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FUL Beewize spa

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Replacement: Interim Results

07/05/2003 10:17am

UK Regulatory


RNS Number:7775K
Fulcrum Pharma PLC
07 May 2003


The following replaces the Interim Results announcement released 7 May 2003 at
0700 under RNS No 7648K.


Bullet point four on the Highlights page should read "Group loss before
exceptionals #313,000 (2002: #422,000 profit)" and not "Group loss after
exceptionals #313,000 (2002: #422,000 profit)" as previously stated.


The full amended text is below:



For Immediate Release                                      Wednesday, 7 May 2003



                               Fulcrum Pharma plc

             Interim Results for the six months to 28 February 2003


Fulcrum Pharma PLC (LSE: FUL), the independent drug development company, today
announces its interim audited results for the six months ended 28 February 2003.


Following the recent rise in the Group's share price and, in order to ensure
that the Market remains informed, Fulcrum has decided, on the advice of its
brokers, to bring forward the announcement of its interim results from 15 May to
today, Wednesday, 7 May 2003.


Highlights:

*        EU sales remain flat


*        US office fully established and operational


*        Japanese businesses on track:

o       new contracts won

o       specialist oncology contract research organisation set up


*        Group loss before exceptionals #313,000 (2002: #422,000 profit)


*        Strong cash position : #4.7 million


*        Dividend maintained at 0.2 pence per share


*        Management Strengthened:  Dr Michael Carter to join the Board as Non
         Executive Director


Commenting on the results Chairman, Prof. Sir Charles George said:


"With the global economy remaining volatile, the importance of Fulcrum's
balanced global strategy is clear. While our sales in the EU have been lower
than expected, our US and Japanese businesses have performed in line with
internal expectations and remain well placed to provide revenue streams in
coming years.



"Your Board is confident that Fulcrum is positioned to grow in the future
outsourcing market as clients and investors recognise the value of strategic
outsourcing rather than burning cash on building their own development
infrastructure."

For further information, please contact :

Fulcrum Pharma PLC                                            Tel: 0870 710 7152
Jon Court, Chief Executive

Buchanan Communications                                       Tel: 07956 597 099
Nicola How / Louise Bolton                                   Tel:  0207 466 5000

                               FULCRUM PHARMA PLC

           Interim Results for the six months ended 28 February 2003


                 REPORT OF CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER


INTRODUCTION


I am pleased to announce the Interim results for the six months to 28 February
2003.  The period under review continues to see the global pharmaceutical market
operating under increasingly difficult economic conditions. In Europe, Fulcrum's
customers have been slower to commit to new contracts for outsourced work.
Furthermore, the difficult financing environment in the biotech sector has
forced some companies to conserve cash and reduce the quantity of work
outsourced. These conditions have impacted our sales, particularly in the EU,
where changes in client strategy have resulted in the termination of two
significant contracts. As a result Fulcrum has experienced its first loss.
However, in light of the change in market conditions, the Management team has
been realigning its EU selling strategy with the consequence that a high number
of new clients have been won recently.


The Company continues to roll out its plans for the US and Japan.  In both areas
we are experiencing better trading conditions for Fulcrum's services and this is
creating new selling opportunities through marketing Preferred Supplier
Arrangements ("PSA"). Progress in these areas is described in the operational
report below.


FINANCIAL REVIEW


The results for the six months ended 28 February 2003 show a loss before tax and
exceptional items of #313,000 (2002: profit of #422,000). During the period
Fulcrum has established its US subsidiary and completed the restructuring of the
Japanese business into subsidiaries. These activities have incurred anticipated
exceptional costs of #390,000.


The US and Japanese results were in line with expectations. It has been the
lower than expected sales in the EU, combined with the costs of Fulcrum's growth
plans, which have resulted in the loss before tax and exceptional items of
#313,000. The loss is stated after an exchange loss of #42,000 (2002: exchange
gain of #50,000) and non-recurring costs of #275,000 have been incurred. The
latter costs are related to recruitment, business development and office
relocation.


Fulcrum's cash position remains strong at #4.7 million.


DIVIDEND

The dividend has been maintained at 0.2 pence per share reflecting your
Directors' confidence in Group's future.



OPERATIONAL REVIEW



Last year I described our plan for expansion across Europe, US and Japan.  These
plans were designed to put in place the capabilities and resources critical to
the long-term prospects of the Company.  I am pleased to report that Fulcrum has
made good progress in all three areas in the implementation of this plan.  The
solid building blocks now in place will be key to addressing the sales
performance in the first half of the year and building for the future.



A summary of this plan and how we have progressed since our preliminary
statement is outlined below:



*          Scale up of the UK/European operation: Fulcrum has been successful in
attracting talented and experienced drug developers to the Company. Therapeutic
area expertise, project management resources and capabilities in the management
of outsourcing have all been strengthened. These skill sets are critical to
selling the business model to our clients. Despite the difficult trading
conditions there has been a good conversion on small bids and new customers have
been won. We are working to extend these new relationships into longer term
contracts.



*          Globalisation to meet the needs of our clients: We have used our
global resources to develop new business and serve existing clients in EU, US
and Japan.



US:  I am pleased to report that our US office under the leadership of Dr Bruce
McCreedy now has a high quality team of drug developers in place and has won
contracts from new clients within its first half year of operation. The first US
office has been established in North Carolina where Fulcrum can access new
clients, the suppliers required to execute its business model and an excellent
pool of talent for future recruitment. Since the US market represents more than
half of the global R&D spend this is an important development for Fulcrum.



Japan:  We are delighted that we have been able to recruit Mr Fujimaru (formerly
a senior executive and Board member of EPS, one of Japan's leading service
providers) to lead Niphix KK. Niphix is Fulcrum's newly created, specialist
oncology Contract Research Organisation ("CRO").  It is our aim that Niphix will
provide oncology services to the Pharma community which, in Japan, is an area
still poorly served.   Fulcrum's CRO has already gained its first contract and
with Mr Fujimaru's recent experience of setting up and running a successful
service company in Japan we have every confidence in this being the first of
many client wins.  Niphix is an important piece of Fulcrum's mid to long term
strategy to create shareholder value.



Our first Japanese company, Fulcrum Pharma KK continues to provide project
design and management services to Japanese and European clients and retains its
reputation as a supplier of specialist oncology drug development services.



*        Development of Partnership or Preferred Supplier Arrangements ("PSA"):
Fulcrum continues to use the PSA concept as an effective selling tool for its
core development services. The PSA concept is where Fulcrum makes an equity or
other capital investment into a client company in return for preferred supplier
status to manage the development of a number of client products. As reported
last year, while this has been useful to access clients it has been difficult to
implement due to the volatility in the Biotech and Pharma industries. Management
has therefore taken steps to optimise the conditions for success and are
incubating a PSA venture within Fulcrum and this could ultimately provide a
portfolio of contracts for Fulcrum's core business. It is intended to spin out
this venture within 12 months and a team of senior executives has been
recruited. Some of the #3,250,000 funds raised last year are being invested to
develop this PSA. This is another example of Fulcrum diversifying within its
market to create value downstream for our investors.



*        Strategic Services: These have been further developed in order to
provide new products in Chemistry Manufacturing & Controls (CMC) and preclinical
development. These products have been used to increase access to new and
existing clients and facilitate cross-selling. For example, contracts are being
won in Japan, which utilise our technical and CMC expertise and resources in our
EU and US Offices.


STRENGTHENING THE BOARD


I am delighted that Dr Michael Carter has agreed to join our Board. Dr Carter
brings important industry and City experience.  He has gained these skill sets
from a range of directorship roles in start up Pharma companies in Europe and
the US, a venture partner role with Schroder Ventures Life Sciences and through
commercial roles in big Pharma.


PROSPECTS


The current trading conditions, which have impacted sales in the first half,
will have a knock on effect in the second half of the year. We expect sales to
improve in the future and I look forward to reporting a positive outcome for the
full year - however this will be significantly below current market
expectations.



With the global economy remaining volatile, the importance of Fulcrum's balanced
global strategy is clear. While our sales in the EU have been lower than
expected, our US and Japanese businesses are performing in line with internal
expectations and remain well placed to provide revenue streams in coming years.
Your Board is confident that Fulcrum remains well positioned to grow in the
future outsourcing market as clients and investors recognise the value of
strategic outsourcing rather than burning cash on building their own development
infrastructure. Further, the incubation of a Preferred Supplier Arrangement
within Fulcrum has the potential to provide upside to our sales and further
mitigate the risks associated with the current market.


FULCRUM PHARMA PLC

Consolidated profit and loss account
for the period ended 28 February 2003


                                                                    Six months          Six months             Year
                                                                         ended               ended            ended
                                                                   28 February         28 February        31 August
                                                                          2003                2002             2002
                                                                     Unaudited           Unaudited          Audited
                                                  Notes                  #'000               #'000            #'000


Turnover                                                                 2,498               2,983            5,742
Cost of sales                                                          (1,988)             (2,064)          (3,808)
Exceptional cost of sales related to new
subsidiaries                                        2a                   (225)                   -                -
Exceptional credit                                  2b                       -                   -              554
Total cost of sales                                                    (2,213)             (2,064)          (3,254)
                                                                    __________              ______         ________
Gross Profit                                                               285                 919            2,488

Selling expenses                                                         (228)               (127)            (275)
Exceptional selling expenses                                                 -                   -              185
Total selling expenses                                                   (228)               (127)             (90)

Administrative expenses                                                  (658)               (398)            (817)
Exceptional administrative expenses
related to new subsidiaries                         2a                   (165)                   -            (181)
Exceptional credit                                  2b                       -                   -              196
Total administrative expenses                                            (823)               (398)            (802)
                                                                    __________              ______         ________
Operating (loss)/profit                                                  (766)                 394            1,596

Interest receivable & similar income                                        63                  28               75
                                                                    __________              ______         ________
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before
taxation                                                                 (703)                 422            1,671
Tax on (loss)/profit on ordinary activities         3                      168               (139)            (231)
                                                                    __________              ______         ________
(Loss)/profit attributable to shareholders                               (535)                 283            1,440

Proposed dividend                                   4                    (244)               (123)            (123)
                                                                    __________              ______         ________
Retained (loss)/profit for the period                                    (779)                 160            1,317
                                                                    __________              ______         ________

Earnings per share (pence)
Basic                                               5                  (0.44p)               0.46p            1.44p
Adjusted basic                                      5                  (0.19p)                   -            0.63p


Adjusted earnings per share exclude the effect of the exceptional items.


All items included in the Profit and Loss accounts relate to continuing
operations.   There were no recognised gains or losses other than the profit for
the period.



FULCRUM PHARMA PLC


Consolidated Balance Sheet
As at 28 February 2003

                                                                   28 February         28 February        31 August
                                                                          2003                2002             2002
                                                                     Unaudited           Unaudited          Audited
                                                                         #'000               #'000            #'000

Fixed assets
Tangible assets                                                            405                  35               24
Investments                                                                 53                   -               53
                                                                        ______              ______           ______
                                                                           458                  35               77

Current assets
Debtors                                                                  1,766               1,732            1,982
Short term investments                                                   3,781                   -            4,520
Cash at bank and in hand                                                   948               2,624              582
                                                                         _____               _____            _____
                                                                         6,495               4,356            7,084

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year                         (1,810)             (1,796)          (1,249)
                                                                         _____               _____            _____
Net current assets                                                       4,685               2,560            5,835
                                                                         _____               _____            _____
Total assets less current liabilities                                    5,143               2,595            5,912
Provision for liabilities and charges                                     (15)                (10)              (5)
                                                                         _____               _____            _____
                                                                         5,128               2,585            5,907
                                                                         _____               _____            _____
Capital and reserves
Called up share capital                                                  1,219                 615            1,219
Share premium                                                            4,370               1,543            4,370
Merger reserve                                                           (454)               (133)            (454)
Profit and loss account                                                    (7)                 560              772
                                                                         _____               _____           ______
Equity shareholders' funds                                               5,128               2,585            5,907
                                                                         _____               _____            _____


Jon Court
Geoffrey Smith
Directors
May 2003

FULCRUM PHARMA PLC


Consolidated cash flow statement
for the period ended 28 February 2003

                                                                   Six months          Six months            Period
                                                                        ended               ended             ended
                                                                  28 February         28 February         31 August
                                                                         2003                2002              2002
                                                                    Unaudited           Unaudited           Audited
                                                 Notes                  #'000               #'000             #'000

Net cash (outflow/inflow) from
operating activities                               6                     (24)                 629               228

Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest received                                                          63                  28                75
Taxation paid                                                               -                   -             (145)
Capital expenditure and financial investment
Purchase of tangible fixed assets                                       (412)                (13)              (23)
Equity dividends paid to shareholders              4                        -                   -             (123)
                                                                     ________           _________         _________
Net cash outflow before management of

liquid resources and financing                                          (373)                 644                12

Management of liquid resources
Decrease/(increase) in short term investment                              739                   -           (4,520)

Financing
Issue of ordinary share capital                                             -                   -             3,250
Share issue costs                                                           -                   -             (140)

                                                                      _______           _________         _________
                                                                            -                   -             3,110
                                                                      _______           _________         _________

Increase/(decrease) in cash                        6                      366                 644           (1,398)
                                                                      _______           _________            ______

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds


Increase/(decrease) in cash                        6                      366                 644           (1,398)
Cash flow from (decrease)/increase in
short term investment                              6                    (739)                   -             4,520
                                                                      _______             _______            ______
Change in net funds from cash flows                                     (373)                 644             3,122
Net funds at start of period                       6                    5,102               1,980             1,980

                                                                      _______             _______            ______
Net funds at end of period                         6                    4,729               2,624             5,102
                                                                     ________             _______            ______


FULCRUM PHARMA PLC


For the period ended 28 February 2003


1.    FINANCIAL INFORMATION


The interim results for the six months ended 28 February 2003 are unaudited and
do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the
Companies Act 1985.  They have been drawn up using accounting policies and
principles consistent with those applied in the preparation of the audited
accounts for the year ended 31 August 2002.   The comparative information
contained in the report for the year ended 31 August 2002 does not constitute
the statutory accounts for the financial period.  Those accounts have been
reported on by the Company's Auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and delivered to
the Registrar of Companies. The report of the Auditors was unqualified and did
not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act.


2.    EXCEPTIONAL ITEMS


                                                              Six months to        Six months to        Year ended
                                                                28 February          28 February         31 August
                                                                       2003                 2002              2002
                                                                      #'000                #'000             #'000

Loss/(profit) on ordinary activities before tax                       (703)                  422             1,671
Exceptional expenses related to subsidiaries                            390                    -               181
Exceptional credit                                                        -                    -             (935)
                                                                   ________              _______           _______

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before
taxation and exceptional items                                        (313)                  422               917
                                                                   ________              _______           _______


The Group has reported a loss before tax and exceptional items of #313,000.  As
set out in the paragraphs below, the Company has recorded an exceptional charge
of #390,000 in the current period, and an exceptional charge of #181,000 and
exceptional credit of #935,000 in the year to 31 August 2002.


a.    Exceptional expenses related to new subsidiaries #390,000 (31.08.2002,
      #181,000)


The exceptional charge to cost of sales of #225,000 and administration expenses
of #165,000 (31 August 2002, #181,000) represents the initial set up and related
costs for the Group's new subsidiaries in the USA and Japan.  These subsidiaries
have commenced trading during the current period


b.   Exceptional credit of #935,000


Fulcrum acquired the share capital of Fulcrum Pharma Developments Ltd (FPD Ltd)
in March 2000 by means of a share for share exchange.  Due to uncertainties
regarding the valuation of FPD Ltd, it was agreed between the Company and the
vendors that additional shares would be issued by the Company by way of deferred
consideration, the number of such shares depending on the profits of the Company
in the year ending 31 August 2001.  Although the directors believed that the
substance of this arrangement was deferred consideration, they received advice
that the appropriate accounting treatment was to charge the profit and loss
account in the year ended 31 August 2001 with the fair value of the additional
shares to be issued (#950,000).  This charge was reversed in the year to 31
August 2002. Consequently, there is an exceptional credit in the year to 31
August 2002. The credit has been  allocated to the same cost centres to which
the exceptional charge was allocated in the previous year, as follows:-


                                                                            2002
                                                                           #'000

Cost of sales                                                              (554)
Selling expenses                                                           (185)

Administrative expenses                                                    (196)

                                                                           (935)


As disclosed in the document dated 8 March 2000, produced by the Company in
connection with its admission to AIM and in the Company's annual accounts for
the year ended 31 August 2000, certain shareholders, including directors, of the
Company were entitled under a share exchange agreement dated 7 March 2000 to be
allotted up to a maximum of 56,666,666 additional 1p ordinary shares in the
Company by reference to the consolidated profits before tax of the Group for the
twelve months ended 31 August 2001. Based on the profit before tax for that
year, of #546,000, the Company issued 31,666,667 additional ordinary shares for
no cash consideration on 11 June 2002.


3.     TAX ON (LOSS)/PROFIT ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES

                                                              Six months to        Six months to        Year ended
                                                                28 February          28 February         31 August
                                                                       2003                 2002              2002
                                                                      #'000                #'000             #'000

Current taxation
UK Corporation tax at 30%:                                            (178)                  139               241
Adjustment in respect of prior period                                     -                    -               (5)
                                                                  _________              _______            ______

                                                                      (178)                    -               236

Deferred taxation
Deferred taxation                                                        10                    -               (5)
                                                                  ________             _______              _______
                
                                                                      (168)                139                  231
                                                                  ________             _______              _______


The tax charge for the year differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in
the UK of 30% (2002: 30%).  The differences are explained below:-

                                                              Six months to        Six months to        Year ended
                                                                28 February          28 February         31 August
                                                                       2003                 2002              2002
                                                                      #'000                #'000             #'000


Loss/(profit) on ordinary activities before tax                       (703)                  422             1,671
Exceptional credit (see note 5b)                                          -                    -            (935)
                                                                    _______              _______            ______
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before
tax and exceptional items                                             (703)                  422               736
                                                                    _______              _______            ______

(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before tax
and exceptional items multiplied by the standard
rate of corporation tax in the UK of 30%
 (2002:30%))                                                          (211)                  127               221

Effects of:
Depreciation in excess of capital allowances                              -                    5                10
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes                                  6                    7                 5
Tax losses for the period not relieved                                   27                    -                 -

                                                                   ________              _______           _______

Current tax charge for period                                         (178)                  139               236
                                                                   ________              _______           _______


4.        DIVIDENDS


An interim dividend of 0.2p per ordinary share (2002 0.2p) is proposed.


5.        EARNINGS PER SHARE


                                                                   Six months          Six months              Year
                                                                        ended               ended             ended
                                                                  28 February         28 February         31 August
                                                                         2003                2002              2002
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after
taxation for basic earnings per share                                   (535)                 283             1,440
Exceptional expenses related to new
subsidiaries                                                              390                   -               181
Exceptional credit                                                          -                   -             (935)
Tax on exceptional items                                                 (90)                   -              (55)
                                                                 ____________        ____________        __________
(Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after
taxation for adjusted earnings per share                                (235)                 283               631
                                                                _____________         ___________     _____________
Weighted average number of ordinary shares
for earnings per share                                            121,401,451          61,500,000        99,846,929
                                                                _____________         ___________      ____________


The weighted average number of shares is calculated excluding those held by the
Employee Share Ownership Plan, which are treated as cancelled.


6.        NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT


(a)    Reconciliation of the operating profit to net cash (outflow)/inflow from
       operating activities.

                                                              Six months to        Six months to           Year to
                                                                28 February          28 February         31 August
                                                                       2003                 2002              2002
                                                                      #'000                #'000             #'000

Operating (loss)/profit                                               (766)                  394             1,596
Depreciation                                                             31                   20                41
Exchange gain                                                             -                    -              (10)
Non cash exceptional item                                                 -                    -             (935)
Decrease/(increase) in debtors                                          216                (747)             (298)
Increase/(decrease) in creditors                                        495                  962             (166)
                                                                  _________            _________           _______

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating
activities                                                             (24)                  629               228
                                                                  _________            _________           _______



(b)   Analysis of net funds

                                                               Cash at bank           Short term             Total
                                                                and in hand          Investments
                                                                      #'000                #'000             #'000

At 1 September 2002                                                     582                4,520             5,102
Cashflow                                                                366                (739)             (373)

                                                                     ______               ______            ______

At 28 February 2003                                                     948                3,781             4,729
                                                                     ______               ______            ______


7.        COPIES OF UNAUDITED INTERIM REPORT


Copies of this report are being sent to shareholders and are also available at
the registered office of Fulcrum Pharma plc, Kodak House, Station Road, Hemel
Hempstead,  Hertfordshire HP1 1JY.


                      This information is provided by RNS
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END

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