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CMO Cmo Group Plc

14.50
0.00 (0.00%)
26 Jul 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Cmo Group Plc LSE:CMO London Ordinary Share GB00BMB5Y385 ORD 1P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 14.50 14.00 15.00 14.50 14.50 14.50 1,428 08:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Catalog, Mail-order Houses 71.5M -1.84M -0.0255 -5.69 10.44M

Comino PLC - Final Results

10/06/1999 8:31am

UK Regulatory


RNS No 5931a
COMINO PLC
10 June 1999

                                  COMINO PLC
                          FINAL RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT
         Record PBT up 39%; Diluted EPS up 27%; Total dividend up 50%;
             Proposed full listing in July; Prospects "Excellent"

Comino  plc  (Comino), the provider of software based business  solutions  and
related  call centre technology for occupational pensions, social housing  and
local authorities, announces final results for the year ended 31 March 1999.

Comino  is  a  market leader in each of its chosen sectors and  owns  its  own
workflow and electronic document management software which it uses to  provide
process based applications.  Electronic commerce and the internet increasingly
demand  workflow  techniques  to ensure satisfactory  completion  of  business
processes.

                              1999                1998           Increase
Turnover                      #18.6m              #13.2m         +41%
Profit before tax             #2.72m              #1.95m         +39%
Diluted EPS                   14.83p              11.71p         +27%
Proposed dividend             1.25p paid interim  no interim    
                              2.50p final         2.50p interim  +50%
Net cash                      #7.4m               #4.3m         

*    Local authority "revenue" systems up from six to forty in two years
*    New Universal Pensions Management product successfully launched
*    Organic growth in profits and turnover was significant in all divisions.

Regarding the Results, in the Chairman and Chief Executive's Statement, Gordon
Skinner, Chairman, said:
"Group revenues arose from recurring revenues from support contracts, sales of
upgrades  and services to the installed base and sales of 'new name' business.
Recurring revenues accounted for 35% of turnover and covered 49% of overheads.
Upgrades and services to the customer base accounted for approximately another
third of revenues."

Regarding  Prospects, in the Chairman and Chief Executive's  Statement,  Garth
Selvey, Chief Executive, said:
"Comino  enters  the millennium year with sound customer bases  and  products,
well  balanced  revenues, strong order books and active market  sectors.   The
prospects for the future are excellent."

Enquiries:-
Garth Selvey, Chief Executive
Paul Clifford, Finance Director
Comino plc: 01628 - 525433

Editor's note:
Comino's operating companies are based in the Home Counties and Yorkshire.




Chairman and Chief Executive's Statement

Comino's  main  market  sectors  are  social  housing,  local  government  and
occupational pensions.  All of these require high customer service levels  and
effective  cost  control driven by legislation, public  accountability  and  a
resultant  need to use electronic commerce effectively.  In this  environment,
Comino has achieved excellent results for both its customers and shareholders.

Turnover  of #18.6m has increased by 41% over last year. Gross profit  margins
have been maintained at 69% and overheads as a percentage of gross profit have
held steady at 81%.  This has produced a profit before taxation of #2.7m up by
39%,  an  outstanding performance from Comino prior to a proposed full listing
in July of this year.

Group  revenues arise from three sources.  These are recurring  revenues  from
support  contracts, sales of upgrades and services to the installed  base  and
sales  of 'new name' business.  Recurring revenues account for 35% of turnover
and  cover  49%  of  overheads.  Upgrades and services to  the  customer  base
account  for  approximately another third of revenues.  This balanced  revenue
mix is particularly invaluable in the millennium year.

Cash  balances of #7.4m compared to last year's #4.3m reflect Comino's ability
to  turn its profit into cash.  Net assets have increased from #1.7m to #3.3m.
An  interim dividend of 1.25 pence per share was paid and a final dividend  of
2.50  pence  per  share is proposed which represents an  overall  increase  in
dividend of 50%.  Diluted earnings per share increased 27% from 11.71 pence to
14.83 pence.

All  operations  finished  the year strongly with  firm  order  books.   Tight
control   was   maintained  on  operating  overheads,  whilst  investment   in
development  continued, leaving all products well positioned  for  the  future
within their respective market sectors.

There  were  no  acquisitions during the year, with  the  increase  in  profit
stemming  from  organic growth.  Quality acquisitions which  fit  the  Group's
'business to public' strategy and use Comino's technology and skills remain  a
clear objective.  Meanwhile, Comino has strong organic growth opportunities to
improve shareholder value.

Comino's  markets are all driven by strong external influences which  generate
business  for  the  Group.   Local authorities need to  manage  high  customer
service  levels  whilst under pressure to deliver best  value.   Many  pension
schemes,  in  addition to increasing regulation, face change from final-salary
to  money-purchase  schemes  with corresponding increases  in  administration.
Housing  operations  have  traditionally been  subjected  to  high  levels  of
accountability  and this process continues.  A Comino solution which  improves
service and saves money is clearly a desirable solution.

Call  centres are a growing phenomenon.  They are often perceived as  a  large
number   of operators in a single location, and whilst many of these do exist,
others are 'virtual' and often more complex in their dealings.  These comprise
a  number  of  people  with  different skills linked  by  electronic  commerce
techniques  across  a  number of locations.  In the  context  of  occupational
pensions for example, these can be people with clerical, sales, accounting  or
actuarial  skills working at the office, on the road or from  home.   Comino's
solutions  for occupational pensions, housing and local authority  departments
include  these  facilities.  In the future, we expect that  second  generation
'virtual' call centres will outnumber centralised operations.

In May 1999, Comino announced its Universal Pensions Management (UPM) product.
This  replaces  a  separate workflow-based service layer  and  a  third  party
pensions calculation product.  UPM has been designed as a single product which
is  totally seamless and process driven: a concept which will extend to  other
Group markets, notably housing.

In  technology terms Comino remains strategically well placed for the  future,
and  the  significance  of  owning our own workflow  and  electronic  document
management  is  greater  than  ever.   Workflow  produces  effective   process
management and is particularly appropriate if the people involved in  bringing
the  process  to the customer operate from different locations or are  mobile.
Electronic  commerce and the internet increasingly demand workflow  techniques
to  ensure  satisfactory completion of business processes.   As  the  internet
further penetrates traditional business processes, Comino is particularly well
positioned to benefit.

In  January 1999, Gordon Skinner was appointed as Chairman and Michael  Greig,
Finance  Director  of  RM  plc, joined the Board as a non-executive  Director.
They replace Mike Brooke and Simon Acland, both of whom were founder Directors
of the Company.

All  Comino's operations have performed well throughout the year, and this  is
largely  due to the continued efforts of a professional staff.  We  wish  once
again  to  thank staff and fellow directors for their efforts and  commitment.
Our  thanks also extend to our customers who work with us and invest much time
and effort to make our products a success within their organisations.

Comino enters the millennium year with sound customer bases and products,
well- balanced  revenues, strong order books and active market sectors.   The 
Group continues to employ technology profitably to the benefit of its
customers  and shareholders; the prospects for the future are excellent.


Gordon Skinner                 Chairman

Garth Selvey                   Chief Executive



Consolidated Profit and Loss Account
for the year ended 31 March 1999

                                                           1999          1998
                                                          #'000         #'000
                                                          Total         Total
                                                                             
Turnover                                                 18,595        13,151
Cost of sales                                            (5,784)      (4,089)
                                                       ---------    ---------
                                                                             
Gross profit                                             12,811         9,062
Administrative costs                                    (10,377)      (7,285)
                                                       ---------    ---------
                                                                             
Operating profit                                          2,434         1,777
Interest receivable                                         288           176
Interest payable                                             (4)          (3)
                                                       ---------    ---------
                                                                             
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation             2,718         1,950
Tax on profit on ordinary activities                       (676)        (453)
                                                       ---------    ---------
                                                                             
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation              2,042         1,497
Minority interest - equity                                    -           (56)
                                                      ---------      ---------
                                                                             
Profit for the financial year                             2,042         1,441
Dividends                                                  (513)        (330)
                                                       ---------    ---------
                                                                             
Retained profit for the financial year                    1,529         1,111
                                                          =====         =====
                                                                             
Basic earnings per share                                 15.21p        12.33p
                                                          =====         =====
                                                                             
Diluted earnings per share                               14.83p        11.71p
                                                          =====         =====

The  Group  had no recognised gains or losses during the year ended  31  March
1999 other than the profit for the year.



Consolidated Balance Sheet
as at 31 March 1999

                                                                         1998
                                                           1999   as restated
                                                           #000          #000
                                                                             
Fixed assets                                                                 
Tangible assets                                             649           714
                                                                             
Current assets                                                               
Stocks                                                      859           291
Debtors                                                   6,596         5,449
Cash at bank and in hand                                  7,449         4,329
                                                       --------      --------
                                                         14,904        10,069
                                                                             
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year           (5,678)      (4,245)
                                                        --------     --------
                                                                             
Net current assets                                        9,226         5,824
                                                       --------      --------
                                                                             
Total assets less current liabilities                     9,875         6,538
                                                                             
Creditors: amounts falling due                                               
 after more than one year                                   (55)        (118)
                                                                             
Deferred income                                          (6,545)      (4,705)
                                                        --------     --------
                                                                             
                                                          3,275         1,715
                                                          =====         =====
                                                                             
Capital and reserves                                                         
Share capital                                               678           657
Share premium reserve                                     4,334         4,324
Profit and loss account                                  (1,737)      (3,266)
                                                        --------    ---------
                                                                             
Shareholders' funds                                       3,275         1,715
                                                          =====         =====



Consolidated Cash Flow Statement
for the year ended 31 March 1999

                                                           1999          1998
                                                           #000          #000
                                                                             
Net cash inflow from operating activities                 4,134         3,344
                                                                             
Returns on investment and servicing of finance                               
Interest received                                           288           176
Interest paid                                                (4)          (3)
                                                        --------     --------
                                                                             
Net cash inflow from returns on investments and                              
 servicing of finance                                       284           173
                                                       --------      --------
                                                                             
Taxation                                                   (451)        (299)
                                                        --------      --------
                                                                             
Capital expenditure                                                          
Purchase of tangible fixed assets                          (341)         (441)
Sale of tangible fixed assets                                29             3
                                                       --------      --------
                                                                             
Net cash outflow from capital expenditure                  (312)        (438)
                                                        --------     --------
                                                                             
Acquisitions and disposals                                                   
Purchase of business and subsidiary undertakings              -        (1,688)
                                                       --------       --------
                                                                             
Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals              -        (1,688)
                                                       --------       --------
                                                                             
Equity dividends paid                                      (502)        (201)
                                                        --------     --------
                                                                             
Management of liquid resources *                                             
Decrease/(increase) in short term deposits                2,200        (1,200)
                                                       --------       --------
                                                                             
Financing                                                                    
Issue of shares                                              31         1,521
(Repayment)/increase in borrowings                          (64)           62
                                                        --------     --------
                                                                             
Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing                    (33)        1,583
                                                        --------     --------
                                                                             
Increase in cash                                          5,320         1,274
                                                          =====         =====

* Comino plc includes as liquid resources term deposits of less than a year.



Notes

1.    Earnings per ordinary share have been calculated on the profit  for  the
    financial year of #2,042,000 after taxation and minority interest  and  on
    the  weighted  number  of ordinary shares in issue during  the  year.  The
    calculation  of diluted earnings per share takes account of share  options
    that do not currently rank for dividends but may do so in the future.
    
2.   The financial information set out above does not constitute the statutory
    accounts for the period ended 31 March 1999 within the meaning of  Section
    240  of  the Companies Act 1985. Statutory accounts for the year  will  be
    delivered  to  the  Registrar of Companies following the Company's  Annual
    General Meeting.
    
3.    The annual report and accounts will be posted to shareholders on 10 June
    1999  and  will also be available on request from the Company's registered
    office,   2   The  Courtyard,  Meadowbank,  Furlong  Road,   Bourne   End,
    Buckinghamshire, SL8 5AJ.
    
4.   The directors are recommending a final dividend of 2.50p per share which,
    if  approved, will be paid on 29 July 1999 to shareholders on the register
    on 25 June 1999.
    
5.  The  Annual  General Meeting will be held at Binns &  Co,  16  St  Helen's
    Place, London, EC3A 6DF on Friday 9 July 1999 at 11:30 am.
    
END

FR SSSFUUUUUFSM


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