Interim Results

Comeleon PLC 04 December 2003 COMELEON PLC INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2003 4 DECEMBER 2003 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Since my last statement in December 2002 there has been a severe downturn in the global market for replaceable covers for mobile phones and this is reflected in our results for the six months ended 31 March 2003. Interim Results Turnover for the period was £2.0 million - including mobile phone handsets sales of £2.1 million and a provision against bad and doubtful debts of £1.3 million and a write-back of deferred income of £0.3 million - leaving £1.5 million relating mainly to imaged product using the comeleon process (H1 2002: £1.6m). The gross loss of £1.0 million (H1 2002: gross profit £0.4 million) arose following the provision against £1.3 million of bad and doubtful debts, a stock write-down of £0.7 million, a gross loss on handset sales of £0.2 million and a write-back of provisions no longer required of £0.4 million. Both the provision against bad and doubtful debt and the stock write-down were a consequence of the fall off in the market for replaceable covers for mobile phones which has affected a number of our customers. Administrative overheads increased to £3.2 million (H1 2002: £2.1 million) including a write down of fixed assets of £0.6 million reflecting the fall in demand for replaceable mobile phone covers. Overheads in the period were expected to be higher as staff numbers had increased significantly in comparison with prior periods. The loss before taxation for the period was £4.1 million (H1 2002: £1.7 million loss). Debtors were reduced by £2.7 million and Creditors: amounts falling due within one year were reduced by £2.4 million owing to the write-back of deferred income recognised during the year ended 30 September 2002 under distribution and licence agreements. The closing cash balance was £0.9 million (H1 2002: £2.0 million). Trading update As explained in the trading statement made in December 2002, we viewed it as strategically important for our young business to diversify quickly into new markets, but that at that time our business was still dependent on a single market area, namely mobile phone replaceable covers. The unforeseen downturn, which occurred very quickly in the early months of 2003, has therefore had a serious adverse impact on our business. The extent to which the downturn impacted the Company is shown clearly by the stark contrast in order intake between the two months of October and November 2002, where order intake was £1.6 million, and the two months of January and February 2003, where order intake fell to £0.12 million. Faced with such a fall in business at a time when the Company had been relying on reaching a breakeven position and when cash resources were limited, action needed to be taken quickly. A far reaching and radical cost cutting exercise was quickly implemented with a view to conserving cash and protecting the Company. Overheads fell from £0.40 million in November 2002 to £0.26 million in March 2003 including voluntary pay reductions by all Directors. Since March this year comeleon has concentrated on sales of ImageBoxes and wide format licences and consumables. In addition, it has continued to receive a low volume of orders for imaged product. Sales have averaged around £66,000 per month over the six months to 30 September 2003. There have been no further sales of mobile phone handsets. comeleon continues to be loss making and is consuming cash, albeit at much lower levels than in the six months ended 31 March 2003. Proposed Acquisition Since the update given on 24 February 2003, we have continued to cut operating costs but have not yet reached a stable cash break-even position and have dwindling cash reserves. The Directors have considered a number of options over the past six months with the aim of securing the funding position of the Group and of diversifying its activities. The first of the options to reach an advanced stage was a reverse takeover, announced on 16 April, since when trading in the Company's shares has been suspended. Those first talks did not lead to a successful deal, but the Company has today announced proposals to acquire Tanfield Holdings Limited and to raise £1.65 million in a placing of convertible unsecured loan stock and ordinary shares. An admission document in respect of the Proposals has been published today. Outlook The Directors and Proposed Director continue to believe in the comeleon technology, but take a prudent view of its prospects. The immediate target for comeleon's business is to operate at a cash break-even position. The Directors and Proposed Director are encouraged by the prospects of Tanfield Holdings Limited which comes with an established business and order pipeline. Jon Pither Non-executive Chairman CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 31 March 31 March 30 September 2003 2002 2002 £ £ £ TURNOVER: continuing operations 2,022,896 1,575,460 4,502,696 Cost of sales (2,976,445) (1,188,380) (3,404,025) Gross(loss)/ profit (953,549) 387,080 1,098,671 Administrative expenses (3,157,134) (2,074,553) (4,378,907) Other operating income 25,046 20,000 50,000 OPERATING LOSS: continuing operations (4,085,637) (1,667,473) (3,230,236) Interest received and similar income 1,914 48,909 91,243 Interest payable and similar charges (49,767) (52,331) (128,728) LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION (4,133,490) (1,670,895) (3,267,721) Tax on loss on ordinary activities - - 24,679 LOSS FOR THE FINANCIAL PERIOD WITHDRAWN FROM RESERVES (4,133,490) (1,670,895) (3,243,042) Basic and dilutive loss per ordinary share (27.01p) (13.13p) (24.32p) CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET Unaudited Unaudited Audited 31 March 31 March 30 September 2003 2002 2002 £ £ £ FIXED ASSETS Intangible assets 692,937 790,980 839,460 Tangible assets 1,390,325 2,260,431 2,317,683 2,083,262 3,051,411 3,157,143 CURRENT ASSETS Stocks 192,788 304,558 455,797 Debtors 588,867 963,873 4,704,713 Cash at bank and in hand 930,251 2,024,700 2,985,734 1,711,906 3,293,131 8,146,244 CREDITORS: amounts falling due within one year (988,372) (1,749,421) (4,587,070) NET CURRENT ASSETS 723,534 1,543,710 3,559,174 TOTAL ASSETS LESS CURRENT LIABILITIES 2,806,796 4,595,121 6,716,317 CREDITORS: amounts falling due after more than one year Obligations under finance leases (1,007,751) (943,353) (716,912) 1,799,045 3,651,768 5,999,405 CAPITAL AND RESERVES Called up share capital 153,021 127,563 153,021 Shares to be issued reserve 555,469 555,469 555,469 Other reserves 111,150 111,150 111,150 Share premium 12,416,999 8,589,543 12,483,869 Merger reserve 615,614 615,614 615,614 Profit and loss account (12,053,208) (6,347,571) (7,919,718) TOTAL EQUITY SHAREHOLDERS' FUNDS 1,799,045 3,651,768 5,999,405 CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 31 March 31 March 30 September 2003 2002 2002 £ £ £ Net cash outflow from operating activities 4 (1,687,421) (1,411,160) (3,882,383) Return on investments and servicing of finance (47,853) (3,422) (37,485) Taxation 24,679 - - Capital expenditure & financial investment (168,864) (214,346) (435,491) Cash outflow before financing (1,879,459) (1,628,928) (4,355,359) Financing (176,024) (194,228) 3,493,237 Decrease in cash (2,055,483) (1,823,156) (862,122) Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds Decrease in cash in the period (2,055,483) (1,823,156) (862,112) Cash outflow from decrease in debt 176,024 195,178 427,497 Change in debt resulting from cashflows (1,879,459) (1,627,978) (434,615) New finance leases (105,750) (600,996) (729,616) (1,985,209) (2,228,974) (1,164,231) Net funds at 1 October 2002/2001 1,907,709 3,071,940 3,071,940 Net funds at 31 March 2003/2002 (77,500) 842,966 1,907,709 NOTES TO THE INTERIM RESULTS 1. Basis of preparation The interim financial statements, which have been neither audited nor reviewed by the auditors, have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in the comeleon plc statutory accounts for the period ended 30 September 2002. The interim financial statements do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of S240 of the Companies Act and have not been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 2. Taxation The tax charge in the period is based on the anticipated effective rate of tax for the year ended 30 September 2003. 3. Loss per ordinary share Loss per share has been calculated using the weighted average number of shares in issue during the relevant financial periods. Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 31 March 31 March 30 September 2003 2002 2002 No./£ No./£ No./£ Weighted average number of shares 15,302,104 12,725,027 13,333,577 Loss on ordinary activities after taxation 4,133,490 1,670,895 3,243,042 No diluted loss per share has been disclosed as the share options are anti-dilutive. 4. Net cash outflow from operating activities Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 month 6 months Year ended ended ended 31 March 31 March 30 September 2003 2002 2002 £ £ £ Operating loss (4,085,637) (1,667,473) (3,230,236) Depreciation on tangible fixed assets 1,118,729 244,396 464,864 Amortisation of intangible fixed assets 158,584 46,702 70,267 Decrease/(increase) in stocks 326,591 (114,721) (265,960) Decrease/(increase) in debtors 4,091,167 (367,620) (4,083,781) (Decrease)/increase in creditors (3,296,855) 447,556 3,162,463 Cash outflow from operating activities (1,687,421) (1,411,160) (3,882,383) 5. Going Concern In conjunction with the proposed acquisition of Tanfield Holdings Limited the Directors have considered the future financing of comeleon and the Enlarged Group. An integral part of that financing is the issue of £1.6 million nominal of Convertible Loan Stock. Whilst there is uncertainty as to the outcome the Directors remain confident that both the proposed Acquisition and the issue of the Convertible Loan Stock will be successful. The financial information has been prepared on a going concern basis and does not include any adjustments that might result from failure to satisfactorily conclude the proposed Acquisition and fundraising. 6. Copies of this report are being forwarded to all shareholders and further copies are available from the Company's Registered Office at Comeleon House, North Tanfield Industrial Estate, Tanfield Lea, Co Durham, DH9 9NX. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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