Interim Results for 6 months ended 30 June 2026

Summary by AI BETAClose X

Science Group PLC reported a resilient first half performance for the period ending June 30, 2026, with Adjusted Operating Profit increasing to £11.5 million from £11.3 million in the prior year, accompanied by an improved AOP margin of 24.3% compared to 19.7%. Adjusted basic EPS rose to 20.4 pence from 19.3 pence, while core revenue was £46.4 million, down from £48.7 million in H1 2025, reflecting a managed reduction in lower-margin defence revenue. The company anticipates its 2026 share buy-back program to exceed £20.0 million, and maintains a strong balance sheet with £67.9 million in Group cash.

Disclaimer*

Science Group PLC
27 July 2026
 

 

 


 

27 July 2026

 

SCIENCE GROUP PLC

 

('Science Group', the 'Group' or the 'Company')

 

INTERIM RESULTS

FOR THE SIX MONTH PERIOD ENDED 30 JUNE 2026

           

Summary

 

·      Resilient H1 performance positions Group for another solid year

 

·      Adjusted* Operating Profit of £11.5m (H1 2025: £11.3m)

·      AOP margin of 24.3% (H1 2025: 19.7%)

 

·      Adjusted* basic EPS of 20.4 pence (H1 2025: 19.3 pence)

 

·      Core revenue (excluding pass-through defence revenue) of £46.4m (H1 2025: £48.7m)

 

·      2026 share buy-back programme anticipated to exceed £20.0m

 

 

 

Science Group plc


Martyn Ratcliffe, Executive Chair

Jon Brett, Group Finance Director

Tel: +44 (0) 1223 875 200

www.sciencegroup.com



Panmure Liberum (Nominated Adviser and Broker)


Nicholas How, Rupert Dearden

Tel: +44 (0) 20 3100 2000

Peel Hunt LLP (Joint Broker)


Neil Patel, Kate Bannatyne

Tel: +44 (0) 20 7418 8900

 

 

 


 

 

* Alternative performance measures are provided in order to enhance the shareholders' ability to evaluate and analyse the underlying financial performance of the Group. Refer to Note 1 for detail and explanation of the measures used.



Interim Results 2026

 

Science Group plc is an international Services and Systems company delivering innovation through the application of science, technology and engineering. The Group's financial priorities and strategic drivers are: adjusted operating profit, operating margin and cash flow. The capital generated from the operating cash flow, combined with the significant cash resources on the Group's balance sheet, is allocated to (i) corporate opportunities where the resources and capabilities of the Group can be deployed to produce attractive returns for shareholders, and/or (ii) capital returns to shareholders through the annual dividend and the share buy-back programme.

 

Science Group reports another resilient performance for the first half of the year, despite the global geopolitical environment and the uncertainty in the UK defence sector. For the six months ended 30 June 2026, Group Adjusted Operating Profit ('AOP') increased to £11.5 million (H1 2025: £11.3 million), an AOP Margin increase to 24.3% (H1 2025: 19.7%). Core revenue was £46.4 million (H1 2025: £48.7 million) and total revenue was £47.2 million (H1 2025: £57.2 million), the respective difference reflecting the managed reduction of low margin, pass-through defence revenue.

 

Profit before Tax of £8.1 million was consistent with the prior year after normalising for the H1 2025 exceptional corporate investment gain of £24.0 million. Adjusted basic earnings per share increased to 20.4 pence (H1 2025: 19.3 pence), benefitting from the increased profitability and the reduction in share capital resulting from the ongoing buy-back programme.

 

Cash conversion remained strong at 94%, generating £10.7 million from operations in the period (H1 2025: £21.2 million, which benefitted from a working capital normalisation). After returning £26.3 million to shareholders over the past year through the share buy-back programme and dividend (and after payment of the £5.1 million tax on the 2025 corporate investment gain), Group cash at 30 June 2026 was £67.9 million (30 June 2025: £82.0 million) with net funds of £56.8 million (30 June 2025: £70.3 million). The Group's revolving credit facility of £30.0 million remains undrawn.

 

(Alternative performance measures provide clarity on the Group's underlying trading performance. Refer to Note 1 for detail and explanation of the measures used.)

 

 

Services Division - Sagentia

 

Sagentia provides product development, regulatory and advisory services. The Division is differentiated through deep technical, scientific and engineering expertise combined with specialist industry knowledge.

 

The geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East impacted business confidence in H1 2026, across the Division's international corporate client base, with concerns over increasing energy prices, global inflationary pressures and potential interest rate increases. Such an environment inevitably creates uncertainty and slows investment decisions resulting in delays to procurement schedules. While some market sectors stabilised fairly rapidly, others have taken longer to normalise.

 

Science Group entered the UK defence market through the acquisition of TP Group in 2023. In recent years, to align with the Board's financial priorities, Sagentia Defence has progressively reduced the exposure to low margin, pass-through activities, reducing reported revenue but enhancing margin. The completion of this transition coincided with the UK Defence Investment Plan ('DIP') delay which, as widely reported, materially disrupted UK defence contracting. With the DIP release in July 2026, the Sagentia Defence practice is already seeing an improvement which is anticipated to continue in the second half.

 

Notwithstanding the external challenges in the period, the AOP margin for the Services Division was held at 24.0% (H1 2025: 23.9%), delivering AOP of £7.0 million (H1 2025: £7.9 million). Core revenue was £28.2 million (H1 2025: £29.0 million) excluding £0.8 million (H1 2025: £4.2 million) low margin, pass-through revenue. In summary, Sagentia reported a creditable first half performance and most sectors are well positioned to increase in the second half of the year.

 

Systems Businesses

The Group has two Systems Businesses, both of which have strong positions in their respective markets. In the first half of 2026, both Businesses performed in line with the Board's expectations.

 

Critical Maritime Systems & Support ('CMS2') is based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and designs, manufactures and supports submarine atmosphere management systems for the defence sector, specialising in regenerative systems to support extended submerged operations.

 

Due to operational timings on certain contracts, CMS2 margin increased to an exceptional 38.3% (H1 2025: 21.9%) and AOP increased to £4.3 million (H1 2025: £3.6 million). Revenue in the first half of 2026 was £11.1 million, compared to the prior year core revenue of £12.3 million. H1 2025 reported revenue was £16.6 million, including £4.3 million of low margin consumables revenue, which did not recur in H1 2026. It is a characteristic of the CMS2 Business that revenue and margins experience significant variability and over 2026 as a whole a more normalised margin is anticipated.


Frontier is a leading developer and supplier of radio and audio semiconductors/modules, with a significant share of its core market. Frontier's new product, Auria, provides enhanced connected audio for a larger addressable market than the traditional Frontier product range and branded products have now been launched.

 

The Frontier Business remains relatively stable, in the context of the significant increase in DRAM costs which have impacted the consumer electronics industry. While these costs have been passed on to the distribution channel, there has been modest unit volume decline. However, this has been largely offset by increased selling prices and higher end product mix. As a result, adjusting for FX headwind and a one-off benefit in H1 2025, revenue in the first half of 2026 of £6.8 million was effectively flat on the prior year (H1 2025: reported £7.1 million) with AOP held at £0.9 million (H1 2025: £0.9 million). All R&D costs of Auria continue to be expensed maintaining a high correlation between AOP and cash conversion.

 

Freehold Property

Science Group owns two large freehold properties. Harston Mill, near Cambridge is approx 9,000
sq m on 6.5 hectares and Great Burgh, near Epsom, is approx 4,000 sq m on 3.6 hectares. These sites are primarily used for the Group's operations, although the Harston Mill site does have some third-party tenants. The properties are held in separate corporate entities with an aggregate balance sheet value of £20.5 million. (The last independent valuation in December 2023 valued the properties in aggregate in the range £16.9 million to £31.6 million.) The Board recognises that these properties are significant assets in prime locations and considers it appropriate to explore opportunities to enhance shareholder value. Advisors have been appointed to evaluate a range of options which may provide benefits in the longer term.

 

Capital Allocation

 

At 30 June 2026, as a result of the significant return of capital to shareholders through the buy-back programme, the Company had 40.8 million shares in issue (30 June 2025: 44.4 million) and held 5.4 million shares in treasury (30 June 2025: 1.7 million). The Group continues the buy-back programme through the broker delegated authority and ad hoc incremental transactions. During the first half of 2026, 2.4 million shares were purchased for treasury at an average price of 553 pence per share, returning £13.5 million to shareholders. Subject to corporate activity, the Board anticipates capital allocation to the buy-back exceeding £20.0 million in 2026.

 

Summary

 

The first half of 2026 delivered another resilient performance for Science Group despite the challenges presented by external factors. Whilst the geopolitical environment remains volatile, the Board anticipates sequential period growth in the second half of the year, driven principally by the Services division.

 

Science Group retains a particularly strong balance sheet, enabling the Board to continue to evaluate corporate opportunities where the potential risk-adjusted returns justify the deployment of capital, while in parallel continuing to return capital to shareholders through the share buy-back programme.

 

 


 

Consolidated Income Statement

For the period ended 30 June 2026

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note

Six months

ended

30 June

2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December

2025

(Audited)

£000


 

 



Revenue

5

47,201

57,165

111,663

Direct operating expenses

 

(25,907)

(34,642)

(65,627)

Sales and marketing expenses

 

(3,833)

(3,813)

(7,952)

Administrative expenses

 

(9,030)

(10,680)

(21,203)

Net proceeds from disposal of corporate investment

 

-

24,038

24,051

 

Adjusted operating profit

 

11,466

11,286

23,065

Amortisation of acquisition related intangible assets

 

(2,043)

(2,059)

(4,084)

Net proceeds from disposal of corporate investment

 

-

24,038

24,051

Share-based payment charge

 

(992)

(1,197)

(2,100)

 

 

 



Operating profit

 

8,431

32,068

40,932


 

 



Finance income

 

356

926

2,034

Finance costs

 

(640)

(793)

(1,471)


 

 



Profit before income tax

 

8,147

32,201

41,495


 

 



Income tax charge (including R&D tax credit of £359,000

(H1 2025: £299,000))

 

6

 

(2,166)

 

(7,535)

 

(8,223)


 

 



Profit for the period

 

5,981

24,666

33,272



 




 

 




 

 



Earnings per share

 

 



Earnings per share (basic)

7

14.3p

55.3p

75.1p

Earnings per share (diluted)

7

14.0p

54.1p

73.6p

 


 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the period ended 30 June 2026

 



Six months

ended

30 June

2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December

2025

(Audited)

£000



 


 

Profit for the period attributable to:


 



Equity holders of the parent


5,981

24,666

33,272    

Profit for the period


5,981

24,666

33,272

 


 



Other comprehensive income/(expense) items

that may be reclassified to profit or loss:


 



Exchange differences on translating foreign operations


95

(798)

  (606)  

Fair value gain/(loss) on derivative financial instruments


213

(349)

(400)

Hedging instruments reclassed to profit or loss


(78)

(703)

(789)

Deferred tax (charge)/credit on hedging instruments


(34)

288

322

Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the period


196

(1,562)

(1,473)

 


 



Total comprehensive income for the period attributable to:


 



Equity holders of the parent


6,177

23,104

31,799

Total comprehensive income for the period


6,177

23,104

31,799



 





Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity (unaudited)

 

Group

 

 

Share

capital

 

£000

Share

premium

 

£000

Treasury

shares

 

£000

Merger

reserve

 

£000

Translation

reserve

 

£000

Cash flow hedge

reserve

£000

Retained

earnings

 

£000

Total

equity

 

£000

Balance at 1 January 2025

462

26,834

(6,424)

10,343

766

553

51,461

84,005

Purchase of own shares

-

-

(1,437)

-

-

-

-

(1,437)

Issue of shares out of treasury stock

-

-

81

-

-

-

(80)

1

Share-based payment charge

-

-

-

-

-

-

1,197

1,197

Deferred tax credit on share-based payment transactions

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

495

 

495

Transactions with owners

-

-

(1,356)

-

-

-

1,612

256

 







 

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

24,666

24,666

 








 

Other comprehensive income/(expense) items that may be reclassed to profit or loss:








 

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(798)

 

-

 

-

 

(798)

Fair value loss on derivative financial instruments*

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(349)

 

-

 

(349)

Hedging instruments recycled to profit or loss*

-

-

-

-

-

(703)

-

(703)

Deferred tax credit on derivative financial instruments*

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

288

 

-

 

288

Total comprehensive (expenses)/income for the period*

-

-

-

-

(798)

(764)

24,666

23,104

Balance at 30 June 2025

462

26,834

(7,780)

10,343

(22)

(211)

77,739

107,365

 

*Some of the 30 June 2025 Consolidated Statement of Changes in Shareholders' Equity disclosures have been aligned to be in accordance with the audited financial statements. These amendments are solely presentational in nature and the total reported balance as of 30 June 2025 remains unchanged.

 

 

Group

 

 

Share

capital

 

£000

Share

premium

 

£000

Treasury

shares

 

£000

Merger

reserve

 

£000

Translation

reserve

 

£000

Cash flow hedge reserve

£000

Retained

earnings

 

£000

Total

equity

 

£000

Balance at 1 July 2025

462

26,834

(7,780)

10,343

(22)

(211)

77,739

107,365

Purchase of own shares

-

-

(9,300)

-

-

-

-

(9,300)

Issue of shares out of treasury stock

-

-

1,529

-

-

-

(1,526)

3

Dividends paid

-

-

-

-

-

-

(3,564)

(3,564)

Share-based payment charge

-

-

-

-

-

-

903

903

Deferred tax charge on share-based payment transactions

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(786)

 

(786)

Transactions with owners

-

-

(7,771)

-

-

-

(4,973)

(12,744)

 

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

8,606

8,606

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

Other comprehensive income/(expense) items that may be reclassed to profit or loss:

 

 


 




 

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

192

 

-

 

-

 

192

Fair value loss on derivative financial instruments

-

-

-

-

-

(51)

-

(51)

Hedging instruments recycled to profit or loss

-

-

-

-

-

(86)

-

(86)

Deferred tax credit on derivative financial instruments

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

34

-

 

34

Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the period

-

-

-

-

192

(103)

8,606

8,695

Balance at 31 December 2025

462

26,834

(15,551)

10,343

170

(314)

81,372

103,316



Group

 

 

Share

capital

 

£000

Share

premium

 

£000

Treasury

shares

 

£000

Merger

reserve

 

£000

Translation

reserve

 

£000

Cash flow hedge

reserve

£000

Retained

earnings

 

£000

Total

equity

 

£000

Balance at 1 January 2026

462

26,834

(15,551)

10,343

170

(314)

81,372

103,316

Purchase of own shares

-

-

(13,478)

-

-

-

-

(13,478)

Issue of shares out of treasury stock

-

-

289

-

-

-

(288)

1

Dividends declared**

-

-

-

-

-

-

(4,098)

(4,098)

Share-based payment charge

-

-

-

-

-

-

992

992

Deferred tax credit on share-based payment transactions

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

486

 

486

Transactions with owners

-

-

(13,189)

-

-

-

(2,908)

(16,097)









 

Profit for the period

-

-

-

-

-

-

5,981

5,981

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income/(expense) items that may be reclassed to profit or loss:

 

 


 




 

Exchange differences on translating foreign operations

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

95

 

-

 

-

 

95

Fair value gain on derivative financial instruments

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

213

 

-

 

213

Hedging instruments recycled to profit or loss

-

-

-

-

-

(78)

-

(78)

Deferred tax charge on derivative financial instruments

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

-

 

(34)

 

-

 

(34)

Total comprehensive income for the period

-

-

-

-

95

101

5,981

6,177

Balance at 30 June 2026

462

26,834

(28,740)

10,343

265

(213)

84,445

93,396

 

**A dividend of 10 pence per share for 2025 was approved at the AGM on 20 May 2026. This dividend was paid in July 2026.

 


 

Consolidated Balance Sheet

At 30 June 2026

 



 

 

 

Note

At 30 June

2026

(Unaudited)

£000

At 30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

At 31 December

2025

(Audited)

£000

Assets


 

 



Non-current assets


 

 



Acquisition related intangible assets


 

15,278

19,106

17,302

Goodwill


 

18,617

18,471

18,544

Property, plant and equipment and right-of-use assets


 

23,100

24,273

23,600

Deferred tax assets


 

2,015

1,897

1,870



 

59,010

63,747

61,316

Current assets


 

 



Inventories


 

1,774

863

1,039

Trade and other receivables


 

19,059

19,471

24,247

Current tax assets


 

483

1,495

1,631

Derivative financial instruments


 

60

337

185

Cash and cash equivalents - Group cash


8

67,928

82,041

72,608

Cash and cash equivalents - Client funds


8

2,456

2,382

2,398



 

91,760

106,589

102,108

Total assets


 

150,770

170,336

163,424







Liabilities


 

 



Current liabilities


 

 



Trade and other payables


 

36,493

35,189

38,071

Current tax liabilities


 

127

5,333

341

Provisions


9

2,501

2,581

3,095

Borrowings


10

600

600

600

Lease liabilities


11

677

689

731



 

40,398

44,392

42,838

Non-current liabilities


 

 



Provisions


9

1,475

1,344

931

Borrowings


10

10,539

11,124

10,832

Lease liabilities


11

1,833

2,484

2,055

Derivative financial instruments


 

344

616

603

Deferred tax liabilities


 

2,785

3,011

2,849



 

16,976

18,579

17,270

Total liabilities


 

57,374

62,971

60,108



 

 



Net assets


 

93,396

107,365

103,316



 

 



Shareholders' equity


 

 



Share capital


 

462

462

462

Share premium


 

26,834

26,834

26,834

Treasury shares


 

(28,740)

(7,780)

(15,551)

Merger reserve


 

10,343

10,343

10,343

Translation reserve


 

265

(22)

170

Cash flow hedge reserve


 

(213)

(211)

(314)

Retained earnings


 

84,445

77,739

81,372

Total equity


 

93,396

107,365

103,316

 


 

 



 

 


Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the period ended 30 June 2026

 

 

Six months ended

30 June

2026

(Unaudited) £000

Six months

ended

30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December

2025

(Audited)

£000


 



Profit before income tax

8,147

32,201

41,495

Adjustments for:

 



Gain on corporate investment disposal*

-

(25,471)

(25,483)

Amortisation of acquisition related intangible assets

2,043

2,059

4,084

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

216

276

542

Depreciation of right-of-use assets

420

426

846

Bank charges on derivative financial instruments

-

-

135

Net interest charge/(income)

284

(133)

(563)

Share-based payment charge

992

1,197

2,100

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(713)

225

68

Decrease in receivables

5,177

8,443

3,756

Increase/(decrease) in payables representing client funds

31

(268)

(328)

(Decrease)/increase in payables excluding balances representing client funds 

(5,804)

589

3,361

Change in provisions

(53)

1,684

1,781

Cash generated from operations*

10,740

21,228

31,794


 



Interest paid

(597)

(660)

(1,296)

Proceeds from interest rate swaps*

-

612

612

UK corporation tax paid

(500)

(896)

(7,458)

Foreign corporation tax paid

(482)

(327)

(488)

Cash flows from operating activities*

9,161

19,957

23,164


 



Interest received

356

314

1,422

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

-

(33)

(33)

Purchase of intangible assets

-

-

(166)

Proceeds from sale of corporate investments*

-

58,164

58,176

Purchase of corporate investments and associated costs*

-

(32,693)

(32,693)

Cash flow used in investing activities*

356

25,752

26,706


 



Issue of shares out of treasury

1

-

4

Purchase of own shares

(13,478)

(1,437)

(10,737)

Dividends paid

-

-

(3,564)

Purchase of derivative financial instruments

-

-

(135)

Payment of bank loan arrangement fees

-

(415)

(415)

Net (repayment of)/proceeds from bank loans

(300)

50

(250)

Principal elements of lease payments

(412)

(487)

(888)

Cash flows used in financing activities*

(14,189)

(2,289)

(15,985)


 



(Decrease)/Increase in cash and cash equivalents in the period

(4,672)

43,420

33,885

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

75,006

41,451

41,451

Exchange gain/(loss) on cash

50

(448)

(330)

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period (Note 8)

70,384

84,423

75,006

 

*Some of the 30 June 2025 cash flow disclosures have been aligned to be in accordance with the audited financial statements.  These amendments are solely                 presentational in nature and the total reported cash flows as of 30 June 2025 remain unchanged.

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents is analysed as follows:

 

Six months

ended

30 June

2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December

2025

(Audited)

£000

Cash and cash equivalents - Group cash

67,928

82,041

72,608

Cash and cash equivalents - Client funds

2,456

2,382

2,398

 

70,384

84,423

75,006

 

 

 

Extracts from notes to the financial statements

 

1. General information

The financial information for the six months ended 30 June 2026 set out in this interim report is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The financial information included for the year ended 31 December 2025 has been extracted from the 2025 Financial Statements of Science Group plc. The Group's statutory financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The auditor's report on those financial statements was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 498(2) or Section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

 

These unaudited interim results have been approved for issue by the Board of Directors on 24 July 2026.

 

The Group and Company financial statements of Science Group plc for the year ended 31 December 2025 were prepared under the International Financial Reporting Standards ('IFRS') as adopted by the UK in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and have been audited by Grant Thornton UK LLP. Copies of the Financial Statements are available from the Company's registered office: Harston Mill, Royston Road, Harston, Cambridge, CB22 7GG and can be found on the Company's website at www.sciencegroup.com.

 

Science Group plc (the 'Company') and its subsidiaries (together 'Science Group' or 'Group') is an international Services and Systems company delivering innovation through the application of science, technology and engineering.

 

The Company is the ultimate parent company in which results of all the Science Group companies are consolidated.

 

The Company is incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006 and is listed on the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange (SAG).

 

Alternative performance measures

The Group uses alternative non-Generally Accepted Accounting Principles performance measures of 'adjusted operating profit', 'adjusted earnings per share' and 'net funds' which are not defined within IFRS. These are explained in the 2025 Financial Statements and the calculations are as follows:

 

(a) Adjusted operating profit

The calculation of this measure is shown on the Consolidated Income Statement.

 

(b) Adjusted earnings per share

The calculation of this measure is disclosed in Note 7.

 

(c) Net funds

This measure is calculated as follows:

 

At 30 June

2026

£000

At 30 June

2025

£000

At 31 December 2025

£000

Cash and cash equivalents - Group cash

67,928

82,041

72,608

Borrowings

(11,139)

(11,724)

(11,432)

Net funds

56,789

70,317

61,176

 

(d) Core revenue

This is defined as total reported revenue excluding low margin pass-through Defence revenue.  This measure allows for like-for-like comparison between periods in which there has been an active managed reduction of low margin pass-through Defence revenue (relevant for both Sagentia Defence and CMS2).

 

2. Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these interim financial statements are unchanged from those set out in the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2025. These policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented.

 

2.1 Basis of preparation

These interim consolidated financial statements are for the six months ended 30 June 2026. They have been prepared based on the measurement and recognition principles of IFRS as adopted by the UK in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and effective at the time of preparing these statements. The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for certain financial instruments and share-based payments which are measured at fair value.

 

Going concern

The Directors have considered the current Group cash balance of £67.9 million and assessed forecast future cash flows for the next 12 months. In addition, the Group has a Revolving Credit Facility ('RCF') with Lloyds Bank plc for £30.0 million until March 2030 (which remains undrawn to date). The Directors are satisfied that the Group has adequate cash and financial resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future, being a period of at least a year following the release of these unaudited interim results and therefore continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the interim financial statements.

 

3. Financial risk management

Financial risk factors

The Group's activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk (including currency risk and fair value interest risk), credit risk, liquidity risk and cash flow interest rate risk. The Group's overall financial risk management programme focuses on the unpredictability of financial markets and seeks to minimise potential adverse effects on the Group's financial performance. Science Group uses derivative financial instruments to hedge certain risk exposures.

 

4. Segmental information

 

The Services segment comprises 5 consultancy Practices under the Sagentia brand: Medical, Innovation, Regulatory, Defence and Aviation. The Systems segments comprise two Businesses: (a) Critical Maritime Systems & Support ('CMS2'), which designs, manufactures and supports submarine atmosphere systems for the defence sector; and (b) Frontier Smart Technologies ('Frontier') which designs and supplies radio and audio semi-conductors/modules.

 

The Group's segmental reporting shows the performance of the operating businesses separately from the value generated by the Group's significant freehold property assets and the corporate costs. Financial information is provided to the Chief Operating Decision Makers ('CODMs') in line with this structure: the Services segment; the two Systems Businesses (CMS2 and Frontier); the Freehold Properties and Corporate costs.

 

The Services Practices are aggregated into one Services Segment because the Practices provide similar consultancy services and share economic characteristics, including the timing of revenue recognition, the nature of performance obligations, and the nature of costs incurred in the provision of said performance obligations. The CODMs review this Segment as a whole. This aggregation does not impact the user's ability to understand the entity's performance, its prospects for future cash flows or the user's decisions about the entity as a whole as it is a fair representation of the performance of each service line.

 

Services segment revenue includes all consultancy fees plus recharged materials and expenses relating directly to the performance of the services. CMS2 revenue includes the design, manufacture and support of specialist systems for submarine atmosphere management, used in the UK and international naval defence markets. Frontier revenue includes sales of chips and modules which are incorporated into digital radios and audio systems. The Freehold Properties Segment includes the results for the two freehold properties owned by the Group. Income is derived from third party tenants from the Harston Mill site and from internal businesses which have been charged fees at an arm's length market rental rate for their utilised property space and associated costs. Corporate costs include PLC/Group costs.


 

 

Services

 

 

Six months ended

 30 June 2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Services revenue*

29,017

33,197

71,487

Revenue

29,017

33,197

71,487

Direct operating expenses

(15,632)

(18,378)

(38,208)

Sales and marketing expenses

(3,264)

(3,131)

(6,638)

Administrative expenses

(4,527)

(5,181)

(10,557)

Adjusted operating profit

6,951

7,926

18,769

Amortisation of acquisition related intangible assets

(643)

(615)

(1,231)

Share-based payment charge

(714)

(804)

(1,454)

Operating profit

5,594

6,507

16,084

 

*Other revenue for 6 months ended 30 June 2025 (previously disclosed separately) now included within Services revenue.

 

Systems - CMS2

 

 

Six months ended

 30 June 2026

 (Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

 ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Systems revenue - CMS2

11,095

16,590

26,396

Revenue

11,095

16,590

26,396

Direct operating expenses

(5,576)

(11,320)

(17,830)

Sales and marketing expenses

(15)

(57)

(30)

Administrative expenses

(1,727)

(2,132)

(3,987)

Adjusted operating profit

4,254

3,636

5,532

Amortisation of acquisition related intangible assets

(410)

(410)

(819)

Share-based payment charge

(67)

(145)

(164)

Operating profit

3,777

3,081

4,549

 

 

Systems - Frontier

 

 

Six months ended

 30 June 2026

 (Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

 ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Systems revenue - Frontier

6,790

7,088

13,193

Revenue

6,790

7,088

13,193

Direct operating expenses

(4,893)

(5,127)

(9,824)

Sales and marketing expenses

(521)

(534)

(1,139)

Administrative expenses

(1,482)

(1,669)

(3,350)

Adjusted operating profit

949

892

1,102

Amortisation of acquisition related intangible assets

 

(990)

 

(1,034)

 

(2,034)

Share-based payment charge

(65)

(100)

(188)

Operating loss

(106)

(242)

(1,120)

 

 


Freehold Properties

Six months ended

 30 June 2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Intra-Group property income

1,697

1,655

3,311

Third-party property income

299

290

587

Revenue

1,996

1,945

3,898

Direct operating expenses

(1,079)

(1,052)

(2,212)

Administrative expenses

(511)

(473)

(992)

Adjusted operating profit

444

458

769

Share-based payment charge

(38)

(38)

(75)

Operating profit

406

420

694

 

 



Corporate

Six months ended

 30 June 2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Direct operating expenses

(424)

(419)

(863)

Sales and marketing expenses

(33)

(61)

(115)

Administrative expenses

(783)

(1,256)

(2,348)

Net proceeds from disposal of corporate investment

-

24,038

24,051

Adjusted operating loss

(1,132)

(1,626)

(3,107)

Net proceeds from disposal of corporate investment

-

24,038

24,051

Share-based payment charge

(108)

(110)

(219)

Operating (loss)/profit

(1,240)

22,302

20,725

 

Group

 

 

 

Six months

ended

 30 June 2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Services revenue


29,017

33,197

71,487

Systems revenue - CMS2


11,095

16,590

26,396

Systems revenue - Frontier


6,790

7,088

13,193

Third-party property income


299

290

587

Revenue

 

47,201

57,165

111,663

Direct operating expenses


(25,907)

(34,642)

(65,627)

Sales and marketing expenses


(3,833)

(3,813)

(7,952)

Administrative expenses


(9,030)

(10,680)

(21,203)

Net proceeds from disposal of corporate investment


-

24,038

24,051

Adjusted operating profit

 

11,466

11,286

23,065

Amortisation of acquisition related intangible assets


(2,043)

(2,059)

(4,084)

Net proceeds from disposal of corporate investment


-

24,038

24,051

Share-based payment charge


(992)

(1,197)

(2,100)

Operating profit

 

8,431

32,068

40,932

Net finance (costs)/income


(284)

133

563

Profit before income tax

 

8,147

32,201

41,495

Income tax charge


(2,166)

(7,535)

(8,223)

Profit for the period

 

5,981

24,666

33,272

In the Freehold Properties Segment, income includes £1.7 million (H1 2025: £1.7 million) generated from intra-Group recharges. The corresponding costs are included within the operating Segments and are eliminated on consolidation.

 

5. Revenue

In the following tables, revenue is disaggregated by geographical market and by the currency in which the contract is denominated.

 

For the period ended 30 June (Unaudited)

Geographical market

 

UK

 

£000

Europe (excl. UK)

£000

North America

£000

Asia

 

£000

Other

 

£000

Total

 

£000

2026

 

19,077

5,882

11,938

9,905

399

47,201

2025


29,484

5,091

9,053

12,791

746

57,165

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Currency

 

 

 

USD

£000

EUR

£000

GBP

£000

Total

£000

2026

 

 

 

16,899

1,442

28,860

47,201

2025




14,526

1,079

41,560

57,165









      

6. Income tax

The income tax charge for the period ended 30 June 2026 is charged at the effective tax rate calculated for the period using reasonable estimates and incorporating both current and deferred taxation:

 

Six months

ended

30 June 2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Profit before tax

8,147

32,201

41,495

Current taxation

(2,255)

(7,068)

(9,252)

Current taxation - adjustment in respect of prior years

 

(29)

 

(61)

 

76

Deferred taxation

(241)

(705)

170

Deferred taxation - adjustment in respect of prior years

 

-

 

-

 

52

R&D tax credit

359

299

731

Tax charge

(2,166)

(7,535)

(8,223)

Effective tax rate

26.6%

23.4%

19.8%


 



The Group claims Research and Development tax credits under the Research and Development ('R&D') Expenditure Credit scheme.

7. Earnings per share

The calculation of earnings per share is based on the following results and number of shares:

 

Six months

ended

30 June 2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Profit for the financial period

5,981

24,666

33,272

 

Weighted average number of shares:

 



For basic earnings per share

41,869,218

44,625,973

44,314,909

For diluted earnings per share

42,793,751

45,633,222

45,234,640

 

Earnings per share:

 

Pence

 

Pence

 

Pence

Basic earnings per share

14.3

55.3

75.1

Diluted earnings per share

14.0

54.1

73.6

 

The calculation of adjusted earnings per share is as follows:

 

Six months

ended

30 June 2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Adjusted* profit after tax for the period

8,543

8,593

17,816

 

Weighted average number of shares:

 



For basic earnings per share

41,869,218

44,625,973

44,314,909

For diluted earnings per share

42,793,751

45,633,222

45,234,640

 

Adjusted earnings per share:

 

Pence

 

Pence

 

Pence

Basic earnings per share

20.4

19.3

40.2

Diluted earnings per share

20.0

18.8

39.4

 

*Calculation of adjusted profit after tax:

 

Six months

ended

30 June 2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June 2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year

ended

31 December 2025

(Audited)

£000

Adjusted operating profit

11,466

11,286

23,065

Finance income

356

926

2,034

Finance costs

(640)

(793)

(1,471)

Adjusted profit before tax

11,182

11,419

23,628

Tax charge at the blended corporation tax rate of 23.6% (H1 2025: 24.7%)

 

(2,639)

 

(2,826)

 

(5,812)

Adjusted profit after tax

8,543

8,593

17,816

 

 

 

8. Cash and cash equivalents

 

Six months

ended

30 June

2026

(Unaudited)

£000

Six months

ended

30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

Year ended

31

December

2025

(Audited)

£000

Cash and cash equivalents - Group cash

67,928

82,041

72,608

Cash and cash equivalents - Client funds

2,456

2,382

2,398

 

70,384

84,423

75,006

 

The Group receives cash from clients, primarily in North America, which are pass-through funds solely for the purpose of payment of registration fees to regulatory bodies. This cash is separately identified for reporting purposes and is unrestricted.

 

 

9. Provisions

(Unaudited)

Dilapid

-ations

 

£000

Legal

 

 

£000

NIC on share options

£000

Other

 

 

£000

Total

 

 

£000

At 1 January 2025

682

172

1,118

288

2,260

Increase in provision

-

-

457

1,278

1,735

Utilisation of provision

-

(2)

-

-

(2)

Provision reversed during the period

-

(50)

-

-

(50)

Movement due to foreign exchange

(8)

(6)

(4)

-

(18)

At 30 June 2025

674

114

1,571

1,566

3,925

Increase in provision

4

160

303

75

542

Utilisation of provision

-

-

-

(39)

(39)

Provision reversed during the period

(45)

(15)

(219)

(127)

(406)

Movement due to foreign exchange

2

1

1

-

4

At 31 December 2025

635

260

1,656

1,475

4,026

Increase in provision

-

-

191

-

191

Utilisation of provision

-

(64)

-

-

(64)

Provision reversed during the period

-

(98)

(38)

(43)

(179)

Movement due to foreign exchange

2

-

-

-

2

At 30 June 2026

637

98

1,809

1,432

3,976







 

 

At 30 June

2026

(Unaudited)

£000

At 30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

At 31 December

2025

(Audited)

£000

Current provision liabilities

2,501

2,581

3,095

Non-current provision liabilities

1,475

1,344

931


3,976

3,925

4,026

 

The NIC on share options provision is for the employer's NIC liability on share options (or proportion of options) that have vested. As employees are contractually responsible for the employer's NIC on any share options exercised and are required to remit this sum to the Company prior to the share options being exercised, a corresponding asset is recognised in current assets.

 

Other provisions include a settlement balance where the Group is currently engaged in commercial discussions with a customer in relation to a contractual matter. While the discussions remain ongoing and the matter is commercially sensitive, the Group has assessed that it has a present obligation arising from past events. Based on management's best estimate of the potential outflow, a provision of £1.3 million continues to be recognised at the reporting date. The timing and final amount of any settlement remains uncertain, and the associated risks have been taken into account in determining the value of the provision. No further information has been disclosed as it is considered that doing so would prejudice the Group's position in the continuing discussions.

 

10. Borrowings

 

At 30 June

2026

(Unaudited)

£000

At 30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

At 31 December

2025

(Audited)

£000

Current bank borrowings

600

600

600

Non-current bank borrowings

10,539

11,124

10,832


11,139

11,724

11,432


 



There are two Term Loans for a combined initial value of £12.0 million, each for 10 years expiring in March 2035. Each loan is secured solely and individually against the Group's freehold properties: one loan to the property in Harston, near Cambridge, and a second, independent loan to the property in Epsom, Surrey. In addition, there is a RCF for £30.0 million, for a period of 5 years expiring in March 2030. The RCF remains undrawn to date.

 

11. Lease liabilities

 

At 30 June

2026

(Unaudited)

£000

At 30 June

2025

(Unaudited)

£000

At 31 December

2025

(Audited)

£000

Current lease liabilities

677

689

731

Non-current lease liabilities

1,833

2,484

2,055


2,510

3,173

2,786

 

Lease liabilities arise on properties leased by the Group. The leases have remaining periods of between 1 and 7 years from the balance sheet date.

 

12. Related party transactions

The Group provides support and services to its subsidiaries. Any intra-Group lending, via loans or trading transactions, is eliminated on consolidation, and therefore not disclosed.

 

13. Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In preparing these interim financial statements, management has made judgements and estimates that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expense. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

 

The significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the same as those described in the last annual financial statements.

 

14. Subsequent events

There are no post balance sheet events to disclose.

 

 

Disclaimer Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These have been made by the Board in good faith based on the information available to them and it is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable. However, due to the inherent uncertainties, including both economic and other risk factors underlying such forward-looking information, the Directors can give no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied, and investors should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast, or a guide as to the performance, financial or otherwise of the Company whether in the current or any future financial year.

 

No representation or warranty is made as to the achievement or reasonableness of, and no reliance should be placed on such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this announcement speak only as of the date of this announcement. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any information contained in this announcement, except as may be required by applicable law or regulation.

 

The Board, officers, members, employees, agents or advisers of the Company expressly disclaim any liability for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage (including, without limitation, loss of profit) suffered by any person as a result of any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates, revisions or corrections to any forward looking statements or other information contained in the announcement, including to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto, any new information or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statements are based, unless required to do so by law or any appropriate regulatory authority.

 

 

- Ends -

 

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