Cohort PLC Year end and COVID-19 Update (5340N)

TIDMCHRT

RNS Number : 5340N

Cohort PLC

21 May 2020

21 May 2020

COHORT PLC

("Cohort" or "the Group")

Year end and COVID-19 Update

Cohort, the independent technology group, today issues a trading update for its financial year ended 30 April 2020, and an update on its response to COVID-19.

Summary:

-- With the benefit of a lower tax charge we anticipate FY20 earnings per share to be in line with market expectations

   --    FY20 Revenue expected to be c.GBP133m (2019: GBP121.2m) 
   --    FY20 Adjusted* operating profit expected to be c.GBP18m (2019: GBP16.2m) 
   --    FY20 Adjusted earnings per share expected to be c.35.0p (2019: 33.6p) 
   --    Net debt at 30 April 2020 of c.GBP5m (30 April 2019: net debt GBP6.4m) 
   --    A closing order book of c.GBP186m (30 April 2019: GBP190.9m) 

-- FY21's trading performance difficult to predict given COVID-19 impact but currently expected to be in line with FY20

*subject to audit; adjusted figures exclude the effects of marking forward exchange contracts to market value, other exchange gains and losses,

amortisation of other intangible assets and exceptional items.

COVID-19 response

In responding to the disruption caused by COVID-19, the wellbeing of all our employees remains paramount. The transition to having most employees work from home, and the adoption of social distancing measures for those unable to do so, was achieved quickly and efficiently. Fewer than 30% of the Group's employees are now working on site and many of these are working from home for part or most of the time. Nevertheless, our manufacturing sites have remained operational with enhanced health and safety measures in place.

A small minority of Group employees are on furlough leave, most of whom either are vulnerable individuals or have vulnerable dependents. Cost containment and cash preservation measures have been implemented across the Group including Board and senior management pay freezes for the coming financial year.

FY20 year end update

Cohort's performance was tracking broadly in line with expectations prior to the imposition of COVID-19 restrictions in the last two months of our financial year, typically our busiest period. We were assisted by the UK MOD's quick action to support its suppliers, including faster payments and simplification of some procedures.

Nevertheless, the restrictions have affected our ability to carry out work on customer premises and customers' ability to witness acceptance tests and to place new orders. This had some impact on our FY20 revenue and trading profit, although these still showed positive growth compared to FY19. With the benefit of a lower tax charge we anticipate FY20 earnings per share to be in line with market expectations.

Despite delays to orders caused by COVID-19 restrictions in the final quarter, order intake for the year was c.GBP125m, a satisfactory outcome compared to the record order intake of GBP189.9m in FY19 which included a number of large, long term awards. The expected year end order book of c.GBP186m is similar to the prior year (2019: GBP190.9m).

As at 30 April 2020, net debt stood at c.GBP5m (31 October 2019: net debt GBP6.8m; 30 April 2019: net debt GBP6.4m); this was better than both our forecast and the position at the last year-end and represents a net debt / EBITDA ratio of less than 0.3 (2019: 0.4).

The net debt comprised of gross cash of GBP20m and gross debt of GBP25m, together with a GBP5m undrawn facility, gives the Group access to GBP25m of available facilities. In addition, the Group has agreed with its banks to convert an existing GBP10m accordion into a committed facility. This will be used for the proposed acquisition of ELAC, the Germany-based market leader in naval surface ship and submarine sonar systems, that was announced in December 2019.

We remain in positive discussions with the German Federal Authorities about approval of the transaction. Both Cohort and Wärtsilä are working hard to complete the transaction in June 2020 as originally planned, but COVID-19 restrictions are likely to result in some delay. We will provide a further update when the conditions for completion have been met.

Given the Group's satisfactory performance last year and strong balance sheet, the Board expects to recommend the payment of a final dividend for the year ended 30 April 2020 in line with our progressive policy of recent years. The decision will be announced as usual at the time of the Group's final results and will be subject to shareholder approval at the AGM.

FY21 Outlook

Cohort remains well placed, having entered the new financial year with a substantial long-term order book. The 30 April 2020 order book of c.GBP186m underpins nearly GBP83m (2019: GBP80m) of current financial year revenue, representing c.60% of expected revenue for the year. The Group has a number of significant new domestic and export opportunities, and extensions to existing contracts, being addressed at Chess, EID and MASS and with good prospects at MCL and SEA.

The potential impact of COVID-19 makes it more difficult than usual to provide guidance. At this early stage the Board expects that restrictions on international travel due to COVID-19 may result in short term constraints on export activity (which represented over 30% of Cohort's revenues in the year just ended). As a result, FY21 trading performance is currently expected to be in line with that achieved in FY20. If appropriate the Board will provide further updates during the current financial year.

In the longer term, the Group expects to return to growth, as it recovers the orders and revenue delayed due to COVID-19.

Notice of FY20 results

It is the Group's current intention to issue its final results for the year ended 30 April 2020 in July 2020. Given the recent guidance from the FRC around the potential complexity of the audit process under COVID-19 restrictions, the Group will confirm the proposed date in a later announcement.

Andrew Thomis, Chief Executive of Cohort, said:

"Cohort had a satisfactory year despite the impact of COVID-19 on the business in the last two months of our financial year. We successfully transitioned to most employees working from home, with the adoption of social distancing measures for those unable to do so. We have a robust financial position, a strong order book underpinning 60% of expected current year revenues, and an encouraging pipeline of order opportunities across the business.

"Overall, as a result of the impact of COVID-19 we expect trading performance in the coming financial year to be in line with that achieved in 2019/20."

Ends

For further information, please contact:

 
Cohort plc                            0118 909 0390 
Andrew Thomis, Chief Executive 
 Simon Walther, Finance Director 
 
Investec Bank plc                     020 7597 5970 
Daniel Adams / Chris Baird 
 
MHP Communications                    020 3128 8100 
Reg Hoare / Pete Lambie /           [e-mail] 
 Alice McLaren 
 

NOTES TO EDITORS

Cohort plc ( www.cohortplc.com ) is the parent company of five innovative, agile and responsive businesses based in the UK and Portugal, providing a wide range of services and products for domestic and export customers in defence and related markets.

Chess Technologies, through its operating businesses Chess Dynamics and Vision4ce, offers systems and technologies for detecting, tracking, classifying and disrupting naval, land and air threats. It was acquired by Cohort plc in December 2018. www.chess-dynamics.com & www.vision4ce.com

EID designs and manufactures advanced communications systems for the defence and security markets. Cohort acquired a majority stake in June 2016. www.eid.pt

MASS is a specialist defence and technology business, focused on electronic warfare, information systems and cyber security. Acquired by Cohort in August 2006. www.mass.co.uk

MCL - an expert in sourcing, design and integration of communications and surveillance technology, as well as support and training for UK end users including the MOD and other government agencies. MCL has been part of the Group since July 2014. www.marlboroughcomms.com

SEA is an advanced electronic systems and software house operating in the defence, transport and offshore energy markets. Acquired by Cohort in October 2007. www.sea.co.uk

Cohort (AIM: CHRT) was admitted to London's Alternative Investment Market in March 2006. It has its headquarters in Reading, Berkshire and employs in total around 950 core staff there and at its other operating company sites across the UK and in Portugal.

All financial information included in this announcement is sourced from unaudited management accounts and excludes any specific items. This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements that are based on management's current expectations or beliefs as well as assumptions about future events. These are subject to risk factors associated with, amongst other things, the economic and business circumstances occurring from time to time in the countries and sectors in which Cohort operates. It is believed that the expectations reflected in these statements are reasonable but they may be affected by a wide range of variables which could cause actual results, and Cohort's plans and objectives, to differ materially from those currently anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. Investors should not place undue reliance on any such statements. Nothing in this announcement should be construed as a profit forecast.

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