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Interim Results

RNS Number : 6319C

Arcontech Group PLC

24 February 2022

ARCONTECH GROUP PLC

("Arcontech" or the "Group")

INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2021

Arcontech (AIM: ARC), the provider of products and services for real-time financial market data processing and trading, reports its unaudited results for the six months ended 31 December 2021.

Overview:

· Turnover decreased by 3.9% to £1,451,298 (H1 2020: £1,542,816) due to the challenging trading environment

· Profit before tax decreased by 15.3% to £428,924 (H1 2020: £506,237) reflecting higher investment in sales and lower exceptional profit

· Our preferred measure of profit before tax which excludes the release of accruals unrelated to the underlying business declined by 8.2% to £424,425 (H1 2020: £462,238)

· Recurring revenues represented 98% of total revenues for the period (H1 2020: 97%).

· Net cash of £5,620,352 at 31 December 2021, up 12.5% (H1 2020: £4,997,822)

· Profit before tax for the year to 30 June 2022 is expected to be in line with revised market expectations

Geoff Wicks, Chairman of Arcontech, said:

"The Board is confident that we remain well placed to return to growth as the market returns to pre-pandemic normality. Our desktop products and our server-side business are well embedded in our customer base, our business remains robust with good profitability and we believe the work our sales team is doing will produce future growth."

Enquiries:

Arcontech Group plc	020 7256 2300
Geoff Wicks, Chairman and Non-Executive Director
Matthew Jeffs, Chief Executive

finnCap Ltd (Nomad & Broker)	020 7220 0500
Carl Holmes/Tim Harper

To access more information on the Group please visit: www.arcontech.com

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation (EU) 596/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("MAR"), and is disclosed in accordance with the company's obligations under Article 17 of MAR

The interim report will only be available to view online enabling the Group to communicate in a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner.

Chairman's Statement

Although the pandemic which has overshadowed our performance for nearly two years remains a significant drag on our short-term growth we continue to have a robust and profitable business with a high proportion of recurring revenue (98%) and a strong balance sheet. As reported in November 2021, we lost two contracts where customers were reducing their spend, which will impact our financial performance both in this and the next financial year.

We retain a very impressive customer list and continue to build a strong list of potential new customers. However, the market remains challenging with few of our customers growing or making changes in areas of their businesses that we serve. Our investment in building our sales team will continue as we believe that there is strong pent-up demand which will be available to us once markets return to normal, allowing for face-face sales activities.

Revenue was £1.48 million, down 3.9% from £1.54 million in the comparative six month period, reported profit before tax ("PBT") was £0.43 million, 15.6% lower than the same period last year reflecting the loss of revenue, our continuing investment in sales capability and lower exceptional profit. Our preferred measure of PBT, adjusted to exclude the release of accruals for administrative costs in respect of prior years was down 8.2% to £0.42 million. These costs are not related to the underlying business and amounted to £4,500 (H1 2020: £44,000).

Financing

Our balance sheet remains very robust with net cash of £5.6 million, £0.6 million higher than at 31 December 2020, and £0.2 million higher than the level at 30 June 2021 providing resources for continued investment in sales and products and a small complementary acquisition.

Dividend

No interim dividend is proposed to be paid in respect of the half year (2020: nil). The Board expects to continue its policy of paying a dividend following the announcement of its full year results.

Outlook

We believe our strategy to support our existing customers to maximise opportunities while building our sales capability to grow our customer base globally remains the right way to proceed. Our desktop products and our server-side business are well embedded in our customer base and we expect growth as their businesses return to pre-pandemic normality.

Geoff Wicks

Chairman and Non-Executive Director

GROUP INCOME STATEMENT AND STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

	Note	Six months ended 31 December	Six months ended 31 December	Year ended 30 June
		2021	2020	2021
		(unaudited) £	(unaudited) £	(audited) £

Revenue		1,452,498	1,542,816	2,988,842

Administrative costs		(1,021,879)	(1,034,043)	(1,945,481)

Operating profit	4	430,619	508,773	1,043,361

Finance income		6,521	8,442	13,260

Finance costs		(8,216)	(10,978)	(20,307)

Profit before taxation		428,924	506,237	1,036,314

Taxation	6	-	-	10,796

Profit for the period after tax		428,924	506,237	1,047,110

Total comprehensive income		428,924	506,237	1,047,110

Profit per share (basic)		3.21p	3.82p	7.88p

Adjusted* Profit per share (basic)		3.18p	3.49p	7.22p

Profit per share (diluted)		3.20p	3.76p	7.79p

Adjusted* Profit per share (diluted)		3.16p	3.43p	7.14p

All of the results relate to continuing operations and there was no other comprehensive income in the period.

* Before release of accruals for administrative costs in respect of prior years.

GROUP BALANCE SHEET

	Note	31 December 2021	31 December 2020	30 June 2021
		(unaudited) £	(unaudited) £	(audited) £
Non-current assets
Goodwill		1,715,153	1,715,153	1,715,153
Property, plant and equipment		7,489	15,697	11,147
Right of use asset	10	292,606	438,908	365,758
Deferred tax asset		471,000	452,000	471,000
Trade and other receivables		141,750	141,750	141,750

Total non-current assets		2,627,998	2,763,508	2,704,809

Current assets
Trade and other receivables		322,885	759,655	470,317
Cash and cash equivalents		5,620,352	4,997,822	5,395,457

Total current assets		5,943,237	5,757,477	5,865,774

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables		(553,435)	(643,512)	(554,101)
Deferred income		(1,017,829)	(1,483,908)	(1,089,306)
Lease liabilities	10	(151,948)	(162,000)	(148,450)

Total current liabilities		(1,723,212)	(2,289,420)	(1,791,857)

Non-current liabilities
Lease liabilities	10	(118,994)	(253,974)	(195,853)

Total non-current liabilities		(118,994)	(253,974)	(195,853)

Net current assets		4,220,025	3,468,057	4,073,917

Net assets		6,729,029	5,977,591	6,582,873

Equity
Share capital		1,671,601	1,661,314	1,651,314
Share premium account		115,760	65,381	92,360
Shares to be issued		-	31,642	-
Share option reserve		290,713	206,797	271,207
Retained earnings		4,650,955	4,012,457	4,553,329

		6,729,029	5,977,591	6,582,873

GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT

	Note	Six months ended 31 December	Six months ended 31 December	Year ended 30 June
		2021	2020	2021
		(unaudited) £	(unaudited) £	(audited) £
Cash generated from operating activities	9	630,439	336,866	809,559

Tax recovered	6	-	-	(8,204)

Net cash generated from operating activities		630,439	336,866	801,355

Investing activities

Interest received		6,521	8,442	13,260
Purchases of plant and equipment		(527)	(1,482)	(1,482)

Net cash generated from investing activities		5,994	6,960	11,778

Financing activities

Proceeds from the exercise of options		29,024	50,642	50,642

Dividends paid		(367,202)	(333,594)	(333,594)

Payment of lease liabilities		(73,360)	(70,021)	(141,693)

Net cash used in financing activities		(411,538)	(352,973)	(424,645)
Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents		224,895	(9,147)	388,488

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period		5,395,457	5,006,969	5,006,969

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period		5,620,352	4,997,822	5,395,457

GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

	Share capital	Share premium	Shares to be issued	Share-based payments reserve	Retained earnings	Total
	£	£	£	£	£	£
At 1 July 2020	1,651,314	56,381	-	188,639	3,806,514	5,702,848
Profit for the period	-	-	-	-	506,237	506,237
Total comprehensive income for the period	-	-	-	-	506,237	506,237
Exercise of options	10,000	9,000	31,642	-	-	50,642
Transfer between reserves	-	-	-	(33,300)	33,300	-
Dividends paid	-	-	-	-	(333,594)	(333,594)
Share-based payments	-	-	-	51,458	-	51,458
Total transactions with owners	10,000	9,000	31,642	18,158	(300,294)	(231,494)
At 31 December 2020	1,661,314	65,381	31,642^{^[1]}	206,797	4,012,457	5,977,591
Profit for the period	-	-	-	-	540,872	540,872
Total comprehensive income for the period	-	-	-	-	540,872	540,872
Exercise of options	4,663	26,979	(31,642)	-	-	-
Share-based payments	-	-	-	64,410	-	64,410
Total transactions with owners	4,663	26,979	(31,642)	64,410	-	64,410
At 30 June 2021	1,665,977	92,360	-	271,207	4,553,329	6,582,873
Profit for the period	-	-	-	-	428,924	428,924
Total comprehensive income for the period	-	-	-	-	428,924	428,924
Exercise of options	5,624	23,400	-	-	-	29,024
Transfer between reserves	-	-	-	(35,904)	35,904	-
Dividends paid	-	-	-	-	(367,202)	(367,202)
Share-based payments	-	-	-	55,410	-	55,410
Total transactions with owners	5,624	23,400		19,506	(331,298)	(282,768)
At 31 December 2021	1,671,601	115,760	-	290,713	4,650,955	6,729,029

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION

1. The figures for the six months ended 31 December 2021 and 31 December 2020 are unaudited and do not constitute statutory accounts. The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those applied by the Group in the preparation of the annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2021. The Group has not early adopted any standard, interpretation or amendment that has been issued but is not yet effective. Several amendments and interpretations apply for the first time in 2021, but these do not have a material impact on the interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Group.

2. The financial information for the year ended 30 June 2021 set out in this interim report does not comprise the Group's statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 June 2021, which were prepared under international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either Section 498(2) or Section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006 and did not include references to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis.

3. Copies of this statement are available from the Company Secretary at the Company's registered office at 1^st Floor 11-21 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4JU or from the Company's website at www.arcontech.com.

4. Operating profit is stated after release of accruals for administrative expenses in respect of prior years of £4,500 (31 December 2020: £44,000; 30 June 2021: £88,000).

5. Earnings per share have been calculated based on the profit after tax and the weighted average number of shares in issue during the half year ended 31 December 2021 of 13,355,719 (31 December 2020: 13,259,206; 30 June 2021: 13,290,672).

The number of dilutive shares under option at 31 December 2021 was 62,727 (31 December 2020: 214,217; 30 June 2021: 143,168). The calculation of diluted earnings per share assumes conversion of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares, all of which arise from share options. A calculation is done to determine the number of shares that could have been acquired at the average market price during the period, based upon the issue price of the outstanding share options including future charges to be recognised under the share-based payment arrangements.

6. Taxation is based on the unaudited results and provision has been estimated at the rate applicable to the Company at the time of this statement and expected to be applied to the total annual earnings. No corporation tax has been charged in the period as any liability has been offset against tax losses brought forward from prior years. The tax credit represents the cash recovery of Research & Development tax credits.

7. A final dividend in respect of the year ended 30 June 2021 of 2.75 pence per share (2020: 2.50 pence per share) was paid on 8 October 2021.

8. The Directors have elected not to apply IAS 34 Interim financial reporting.

9. Cash generated from operations

	Six months ended 31 December	Six months ended 31 December	Year ended 30 June
	2021	2020	2021
	(unaudited) £	(unaudited) £	(audited) £

Operating profit	430,619	508,773	1,043,361

Depreciation charge	77,337	78,254	155,954

Non-cash share option charges	55,410	51,457	115,867

Lease interest paid	(8,216)	(10,978)	(20,307)
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables	147,432	(567,023)	(277,686)

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables	(72,143)	276,383	(207,630)


Cash generated from operations	630,439	336,866	809,559

10. Leases

As a lessee, under IFRS 16 the Group recognises right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases on its balance sheet. The only lease applicable under IFRS 16 is the Group's office.

The key impacts on the Statement of Comprehensive Income and the Statement of Financial Position are as follows:

	Right of use asset £	Prepayments £	Lease liability £	Income statement £
As at 1 July 2021	365,758	-	(344,303)	-

Depreciation	(73,152)	-	-	(73,152)
Interest	-	-	(7,640)	(7,640)
Lease payments	-	-	81,000	-


Carrying value at 31 December 2021	292,606	-	(270,943)	(80,792)

	Right of use asset £	Prepayments £	Lease liability £	Income statement £
As at 1 July 2020	512,061	-	(485,996)	-

Depreciation	(73,153)	-	-	(73,153)
Interest	-	-	(10,978)	(10,978)
Lease payments	-	-	81,000	-


Carrying value at 31 December 2020	438,908	-	(415,974)	(84,131)

[1] At 31 December 2020 £31,642 had been received from an optionholder as subscription funds to acquire 37,301 Ordinary Shares in the Company. The shares were issued post reporting date on 25 January 2021.

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