30th Sep 2014 07:00
Press Release 30 September 2014
WORK GROUP PLC
(the "Group" or "Company")
Interim Results
Work Group plc, the AIM quoted global consulting firm that builds business performance through innovative and integrated approaches to talent management, today announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2014.
Headlines
· Group unaudited operating loss £132k (2013: loss £366k)
· Strong performances from our US and Hong Kong operations
· Operating loss(from continuing activities) more than halved to £116k (2013: loss £303k)
· Focussed investment on strengthening management and sales teams and new enterprise system
· Cash at period end of circa £0.5m
Six months to 30 June 2014 £'000 | Six months to 30 June 2013 £'000 | Year ended | |
31 December 2013 £'000 | |||
Gross profit (net fee income) | |||
Work Communications | 2,388 | 3,023 | 5,957 |
Armstrong Craven - discontinued business | - | 2,107 | 2,129 |
Group gross profit | 2,388 | 5,130 | 8,086 |
Operating profit/(loss) before exceptional items | |||
Work Communications | (116) | (303) | (403) |
Armstrong Craven - discontinued business | 0 | 2,357* | 1916 |
Corporate (non-recharged) | (280) | (191) | (612) |
Group operating profit/(loss) before exceptional items | (396) | 1863 | 901 |
Operating (loss)/profit | |||
Work Communications | (116) | (303) | (455) |
Armstrong Craven - discontinued operation | 0 | 157** | (284) |
Corporate (non-recharged) | (16) | (220) | (888) |
Group operating (loss)/profit | (132) | (366) | (1,627) |
*Includes £1,957k profit on disposal of assets.
** Includes £2,200k goodwill impairment
For Further Information Contact:
Work Group Simon Howard, Executive Chairman | Tel: +44 (0)20 7492 0000 |
Sanlam Securities UK Limited (Nominated Adviser and Broker) Simon Clements James Thomas | Tel: +44 (0)20 7628 2200 |
Chairman's Statement
Whilst we are encouraged by the progress of change in the Group, the turnaround in the UK has been slower than anticipated and the first half year results reflect this.
Nevertheless, the unaudited interim accounts show that in the US revenue growth has increased significantly by 58 per cent. to £493k (2013: £366k). Furthermore, both the US and Hong Kong returned to profitability with a combined operating profit of £109k (2013: Operating loss £191k).
The early turnaround signs are encouraging with a reduced operating loss from continuing operations of £116k (2013: loss £303k), and overall the increased gross margin of 59per cent. (2013: 53 per cent.) represents our focus on operational profitability.
We took the decision last year to move away from low-margin communications work and focus on higher margin work, particularly in the UK. As a result of this, the £787k drop in income is more than accounted for by client business activity in the corresponding period last year, but which did not repeat thereafter.
The cash position reflects the significant capital expenditure on the implementation of the Microsoft Dynamics enterprise system, together with the professional costs relating to the Armstrong Craven disposal.
Over the past three months we have reorganised the Company to create a UK trading subsidiary, appointed a UK Managing Director and created a partnership in order to enter the lucrative temporary recruitment market.
We remain committed to returning all regions to profitability and to explore all avenues for the maximisation of shareholder returns.
The Directors do not recommend the payment of an interim dividend.
Simon Howard
30 September 2014
Consolidated income statement
For the Six month period ended 30 June 2014
Six months ended | Year ended | ||||
30-Jun-14 | 30-Jun-13 | 31-Dec-13 | |||
Note | Unaudited | ||||
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |||
Continuing operations | |||||
Revenue | 4,016 | 5,674 | 10,435 | ||
Cost of sales | (1,628) | (2,651) | (4,478) | ||
Gross profit | 2,388 | 3,023 | 5,957 | ||
Net operating expenses | (2,520) | (3,546) | (7,300) | ||
Operating loss | (132) | (523) | (1,343) | ||
Analysed as: | |||||
Operating loss before exceptional items | (396) | (494) | (1,015) | ||
Exceptional items | 3 | 264 | (29) | (328) | |
Finance income | 0 | - | 1 | ||
Finance costs | 0 | (3) | (3) | ||
Loss before taxation | (132) | (526) | (1,345) | ||
Taxation | 4 | 26 | 68 | 147 | |
Loss for the period from continuing operations | (106) | (458) | (1,198) | ||
Discontinued operations | |||||
Profit/(loss) for the period from discontinued operations | _ | (397) | (369) | ||
Loss for the period | (106) | (855) | (1,567) | ||
Basic earnings per share (pence) | |||||
From continuing operations | (0.37) | (1.83) | (4.79) | ||
From discontinued operations | - | (1.59) | (1.47) | ||
(0.37) | (3.42) | (6.26) | |||
Diluted earnings per share (pence) | |||||
From continuing operations | (0.43) | (1.83) | (4.79) | ||
From discontinued operations | - | (1.59) | (1.47) | ||
(0.43) | (3.42) | (6.26) |
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the six month period ended 20 June 2014
30-Jun-14 | 30-Jun-13 | 31-Dec-13 | |||
Note | Unaudited Unaudited | Audited | |||
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |||
Loss for the period | (106) | (855) | (1,567) | ||
Other comprehensive income | |||||
Currency translation differences | (19) | 16 | (24) | ||
Total comprehensive loss for the period | (125) | (839) | (1,591) | ||
Total comprehensive loss for the period attributable to equity shareholders | (125) | (839) | (1,591) | ||
Consolidated balance sheet
As at 30 June 2014
30-Jun-14 | 30-Jun-13 | 31-Dec-13 | ||
Note | Unaudited | Unaudited | Audited | |
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | ||
Assets | ||||
Non-current assets | ||||
Property, plant & equipment | 533 | 443 | 388 | |
Intangible assets | 2,145 | 2,252 | 2,252 | |
Deferred tax assets | 47 | 19 | 21 | |
2,725 | 2,714 | 2,661 | ||
Current assets | ||||
Inventories | 38 | 153 | 70 | |
Trade and other receivables | 1,735 | 3,565 | 1,757 | |
Cash and cash equivalents | 505 | 1,346 | 1278 | |
Deferred tax asset | - | - | - | |
Current tax asset | 103 | - | 103 | |
2,671 | 5,064 | 3,208 | ||
Liabilities | ||||
Current liabilities | ||||
Trade and other payables | (1,311) | (2,758) | (2,054) | |
Deferred tax asset | - | (5) | - | |
Current tax liabilities | (106) | (411) | - | |
(1,417) | (3,174) | (2,054) | ||
Net current assets | 964 | 1,890 | 1,154 | |
Net assets | 3,689 | 4,604 | 3,815 | |
Shareholders' equity | ||||
Ordinary share capital | 572 | 572 | 572 | |
Share premium | 8,240 | 8,240 | 8,240 | |
Special reserves | 2,826 | 2,826 | 2,826 | |
Treasury shares | - | (108) | - | |
Shares held by EBT | (312) | (273) | (312) | |
Foreign exchange reserve | 21 | 80 | 40 | |
Retained (losses)/earnings | (7,658) | (6,733) | (7,551) | |
Total equity | 3,689 | 4,604 | 3,815 |
Consolidated cash flow statement
for the six month period ended 30 June 2014
Six months ended | Year ended | |||
Jun-14 | Jun-13 | Dec-13 | ||
Note | Unaudited | Audited | ||
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | ||
Cash flows from operating activities | ||||
Cash used in operations | 6 | (561) | (880) | (1,108) |
Interest paid | - | (3) | (2) | |
Tax received/(paid) | - | 8 | 35 | |
Net cash used in operating activities | (561) | (875) | (1,075) | |
Cash flows from investing activities | ||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (212) | (6) | (177) | |
Purchase on intangible assets | - | - | - | |
Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment | - | 250* | 253 | |
Proceeds for disposal of business unit | - | 1,588 | 1,888 | |
Net cash generated from / (used in) investing activities | (212) | 1,832 | 1,964 | |
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents in the period/year | (773) | 957 | 889 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at start of period/year | 1,278 | 389 | 389 | |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period/year | 505 | 1,346 | 1278 |
*Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment relate to the disposal of business unit.
Notes to the interim financial information
1 Financial information and presentation
The Company is a limited liability company incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The address of its registered office is Marble Arch Tower, 55 Bryanston Street, London, W1H 7AA.
The Company has its primary listing on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange.
This condensed consolidated Interim Report does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of section 435 of the Companies Act 2006. Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2013 were approved by the Board of Directors on 24 April 2014 and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on those accounts was unqualified, did not contain an emphasis of matter paragraph and did not contain any statement under section 498 of the Companies Act 2006.
2 Principal accounting policies
Basis of preparation
This condensed consolidated financial information is for the half-year ended 30 June 2014 and has been prepared in accordance with AIM Rules and accounting policies set out in the Group's 2013 annual report as amended for new standards effective during the period where relevant. These accounting policies are based on the EU-adopted IFRS and IFRIC interpretations that are applicable at the balance sheet date. IFRS and IFRIC interpretations that will be applicable at 31 December 2014, including those that will be applicable on an optional basis, are not known with certainty at the time of preparing this interim financial information. It is therefore possible that further changes to the accounting policies and the comparative financial information may be required before their publication in the 2014 annual report and financial statements.
Exceptional items
Exceptional items are those income or costs recognised as one-off or non-recurring in nature, and substantive in size. The separate reporting of exceptional items helps provide a better indication of the Group's underlying business performance.
Seasonality of operations
Due to the seasonal nature of the recruitment segment, higher revenues and operating profits are usually expected in the second half of the year than in the first six months.
3 Exceptional items
The exceptional profit of £264k (2012: £2,229k) relates to the release of a provision previously made in connection with the disposal of the business of Armstrong Craven in 2013.
4 Taxation
The deferred tax asset for the six month period ended 30 June 2014 is based on the estimated expected effective tax rate of 20 per cent. (2013 actual rate: 23.5 per cent.). No taxation has been provided on profits of overseas subsidiaries.
5 Earnings per share
Six month period ended | Year ended | ||||||||
30-Jun-14 | 30-Jun-13 | Year ended 31 Dec 2013 | |||||||
Unaudited | Audited | ||||||||
Losses | Weighted average number of shares | Per share amount | Earnings | Weighted average number of shares | Per share amount | Earnings | Weighted average number of shares | Per share amount | |
£'000 | '000 | Pence | £'000 | '000 | Pence | £'000 | '000 | Pence | |
Basic losses per share | (106) | 28,622 | (0.37) | (855) | 28,622 | (2.99) | (1,567) | 28,622 | (5.47) |
Less weighted average treasury shares | - | (658) | (0.01) | - | (673) | - | - | (658) | (0.13) |
Less weighted average shares held by EBT | - | (3,595) | (0.05) | - | (2,921) | - | - | (2,936) | (0.66) |
Basic losses per share excluding shares held by EBT | (106) | 24,369 | (0.43) | (855) | 25,028 | (3.42) | (1,567) | 25,028 | (6.26) |
Effect of dilutive share options | - | - | - | - | 160 | - | - | - | - |
Adjusted diluted losses per share excluding shares held by EBT | (106) | 25,188 | (0.43) | (855) | 25,188 | (3.42) | (1,567) | 25,045 | (6.26) |
As there are basic losses per share the effect of share options is anti-dilutive, consequently diluted losses per share equates to the basic losses per share
6 Reconciliation of operating loss to cash used in
Operations
Six month period ended | Year ended | ||
30-Jun-14 | 30-Jun-13 | 31-Dec-13 | |
Unaudited | Audited | ||
£'000 | £'000 | £'000 | |
Loss attributable to shareholders | (106) | (855) | (1,567) |
Adjustments: | |||
Taxation | (26) | 486 | (62) |
Finance income | -- | - | (1) |
Finance costs | - | 3 | 3 |
Depreciation of plant property and equipment | 45 | 89 | 159 |
Profit/(loss) on disposal of plant property and equipment | - | (131) | 20 |
Proceeds from disposal of business unit | 174 | (1,588) | (1,888) |
Share based payments | - | (3) | (40) |
(Increase)/decrease in inventories | 32 | (41) | 41 |
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables | 63 | 381 | 2,061 |
(Decrease) in trade and other payables | (743) | (1,421) | (2,034) |
Impairment of goodwill | - | 2,200 | 2,200 |
Cash used in operations | (561) | (880) | (1,108) |
Statement of directors' responsibilities
The directors confirm that this Interim Report has been prepared in accordance with AIM rules and accounting policies set out in the Group's 2013 annual report as amended for new standards effective during the period.
The directors are also responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The directors of Work Group plc are listed in the Work Group plc Annual Report for 31 December 2013. A list of current directors is maintained on the Work Group plc website: www.workgroup.plc.uk.
Principal risks and uncertainties
The Board consider the principal risks and uncertainties relating to the Group for the next six months to be the same as detailed in our last Annual Report and Accounts to 31 December 2013. Full details of the risks and uncertainties are detailed in the Directors' report section of those accounts. The principal risks to the business are:
· Economic uncertainty
· Loss of clients
· Loss of key employees
· Financial risk
By order of the Board
Simon Howard Rose Colledge
Chairman Chief Executive
30 September 2014 30 September 2014
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