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SNX Synectics Plc

187.50
0.00 (0.00%)
23 Apr 2024 - Closed
Delayed by 15 minutes
Share Name Share Symbol Market Type Share ISIN Share Description
Synectics Plc LSE:SNX London Ordinary Share GB0007156838 ORD 20P
  Price Change % Change Share Price Bid Price Offer Price High Price Low Price Open Price Shares Traded Last Trade
  0.00 0.00% 187.50 180.00 195.00 187.50 187.50 187.50 8,025 01:00:00
Industry Sector Turnover Profit EPS - Basic PE Ratio Market Cap
Elec Apparatus & Equip-whsl 46.37M 1.47M 0.0867 21.63 31.67M

Synectics PLC Final Results (3218F)

20/02/2018 7:00am

UK Regulatory


Synectics (LSE:SNX)
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RNS Number : 3218F

Synectics PLC

20 February 2018

 
   20 February 2018 
 

Synectics plc

('Synectics or the 'Group' or the 'Company')

Final Results for the year ended 30 November 2017

Synectics plc (AIM: SNX), a leader in the design, integration, control and management of advanced surveillance technology and networked security systems, reports its audited final results for the year ended 30 November 2017.

Headlines

 
      --   Revenue GBP70.1 million (2016: GBP70.9 million) 
      --   Underlying profit(1) up 15% to GBP3.0 million 
            (2016: GBP2.6 million) 
      --   Profit before tax up 50% to GBP3.0 million 
            (2016: GBP2.0 million) 
      --   Underlying diluted EPS(1) 15.2p (2016: 12.4p) 
      --   Diluted EPS 15.1p (2016: 8.8p) 
      --   Return on capital employed 8.5% (2016: 7.6%) 
      --   Net cash at 30 November 2017 GBP3.8 million 
            (2016: GBP2.2 million) 
      --   Year-end order book GBP24.4 million (2016: 
            GBP26.2 million) 
      --   Recommended final dividend increased to 3.0p 
            per share (2016: 2.0p) 
 

(1) Underlying profit represents profit before tax and non-underlying items (which comprise restructuring costs and amortisation of acquired intangibles). Underlying earnings per share are based on profit after tax but before non-underlying items.

Commenting on the results, Paul Webb, Chief Executive, said:

"These results are pleasing in their own right, and especially satisfying in our 30(th) Anniversary Year as they reflect the dedication of our people to meet new challenges while remaining true to the values which inspired our Company's creation."

For further information, please contact:

 
 Synectics plc                  Tel: +44 (0) 1527 850 080 
 David Coghlan, Chairman 
 Paul Webb, Chief Executive 
 Mike Stilwell, Finance 
  Director 
 email: info@synecticsplc.com        www.synecticsplc.com 
 
 Stockdale Securities           Tel: +44 (0) 20 7601 6100 
 Tom Griffiths / Henry 
  Willcocks 
 
 Media enquiries: 
 Intelligent Conversation       Tel: +44 (0) 161 212 1613 
 Claire Evans 
 email: claire@weareic.com 
 

Chairman's Statement

Overview

Last year saw the 30(th) anniversary of the start-up of Synectics. This landmark provided the occasion not only to celebrate the achievements of all those who have helped to build Synectics into a successful technology business, from the founders to our current apprentices, but also to reflect on what has changed and what endures.

I am pleased to say that during my engagement across the various parts of the business in 2017 I found a high degree of alignment around the enduring purpose and values of Synectics. I won't repeat these, since they are set out in detail elsewhere; suffice it to say here that the core elements are, and have been for 30 years, value to customers and innovation. I believe these will remain the foundation for a sustainable and prosperous future for the Company.

During the 2016/17 financial year the Group's results continued to reflect the impact of the 2015 collapse in global oil & gas prices on one of our largest customer sectors. Management has taken action to maintain profitability in that area by reducing costs, and delivered a very creditable increase in operating margin in our oil & gas activities last year. The Board remains convinced that the right course is to preserve the critical capability that underlies our leading market position in the sector, and indeed to focus on positioning the business to gain market share once the recovery is underway. We believe the right balance has been struck in the interests of long-term value.

Other underlying factors that influenced our results include a global gaming market that remained buoyant, increased demand from infrastructure customers, such as utilities, data centres and transport hubs, and a sharp decline in new bus deliveries in the UK.

Against that background, the Board is pleased with the performance of the Company for 2016/17, which was in line with our expectations.

We expect the trend of growing profitability of our business operations to continue in the current financial year. In addition, opportunities have been identified for innovative development of our core product set, using emerging technology applications being introduced in other fields to expand Synectics' offerings to its current markets. Consistent with our growth strategy, the Board has authorised a significant increase in R&D expense to capitalise on those opportunities. The increased expense for this investment means that the Board's current expectations are for reported profits in 2017/18 to be broadly flat compared to last year. Further detail is set out in the Outlook section below.

Results

For the year to 30 November 2017, Synectics' consolidated revenue was GBP70.1 million (2016: GBP70.9 million). This reflected a reduction in gaming sector revenue following the exceptionally high level achieved in 2016, lower than expected revenues in UK transport, offset with progress in infrastructure projects and integrated systems.

An improvement in operating margins across both of the Group's divisions led to a 15% increase in underlying profit before tax to GBP3.0 million (2016: GBP2.6 million). There were no material non-underlying costs in the year, so statutory profit before tax was also GBP3.0 million (2016: GBP2.0 million). Underlying diluted earnings per share were 15.2p (2016: 12.4p) and diluted earnings per share were 15.1p (2016: 8.8p). On a constant currency basis(2) , these results benefited directly by around GBP0.2 million from the impact of the depreciation of sterling across the year on the earnings of our foreign subsidiaries. However, this translation benefit was partially offset by corresponding increases in the sterling costs of US dollar-denominated components used in our systems sold in the UK.

The Group's balance sheet continued to strengthen, with net cash at 30 November 2017 of GBP3.8 million (2016: GBP2.2 million). The consolidated firm order book at year end was GBP24.4 million (2016: GBP26.2 million).

(2) Using average exchange rates for the year ended 30 November 2016.

Dividend

The Board is recommending payment of an increased final dividend of 3.0p per share (2016: 2.0p), payable on 4 May 2018 to shareholders registered on 3 April 2018, for approval by shareholders at the Company's Annual General Meeting to be held on 26 April 2018.

Business Review

Synectics' business is to provide integrated electronic security systems and services to specialist high-end markets. Our systems are based on core proprietary technology, in particular systems integration and command and control software. This technology is adapted for the specific needs of our target customer sectors, and provides fundamental differentiation from mainstream suppliers in the wider electronic security market.

Systems Division

Synectics' Systems division provides specialist electronic surveillance systems, based on its own proprietary technology, to global end customers with large-scale highly complex security requirements, particularly for oil & gas operations, gaming, transport & infrastructure protection, and high security & public space applications.

 
 Revenue                          GBP46.1 million (2016: 
                                   GBP48.3 million) 
 Gross margin                     39.8% (2016: 38.9%) 
 Underlying operating profit(3)   GBP4.2 million (2016: 
                                   GBP4.2 million) 
 Operating profit                 GBP4.2 million (2016: 
                                   GBP3.7 million) 
 Underlying operating margin(3)   9.2% (2016: 8.7%) 
 Operating margin                 9.2% (2016: 7.7%) 
 

(3) Before non-underlying items and Group central costs.

Gaming

After exceptionally strong results in 2016, the Group's gaming activities recorded another very good performance in 2017. During this period, Synectics' Synergy 3 command and control system consolidated its leadership position in both of the major global market regions: the Far East and North America.

Important new systems and upgrades were delivered in the Philippines, Macau, Singapore, Korea, Las Vegas and other casino locations in North America and Europe, as well as substantial sales to several major cruise lines for ship-board gaming. Much of this was repeat business for established customers, in either existing or new locations.

Gaming premises operate in sensitive regulatory environments, where quality and performance standards for surveillance technology are extremely demanding, and where failure can be not only costly, but potentially threatening to the customer's business itself. They are also environments where surveillance technology can be adapted and developed to bring meaningful business benefits as well as satisfying security requirements. These characteristics continue to play to Synectics' strengths in reliability, technical innovation and dedicated customer support.

The global market for casino-based gaming continues to grow, especially for integrated resorts that combine casinos with other attractions, such as theme parks. The size of individual new projects means that revenue can be lumpy in given years, but the long-term trend remains positive, and the barriers to entry for general market competitors are quite considerable.

Oil & Gas

Revenue from Synectics' oil & gas activities stabilised and produced an improved profit contribution last year, in a period of continuing difficult conditions in the underlying market. Oil prices have now roughly doubled from their lows of 2015/16 and early-cycle businesses in the sector are already experiencing significantly increased activity. Nevertheless, a proportion of Synectics' revenue has traditionally derived from large-scale upstream projects, and these will take longer to ramp up.

Particular successes during last year included a large involvement in Petronas' RAPID project in Malaysia, and new customer wins in offshore infrastructure being built in the Far East. The Group also received an initial major order for its new design of explosion-rated camera stations adapted for the US market - in this case, for a significant new field in the Gulf of Mexico being developed by a major international oil company.

Transport & Infrastructure

The market for sophisticated surveillance systems in transport & infrastructure is growing, and is an area of increased focus for the Group.

Synectics' presence in protecting the UK's national and public infrastructure was further strengthened during the year. We won major new business from established and new clients operating a nationwide utility network, power stations, financial services data and cash centres, universities and large-scale shopping and leisure malls. One such new contract provided the opportunity for the first deployment of our Synergy 3 surveillance in a cloud-based environment, an area in which we will be making substantial investment in the future.

During last year, Synectics won and delivered a significant expansion to its integrated surveillance management system at Jakarta's main international airport, the busiest in the Southern Hemisphere, as it continues to grow.

The Group continues to expand its operations in Europe, through co-operation between our German and UK-based teams, establishing partnerships with major transport system operators and suppliers, including BVG (the government operator of Europe's largest integrated transport hub, in Berlin), Deutsche Bahn and Siemens Mobility. We continue to expect growth from our European transport activities over coming years.

Our UK mobile systems business won a further three-year extension of its long-term partnership with Stagecoach, the UK's largest bus operator, for surveillance systems on its nationwide fleet. The UK bus and coach market itself, as noted above, was characterised in 2017 by an unexpectedly large fall in new bus deliveries, which was mirrored by a decline in Synectics' revenues from that sector. By contrast, light rail and tram services grew in the UK last year, and Synectics was pleased to win significant orders from London and North East train operators.

Integration & Managed Services Division

Synectics' Integration & Managed Services ('IMS') division is one of the leading UK providers of design, integration, turnkey supply, monitoring and management of large-scale electronic security systems. Its main markets are in critical infrastructure, public space and multi-site systems. Its capabilities include a nationwide network of service engineers, UK government security-cleared personnel and facilities, and an in-house 24-hour monitoring centre and helpdesk. The IMS division supplies proprietary products and technology from Synectics' Systems division as well as from third parties.

 
 Revenue                          GBP25.1 million (2016: 
                                   GBP23.3 million) 
 Gross margin                     22.3% (2016: 22.0%) 
 Underlying operating profit(4)   GBP1.0 million (2016: 
                                   GBP0.5 million) 
 Operating profit                 GBP1.0 million (2016: 
                                   GBP0.4 million) 
 Underlying operating margin(4)   4.0% (2016: 2.2%) 
 Operating margin                 4.0% (2016: 1.9%) 
 

(4) Before non-underlying items and Group central costs.

Integrated Systems

The IMS division as a whole produced solid gains in revenue and profit during 2017, driven particularly by operational improvements, and consequent higher margins, in our high security systems support activities.

Among notable new business wins in 2017 were surveillance systems and support for Newcastle and York mainline rail stations, Goldsmiths University of London, the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, the British Museum, Westminster Abbey and the Highways Agency.

Our position as one of the leading accredited high security providers in the UK means that we continue to win significant ongoing work for government agencies.

The UK market for sophisticated, high quality security systems integration and support is growing. Technology is advancing at an increasing pace and Synectics' activities in this area are increasingly focussed on customers who need and value expertise, and are prepared to invest in a longer term relationship rather than rely on one-off lowest-price tenders. Given that, having access to the resources of a parent company at the forefront of surveillance technology development is a clear advantage.

Managed Services

The focus of the division's managed services activities continues to be on delivering security and facilities management services for clients with large and complex multi-site estates. Significant investment in a new operating system has allowed us to focus on providing actionable management information rather than just large quantities of data. The Group is well placed to lead this trend and meet customers' expanding expectations. This in turn is providing opportunities to increase the scope and value of the services Synectics offers.

Research & Development

Continued investment in our proprietary technology base remains an important priority for Synectics. During 2017, the Group spent a total of GBP2.6 million on technology development (2016: GBP2.2 million). Of this total, GBP0.5 million was capitalised, and the remainder expensed to the Income Statement. GBP0.8 million of previously capitalised development costs were amortised in the year.

The year saw significant work developing functionality for specific customer projects, which in turn has allowed Synectics to add features to the core capabilities of our Synergy 3 command and control software platform. A large amount of effort was also expended in unifying and developing our transport solutions, where we see an increasing appetite from customers for more technically complex solutions. We will be investing further in this area this year.

People

I would like once again to pass on the Board's sincere thanks to Synectics' employees at all levels. This is an organisation with a culture of high expectations for commitment and performance, especially in delivering on our promises to customers. As such, the pressures on employees are often considerable and are consistently borne with fortitude and good humour. We recognise and are deeply grateful for their continuing contributions to the business.

Our annual employee opinion survey last summer demonstrated high and upward-trending results across most areas of the business. This reflected substantial efforts by management to increase communication and engagement throughout the Group. This effort, which is strongly supported by the Board, will continue.

Strategy

Synectics' strategy remains to create leadership positions within specialised sectors of the electronic security and surveillance industry, through the combination of expert, sector-specific market knowledge and, where appropriate, our own proprietary technologies. These proprietary technologies are based on open systems and built around Synectics' core command and control integration software; they are developed specifically for our chosen specialist market sectors and provide fundamental differentiation from the offerings of mainstream suppliers in the wider electronic security market.

As the volume of digital data generated by high-end, video-centric security systems continues to grow exponentially, the complexity of extracting meaningful and actionable intelligence from that data is opening up many opportunities for innovation. Throughout its 30-year history, Synectics has consistently demonstrated the combination of deep technical capability and practical, expertise-based sales approach needed to benefit from such opportunities. This is essentially an entrepreneurial skill.

A core element of our strategy is to ensure that the business keeps building the culture and processes necessary to maintain that entrepreneurial essence at larger scale as we continue to grow.

Outlook

The 2018 financial year has begun in line with the Board's expectations. The year will be marked by a number of positive and short-term negative counter-currents in our largest market sectors, and also by clear opportunities to invest organically in solidifying Synectics' position as a market leader in specialist high-end surveillance.

The IMS division continues to perform well, and we expect further growth in profits this year.

Within the larger Systems division, Synectics' revenue and profit trends over the remainder of this year are likely to be different in our three major end-user segments:

- The gaming sector, which has performed exceptionally well in the last two years and where Synectics continues to gain market share, will see a respite in major new resort developments coming on stream in the Far East and a likely slowdown in surveillance upgrade programmes in the United States. Despite entering the current financial year with an order book and qualified pipeline of new business 50% higher than at the same time last year, we anticipate at this stage that the profit contribution from the sector in 2017/18, although still strong, is likely to be lower than last year's.

- The global oil & gas surveillance sector should continue to generate a stable positive contribution to profits in the current year. There is evidence of a recent pick-up in market activity, and Synectics is well placed to benefit as soon as new projects come on line. However, the normal gestation period of upstream oil & gas projects means that the upturn in our revenues in that sector should not be expected before 2019.

- Following further investment in sales resources, revenues from the transport & infrastructure sector, outside the UK bus market, are expected to grow at an increased rate in 2017/18.

Finally, after close evaluation the Board has authorised an increase of approximately GBP500,000 in this year's R&D expense to accelerate Synectics' development of our core software product base. We see an opportunity to provide sophisticated end users with real improvements in the capability, breadth and cost-effectiveness of their security systems. With its established customer base and trusted reputation for successful technical innovation, Synectics is ideally positioned to benefit from the increasing pace of developments in the wider information technology sphere which we believe can now be profitably applied to our markets. Although this increased R&D is in one sense discretionary expenditure, the Board's judgement is that the long-term interests of the Company will best be served by ensuring that we invest sufficient resources now to capitalise fully on the capabilities and market positions that Synectics has successfully established and built over recent years.

Taken together, the above factors lead the Board to conclude that the Group's consolidated underlying profit before tax in our 2018 financial year is most likely to be broadly flat compared to last year, as the impact of growth in underlying current business is offset by increased investment in strengthening our position for the future.

We believe that Synectics continues to make good progress towards its objectives. The improvements made to management and operational structures over the past couple of years are working well, the Group is starting to behave much more like a single focussed business, and there is an apparent growing sense of confidence in most parts of our operations. The Board has recently reviewed the Group's latest medium-term plans. It remains our belief that, given normal economic conditions, Synectics is capable within its current business base of achieving its targets of significant revenue growth from current levels, and an operating profit margin of 8 - 10%.

David Coghlan

Chairman

20 February 2018

Consolidated Income Statement

For the year ended 30 November 2017

 
                                                2017       2016 
                                     Note     GBP000     GBP000 
----------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Revenue                              2       70,102     70,913 
 Cost of sales                              (46,153)   (47,014) 
----------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Gross profit                                 23,949     23,899 
 Operating expenses                         (20,823)   (21,808) 
 Profit from operations 
                                           ---------  --------- 
   Excluding non-underlying items     2        3,149      2,757 
   Non-underlying items               3         (23)      (666) 
 Total profit from operations                  3,126      2,091 
 Finance income                                  183        215 
 Finance costs                                 (313)      (351) 
 Profit before tax 
                                           ---------  --------- 
   Excluding non-underlying items              3,019      2,621 
   Non-underlying items               3         (23)      (666) 
 Total profit before tax                       2,996      1,955 
 Income tax expense                   4        (443)      (484) 
----------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Profit for the year attributable 
  to equity holders of the Parent              2,553      1,471 
----------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Basic earnings per share             6        15.5p       9.0p 
----------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Diluted earnings per share           6        15.1p       8.8p 
----------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Underlying basic earnings per 
  share                               6        15.6p      12.7p 
----------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 Underlying diluted earnings per 
  share                               6        15.2p      12.4p 
----------------------------------  -----  ---------  --------- 
 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 30 November 2017

 
                                                   2017      2016 
                                                 GBP000    GBP000 
                                               -------- 
 Profit for the year                              2,553     1,471 
 Items that will not be reclassified 
  subsequently to profit or loss: 
 Re-measurement (loss)/gain on defined 
  benefit pension scheme, net of tax              (363)       151 
                                               --------  -------- 
                                                  (363)       151 
                                               --------  -------- 
 Items that may be reclassified subsequently 
  to profit or loss: 
 Exchange differences on translation 
  of foreign operations                           (760)       614 
 Gains on a hedge of a net investment 
  taken to equity                                   125       535 
                                               --------  -------- 
                                                  (635)     1,149 
---------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 Total comprehensive income for the year 
  attributable to equity holders of the 
  Parent                                          1,555     2,771 
---------------------------------------------  --------  -------- 
 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

As at 30 November 2017

 
                                               2017       2016 
                                    Note     GBP000     GBP000 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Non-current assets 
 Property, plant and equipment                2,796      3,076 
 Intangible assets                           21,749     22,115 
 Retirement benefit asset                       289        720 
 Deferred tax assets                            159        216 
                                             24,993     26,127 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Current assets 
 Inventories                                 10,739      9,997 
 Trade and other receivables                 24,418     24,771 
 Tax assets                                      16         72 
 Cash and cash equivalents           7        4,721      5,848 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
                                             39,894     40,688 
 Total assets                                64,887     66,815 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Current liabilities 
 Loans and borrowings                8        (900)    (2,778) 
 Trade and other payables                  (22,493)   (22,077) 
 Tax liabilities                              (328)      (623) 
 Current provisions                  9        (149)      (439) 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
                                           (23,870)   (25,917) 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Non-current liabilities 
 Loans and borrowings                8            -      (900) 
 Non-current provisions              9        (102)      (215) 
 Deferred tax liabilities                     (161)      (202) 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
                                              (263)    (1,317) 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Total liabilities                         (24,133)   (27,234) 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Net assets                                  40,754     39,581 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 
 Equity attributable to equity 
  holders of the Parent Company 
 Called up share capital                      3,559      3,559 
 Share premium account                       16,043     16,043 
 Merger reserve                               9,971      9,971 
 Other reserves                             (2,185)    (2,341) 
 Currency translation reserve                   754      1,389 
 Retained earnings                           12,612     10,960 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Total equity                                40,754     39,581 
--------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 30 November 2017

 
                              Called                                      Currency 
                                  up     Share                 Other   translation    Retained 
                               share   premium    Merger    reserves       reserve    earnings 
                             capital   account   reserve      GBP000        GBP000      GBP000    Total 
                              GBP000    GBP000    GBP000                                         GBP000 
At 1 December 
 2015                          3,559    16,043     9,971     (2,639)           240       9,668   36,842 
Profit for the 
 year                              -         -         -           -             -       1,471    1,471 
Other comprehensive 
 income 
Currency translation 
 adjustment                        -         -         -           -         1,149           -    1,149 
Re-measurement 
 gain on defined 
 benefit pension 
 scheme, net of 
 tax                               -         -         -           -             -         151      151 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
Total other comprehensive 
 income                            -         -         -           -         1,149         151    1,300 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
Total comprehensive 
 income for the 
 year                              -         -         -           -         1,149       1,622    2,771 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
Dividends paid                     -         -         -           -             -       (163)    (163) 
Credit in relation 
 to share-based 
 payments                          -         -         -           -             -         131      131 
Share scheme interests 
 realised in the 
 year                              -         -         -         298             -       (298)        - 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
At 30 November 
 2016                          3,559    16,043     9,971     (2,341)         1,389      10,960   39,581 
Profit for the 
 year                              -         -         -           -             -       2,553    2,553 
Other comprehensive 
 loss 
Currency translation 
 adjustment                        -         -         -           -         (635)           -    (635) 
Re-measurement 
 loss on defined 
 benefit pension 
 scheme, net of 
 tax                               -         -         -           -             -       (363)    (363) 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
Total other comprehensive 
 loss                              -         -         -           -         (635)       (363)    (998) 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
Total comprehensive 
 income for the 
 year                              -         -         -           -         (635)       2,190    1,555 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
Dividends paid                     -         -         -           -             -       (498)    (498) 
Credit in relation 
 to share-based 
 payments                          -         -         -           -             -         111      111 
Share scheme interests 
 realised in the 
 year                              -         -         -         156             -       (151)        5 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
At 30 November 
 2017                          3,559    16,043     9,971     (2,185)           754      12,612   40,754 
                            --------  --------  --------  ----------  ------------  ----------  ------- 
 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For the year ended 30 November 2017

 
                                                      2017       2016 
                                           Note     GBP000     GBP000 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Cash flows from operating activities 
 Profit for the year                                 2,553      1,471 
 Income tax expense                         4          443        484 
 Finance income                                      (183)      (215) 
 Finance costs                                         313        351 
 Depreciation and amortisation 
  charge                                             1,654      1,980 
 Loss on disposal of non-current 
  assets                                                 2         80 
 Unrealised currency translation 
  losses/(gains)                                        70      (275) 
 Share-based payment charge                            111        131 
 Operating cash flows before 
  movement in working capital                        4,963      4,007 
 (Increase)/decrease in inventories                  (857)        642 
 Increase in receivables                             (105)    (2,291) 
 Increase in payables and provisions                   330        238 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Cash generated from operations                      4,331      2,596 
 Tax (paid)/received                                 (653)         15 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Net cash from operating activities                  3,678      2,611 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Cash flows from investing activities 
 Purchase of property, plant 
  and equipment                                      (309)      (350) 
 Capitalised development costs                       (462)      (337) 
 Purchased software                                  (193)       (44) 
 Net cash used in investing activities               (964)      (731) 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Cash flows from financing activities 
 Repayment of borrowings                           (1,259)      (786) 
 Share scheme interests realised                         5          - 
  in the year 
 Interest paid                                       (149)      (156) 
 Dividends paid                                      (498)      (163) 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Net cash used in financing activities             (1,901)    (1,105) 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Effect of exchange rate changes 
  on cash and cash equivalents                       (414)        323 
 Net increase in cash and cash 
  equivalents                                          399      1,098 
 Cash and cash equivalents at 
  the beginning of the year                          4,322      3,224 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 Cash and cash equivalents at 
  the end of the year                       7        4,721      4,322 
---------------------------------------  ------  ---------  --------- 
 

Notes

   1        Basis of preparation 

The information contained within this announcement has been extracted from the audited financial statements which have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as endorsed by the European Union ('adopted IFRS'), and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under adopted IFRS. They have been prepared using the historical cost convention except where the measurement of balances at fair value is required.

   2        Segmental analysis 
 
 Revenue                              2017      2016 
                                    GBP000    GBP000 
 Systems                            46,062    48,281 
 Integration & Managed Services     25,139    23,290 
 Total segmental revenue            71,201    71,571 
 Reconciliation to consolidated 
  revenue: 
 Intra-Group sales                 (1,099)     (658) 
                                  --------  -------- 
                                    70,102    70,913 
                                  --------  -------- 
 
 
 Underlying operating profit                2017      2016 
                                          GBP000    GBP000 
 Systems                                   4,238     4,211 
 Integration & Managed Services              994       522 
 Total segmental underlying operating 
  profit                                   5,232     4,733 
 Reconciliation to consolidated 
  underlying operating profit: 
 Central costs                           (2,083)   (1,976) 
                                        --------  -------- 
                                           3,149     2,757 
                                        --------  -------- 
 
 
                                Underlying   Amortisation         Total 
                                 operating    of acquired        profit 
  Underlying operating              profit    intangibles          from 
  profit 2017                       GBP000         GBP000    operations 
                                                                 GBP000 
 Systems                             4,238              -         4,238 
 Integration & Managed 
  Services                             994              -           994 
 Total segmental underlying 
  operating profit                   5,232              -         5,232 
 Reconciliation to 
  consolidated underlying 
  operating profit: 
 Central costs                     (2,083)           (23)       (2,106) 
                               -----------  -------------  ------------ 
                                     3,149           (23)         3,126 
                               -----------  -------------  ------------ 
 
   3        Non-underlying items 
 
                                            2017      2016 
                                          GBP000    GBP000 
 Restructuring costs                           -       585 
 Amortisation of acquired intangible 
  assets                                      23        81 
                                              23       666 
                                        --------  -------- 
 

The restructuring costs incurred during the prior year related predominantly to severance costs arising from specific reviews of the cost base across certain areas of the business.

   4        Taxation 
 
                                             2017      2016 
   Tax charge                              GBP000    GBP000 
 Current taxation 
 UK tax                                        36         5 
 Overseas tax                                 344       691 
 Adjustments in respect of prior 
  periods                                    (60)      (62) 
                                         --------  -------- 
 Total current tax                            320       634 
                                         --------  -------- 
 Deferred taxation 
 Origination and reversal of temporary 
  differences                                 285     (115) 
 Adjustments in respect of prior 
  periods                                   (162)      (35) 
 Total deferred tax                           123     (150) 
                                         --------  -------- 
 Total tax charge for the year                443       484 
                                         --------  -------- 
 

Reconciliation of tax charge for the year

The corporation tax assessed for the year differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19.33% (2016: 20%). The differences are explained below:

 
                                            2017      2016 
                                          GBP000    GBP000 
 Profit on ordinary activities before 
  tax                                      2,996     1,955 
                                        --------  -------- 
 Tax on profit on ordinary activities 
  before tax at standard rate of 
  19.33% 
  (2016: 20%)                                579       391 
 Effects of: 
 Expenses not deductible for tax 
  purposes                                   103       105 
 Net effect of different rates of 
  tax in overseas businesses               (149)     (283) 
 Tax losses not recognised                   146       345 
 Restatement of deferred tax balances 
  for change in UK tax rate                 (14)        23 
 Adjustment in respect of prior 
  periods                                  (222)      (97) 
 Total tax charge for the year               443       484 
                                        --------  -------- 
 

The Group's tax rate is sensitive to a geographic mix of profits and reflects a combination of higher rates in certain jurisdictions, such as the US, UK and lower rates in Singapore and Macau. The Group's effective tax rate in 2017 has been impacted by the truing up of prudent tax provisions booked in the prior year. Over the medium term, the effective tax rate is expected to increase as the business continues to be profitable going forward.

   4        Taxation continued 

Deferred tax assets of GBP0.3 million (2016: GBP0.4 million) have been recognised in relation to legal entities which suffered a tax loss in the preceding periods. The assets are recognised based upon future taxable profit forecasts for the entities concerned.

The Group has further tax losses which may be available to be carried forward for offset against the future taxable profits of certain Group companies amounting to approximately GBP4.8 million (2016: GBP4.0 million). No deferred tax asset (2016: GBPnil) in respect of these losses has been recognised at the year end as the Group does not currently anticipate being able to offset these against future profits.

   5        Dividends 

The Directors recommend the payment of a final dividend of 3.0p per share (2016: 2.0p per share), totalling around GBP506,000. Subject to shareholders' approval at the Company's Annual General Meeting to be held on 26 April 2018, this is expected to be paid on 4 May 2018 to shareholders registered on 3 April 2018. An interim dividend of 1.0p was paid during 2017 (2016: nil per share).

   6        Earnings per share 
 
                                                 2017     2016 
                                                Pence    Pence 
                                                  per      per 
                                                share    share 
 Basic earnings per share                        15.5      9.0 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Diluted earnings per share                      15.1      8.8 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Underlying basic earnings per share             15.6     12.7 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Underlying diluted earnings per 
  share                                          15.2     12.4 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
 
   The calculations of basic and underlying 
   earnings per share are based upon: 
                                               GBP000   GBP000 
 Earnings for basic and diluted earnings 
  per share                                     2,553    1,471 
 Non-underlying items                              23      666 
 Impact of non-underlying items on 
  tax charge for the year                         (8)     (60) 
 Earnings for underlying basic and 
  underlying diluted earnings per 
  share                                         2,568    2,077 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
 
                                                  000      000 
 Weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares - basic calculation                   16,480   16,404 
 Dilutive potential ordinary shares 
  arising from share options                      466      338 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 Weighted average number of ordinary 
  shares - diluted calculation                 16,946   16,742 
--------------------------------------------  -------  ------- 
 
   7        Cash and cash equivalents 
 
                                2017      2016 
                              GBP000    GBP000 
 Cash at bank and in hand      4,721     5,848 
                            --------  -------- 
 

For the purpose of the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise the following:

 
                                2017      2016 
                              GBP000    GBP000 
 Cash at bank and in hand      4,721     5,848 
 Bank overdraft                    -   (1,526) 
                            --------  -------- 
                               4,721     4,322 
                            --------  -------- 
 
   8        Loans and borrowings 
 
                                  2017                                 2016 
                               Non-current                          Non-current 
                     Current        GBP000      Total     Current        GBP000      Total 
                      GBP000                   GBP000      GBP000                   GBP000 
 Bank term loan          900             -        900       1,252           900      2,152 
 Bank overdraft            -             -          -       1,526             -      1,526 
                  ---------- 
 Total                   900             -        900       2,778           900      3,678 
                  ----------  ------------  ---------  ----------  ------------  --------- 
 

The terms and debt repayment details of the loans and borrowings are as follows:

 
 
 
                          Value      Maturity      Interest     Security 
                          drawn                        rate 
                         GBP000 
 GBP1.5 million             900   26 November   LIBOR +2.0%        Group 
  term loan facility                     2018                     assets 
 GBP8.0 million               -     On demand    Base +2.0%        Group 
  overdraft facility                                              assets 
 

During the year the remaining EUR1.3 million balance of the Euro term loan was repaid in full. GBP150,000 of the Sterling term loan was also repaid.

   9        Provisions 
 
                                                  Deferred 
                                            and contingent 
                           Restructuring     consideration     Property      Total 
                                  GBP000            GBP000       GBP000     GBP000 
 At 1 December 2015                   55                49           25        129 
 Utilised in the year              (365)              (49)            -      (414) 
 Charge to the Income 
  Statement                          585                 -          354        939 
                        ----------------  ----------------  -----------  --------- 
 At 30 November 2016                 275                 -          379        654 
 Utilised in the year              (275)                 -        (185)      (460) 
 Charge to the Income 
  Statement                            -                 -           57         57 
 At 30 November 2017                   -                 -          251        251 
                        ----------------  ----------------  -----------  --------- 
 

Provisions have been analysed between current and non-current as follows:

 
                   2017      2016 
                 GBP000    GBP000 
 Current            149       439 
 Non-current        102       215 
               --------  -------- 
                    251       654 
               --------  -------- 
 
   10      Company information 

Full Financial Statements

The auditors have issued an unqualified opinion on the full financial statements for the year ended 30 November 2017 which will be made available to shareholders and delivered to the Registrar of Companies in due course. The financial information for 2017 and 2016 does not comprise statutory financial statements. Statutory financial statements for the year ended 30 November 2016, on which the auditors gave an unqualified opinion, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Further copies of these results, and the full financial statements when published, will be available on the Company website at www.synecticsplc.com and at the Company's registered office: Synectics plc, Studley Point, 88 Birmingham Road, Studley, Warwickshire, B80 7AS.

Forward-looking statements

This report may contain certain statements about the future outlook for Synectics plc. Although the Directors believe their expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, any statements about future outlook may be influenced by factors that could cause actual outcomes and results to be materially different.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

FR BRGDDSUBBGIC

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

February 20, 2018 02:00 ET (07:00 GMT)

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