Surface Transforms PLC Trading Update (2460R)

TIDMSCE

RNS Number : 2460R

Surface Transforms PLC

08 December 2016

Surface Transforms Plc

("Surface Transforms" or the "Company")

Trading and Operations Update

Surface Transforms (AIM: SCE) provides the following trading update for the six months to 30 November 2016.

Revenue for the period was GBP327k (2015: GBP782k) and whilst less than the corresponding period last year, is in line with management expectations and guidance provided in the Outlook section of the Company's 2015-16 financial statements.

The overall sales comparison masks significant changes in underlying mix. Sales to near OEM customers increased by GBP67k to GBP163k (2015: GBP96k), whereas sales to retrofit customers fell by GBP46k to GBP164k (2015: GBP210k) partially reflecting a one off sales catch up last year in H1 2015 following a previous furnace break down. However the biggest change was the absence of any sales into the race car customer in the six months to November 2016 (2015: GBP337k). There were also no aerospace development revenues in this half-year (2015: GBP111k), as the Company's military aircraft development activity has now concluded, in anticipation of series production from early 2018.

Whilst the Company expects full year sales and gross margin percentages will be broadly similar to prior year, increased overheads reflecting additional costs of the new larger site, and R & D costs are expected to mean that losses will be higher than the prior year, but within the range of broker expectations.

Cash at 30 November 2016 was GBP2,660k (2015: GBP523k) but this did not include the GBP338k R&D tax credit, receipt of which is expected in the next few weeks.

The Company expects to report its interim results for the six months ended 30 November in February 2017.

Knowsley Facility

The Company's move to its new Knowsley factory remains on track for completion by February 2017. Orders have been placed and deposits paid for substantially all new capital equipment for the factory expansion, with delivery expected in 2017.

Progress with Potential OEM Customers

The Company continues to make progress with potential OEM customers in line with management expectations and anticipate meeting German OEM 3's environmental and testing requirements in the first six months of 2017. In addition, the Company expects to be VDA 6.3 - the German automotive industry standard which focuses on manufacturing processes - compliant over the same period

The information communicated in this announcement is inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of Regulation 596/2014

Enquiries:

Surface Transforms plc.

Kevin Johnson, CEO [phone]

David Bundred, Chairman

Cantor Fitzgerald Europe (Nomad & Joint Broker)

   David Foreman, Michael Reynolds (Corporate Finance)                                [phone] 

David Banks, Alex Pollen (Sales)

finnCap Ltd (Joint Broker)

   Stephen Norcross, Camille Gochez (Corporate Broking)                               [phone] 

Ed Frisby Giles Rolls (Corporate Finance)

For further Company details, visit www.surfacetransforms.com.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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December 08, 2016 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)