 2,022 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Group Balance sheet as at 30 April 2004 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fixed Assets Intangible assets: goodwill 758 1,969 Tangible assets 8,027 9,245 Investments 5,867 6,464 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14,652 17,678 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Current assets Stocks 1,670 2,561 Debtors: Amounts due within one year 33,822 37,190 Debtors: Amounts due after more than one year 1,353 218 Investments 1,036 1,637 Cash at bank and in hand 14,097 8,849 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 51,978 50,455 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Creditors: amounts falling due within one year Borrowings (3,564) (3,614) Creditors (33,963) (38,430) Corporation tax (2,174) (2,098) Proposed dividend (2,982) (2,694) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ (42,683) (46,836) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net current assets 9,295 3,619 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Total assets less current liabilities 23,947 21,297 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year Borrowings (80) (412) Provisions for liabilities and charges (217) (1,155) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Net assets 23,650 19,730 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Capital and reserves Called up share capital 1,165 1,164 Share premium account 2,320 2,285 Revaluation reserve 152 152 Profit and loss account 20,013 16,129 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Equity shareholders' funds 23,650 19,730 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Group cash flow statement for the year ended 30 April 2004 2004 2003 Notes £'000 £'000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash inflow from operating activities 7 12,462 13,906 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 142 27 Interest paid (267) (363) Interest element of finance lease repayments (30) (45) Dividends received from associates 977 923 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash inflow from returns on investments and servicing of finance 822 542 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Taxation UK corporation tax paid (3,272) (2,932) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of tangible fixed assets (1,756) (4,842) Investment in special purpose vehicles (188) (267) Purchase of own shares by ESOP - (296) Sale of own shares by ESOP 450 66 Sale of current asset investment 1,637 - Sale of tangible fixed assets 42 23 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash inflow / (outflow) from investing activities 185 (5,316) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Acquisitions Purchase of subsidiary undertakings (1,000) (251) Investment in associates (44) (13) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash outflow from acquisitions (1,044) (264) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equity dividends paid (3,559) (3,131) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash inflow before financing 5,594 2,805 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Financing Issue of ordinary share capital 36 21 Increase in short term borrowings - 1,844 Capital element of finance lease repayments (382) (314) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash (outflow) / inflow from financing (346) 1,551 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Increase in cash in the year 8 5,248 4,356 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net cash Increase in cash in the year 5,248 4,356 Net cash outflow/(inflow) from borrowings and finance lease repayments 382 (1,530) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Change in net cash resulting from cash flows 5,630 2,826 New finance leases - (96) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Movement in net cash in the year 5,630 2,730 Opening net cash at start of year 4,823 2,093 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Closing net cash at end of year 8 10,453 4,823 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The accompanying notes are an integral part of this consolidated cash flow statement. Notes to the accounts for the year ended 30 April 2004 The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the years ended 30 April 2004 or 25 April 2003, but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for 25 April 2003 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and those for 30 April 2004 will be delivered following the Company's annual general meeting. The auditors have reported on those accounts; their reports were unqualified and did not contain statements under s237(2) or (3) Companies Act 1985. 1 Accounting Convention The Group accounts have been prepared in accordance with applicable United Kingdom accounting standards and under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of land and buildings. Accounting policies have been consistently applied in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Group's accounts. The financial years of all Group companies are the 52 or 53 weeks up to the Friday before, or falling on, the accounting reference date of 30 April. 2 Consolidation The consolidated profit and loss account and balance sheet incorporate the accounts of Reliance Security Group plc and its subsidiary undertakings. The results of subsidiary undertakings acquired or sold during the year are consolidated for the periods from or to the date on which control passed. As permitted by section 230 of the Companies Act 1985, a profit and loss account is not presented for Reliance Security Group plc. 3 Segmental information Turnover Segment profit Operating assets 2004 2003 2004 2003 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By activity Security services 209,264 196,076 9,140 8,763 11,027 12,569 Facilities management 83,028 72,066 4,299 4,288 3,641 1,707 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 292,292 268,142 13,439 13,051 14,668 14,276 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Segment profit is profit on ordinary activities, including share of associates' operating profits, before finance charges and exceptional items. Operating assets are those net assets controlled by Reliance's operating divisions and reconcile with net assets as follows: 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating assets 14,668 14,276 Items excluded:- Net cash 10,453 4,823 Listed and unlisted investments and loans 455 1,904 Investment in own shares 2,831 3,179 Taxation payable (2,174) (2,098) Deferred taxation 436 362 Dividends payable (2,982) (2,694) Interest payable (37) (22) ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total net assets 23,650 19,730 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- In accordance with the equity method adopted for accounting for associates, Group turnover excludes turnover of associated undertakings. All Group turnover is derived from within the United Kingdom and represents the amount receivable for services supplied net of VAT. 4 Exceptional items The exceptional item of £1,000,000 shown within administrative expenses relates to the impairment of goodwill associated with Goldrange Limited, on the basis of a directors' valuation. The exceptional item of £280,000 (2003: £3,250,000) shown within share of associates' operating profit relates to the impairment of goodwill in the Group's associated undertaking, Command Security Corporation, on the basis of a directors' valuation. This investment was sold at its adjusted carrying value shortly after the end of the financial year and, accordingly, it has been reclassified as a current asset. The exceptional item of £3,314,000 shown as amounts written off investments in the year to 25 April 2003 relates to a reduction in the carrying value of the Group's investment in Chesterton International plc, reflecting its then expected net realisable value. This investment was sold at its adjusted carrying value in June 2003, realising a net cash inflow of £1,637,000. 5 Dividends paid and proposed 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interim paid 3.80p (2003: 3.45p) per share 892 803 Final proposed 13.10p (2003: 11.95p) per share 3,053 2,783 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3,945 3,586 Dividends payable to the ESOP trust (98) (117) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total dividend for the year 3,847 3,469 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The assets and liabilities of the ESOP trust are reflected in the Group balance sheet. The dividends payable to the ESOP trust are therefore excluded on consolidation. 6 Earnings per share 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Earnings 7,813 2,096 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2004 2003 Number Number ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Weighted average number of shares 23,301,565 23,284,514 Weighted average number of shares held in ESOP trust (666,395) (745,940) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares used to calculate basic earnings per share 22,635,170 22,538,574 Dilutive potential shares 82,177 145,458 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shares used to calculate diluted earnings per share 22,717,347 22,684,032 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The basic and diluted earnings per share have been calculated in accordance with FRS14, based on profit after tax and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year, less shares held by the ESOP trust. 7 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities 2004 2003 £'000 £'000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Operating profit 9,670 10,752 Depreciation charges 2,894 2,070 Amortisation of goodwill 323 337 Exceptional impairment of goodwill 1,000 - Gain on sale of fixed asset investments (102) - Loss on disposal of fixed assets 38 7 Decrease / (increase) in stocks 891 (973) Decrease / (increase) in debtors 2,282 (1,677) (Decrease) / increase in creditors (4,534) 3,390 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash inflow from operating activities 12,462 13,906 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8 Analysis and reconciliation of net cash 26 April Cash flow 30 April 2003 £'000 2004 £'000 £'000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cash at bank and in hand 8,849 5,248 14,097 Loan due within one year (3,315) - (3,315) Finance leases and hire purchase contracts (711) 382 (329) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total borrowings (4,026) 382 (3,644) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Net cash 4,823 5,630 10,453 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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