Picture of Global Opportunities Trust logo

GOT Global Opportunities Trust News Story

0.000.00%
gb flag iconLast trade - 00:00
FinancialsConservativeSmall Cap

Talent Group PLC Half-yearly Report

TIDMTTV

26 June 2009

Talent Group plc

("Talent" or the "Company")

Half-yearly results for the six months ended 31 March 2009

CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT

There can be no doubt that the last few months have seen unprecedentedly
difficult conditions for the independent television sector, and these are
reflected in our interim results for the six months to 31 March 2009.These show
turnover of GBP303,000 (2008 : GBP1,164,000), gross profit of GBP174,000 (2008 : GBP
341,000) and a loss before and after taxation of GBP343,000 (2008 : loss before
and after taxation of GBP145,000). The loss per share was 2.06p (2008 : loss per
share 0.89p).

The level of turnover reflects the lack of commissioning activity from our
clients, who are themselves under pressure from significantly reduced revenues.
From our perspective these difficulties were compounded by a large number of
personnel changes amongst commissioning editors, resulting in lack of
continuity in progressing productions in development. We have, nevertheless,
witnessed a modest improvement since March 2009 with the completion of two
programmes, How Clean is my Crime Scene and a Jim Davidson special, for Virgin
Media. We have also taken advantage of the lull in production commissions to
concentrate on new programme and format development, as evidenced by our
recently announced first look deal with Digital Rights Group.

We have also continued to strive to reduce our overheads. Whilst administrative
expenses appear to have risen to GBP498,000 for the 6 months to March 2009
compared to GBP487,000 in the previous half-year, the 2009 figures include GBP
112,000 development costs incurred by our new subsidiary, Talent Television
South. These mask the reduction of core overhead costs to GBP386,000 for the
half-year, compared to GBP487,000 in 2008 and GBP626,000 in 2007. Since the end of
March 2009 further cost efficiency measures have been introduced, the benefit
of which will be seen in the next financial year.

Whilst the trading background remains difficult, there are now indications of a
beginning of a return to more normal market conditions, and the board and I
believe the measures we have adopted leave the Company well placed to take
advantage of such improvements. In the meantime I have one board change to
announce: Stephen Callen is today joining the board as our new finance
director, following the decision of Frances Horrell to step down for personal
reasons. Stephen, a Chartered Accountant, has over fifteen years experience of
the independent television sector. I would like to thank Frances for all her
hard work during her time with the company.

Terry Bate
Chairman
26 June 2009

A separate announcement incorporating further details with regards to Stephen
Callen's appointment, including the information required by Schedule 2(g) of
the AIM Rules, will be made shortly.

FURTHER ENQUIRIES

Talent Group plc

Tony Humphreys (Managing Director) 020 7421 7800

John East & Partners Limited, a subsidiary of Merchant Securities plc

John East / Simon Clements 020 7628 2200



CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2009

Six months Six months Year ended
to to 30-Sep
31-Mar 31-Mar 2008
2009 2008

(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)

GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000

Revenue 303 1,164 1,841

Cost of sales (129) (823) (1,271)

Gross profit 174 341 570

Administrative expenses (498) (487) (1,008)

Finance income 1 1 7

Finance costs (20) - (10)

Loss before taxation (343) (145) (441)

Income tax expense - prior year - - 13

- current year - - -

Loss for the period (343) (145) (428)

Basic loss per share (pence) (2.06p) (0.89p) (2.63p)

Diluted loss per share (pence) (1.96p) (0.87p) (2.53p)



CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 MARCH 2009

31-Mar 31-Mar 30-Sep
2009 2008 2008

(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)

GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000

Assets

Non-current Assets

Goodwill 1,082 987 1,082

Other intangible assets 34 40 37

Property, plant & equipment 58 55 49

1,174 1,082 1,168

Current assets

Inventories 71 44 68

Trade receivables 124 836 548

Cash & cash equivalents 121 35 178

316 915 794

Total assets 1,490 1,997 1,962

Equity and liabilities

Equity

Share capital 6,315 6,310 6,315

Share premium 11,675 11,634 11,675

Share option reserve 123 119 120

Retained earnings (17,505) (16,879) (17,162)

Total equity 608 1,184 948

Current liabilities

Bank loan - 450 -

Borrowings 700 - 600

Trade & other payables 182 363 414

Total liabilities 882 813 1,014

Total equity & liabilities 1,490 1,997 1,962



CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2009

Six months Six months Year ended
to to 30-Sep
31-Mar 31-Mar 2008
2009 2008 (Audited)
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)

GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000

Cash flows from operating
activities

Loss before taxation (343) (145) (441)

Adjustments for:

Depreciation of tangible assets 7 9 20

Amortisation of intangible assets 3 3 6

Loss on disposal of tangible - - 3
assets

Interest received (1) (6) (7)

Interest paid 20 4 10

(314) (135) (409)

Decrease/ (increase) in trade and 424 (425) (140)
other receivables

(Increase)/ decrease in (3) 10 (14)
inventories

Decrease in trade and other (777)
payables (232) (810)

(125) (1,360) 1,340

Tax refund received - - 21

Tax paid - - (1)

Net cash flows from operating (1,320)
activities (125) (1,360)

Cash flows from investing
activities

Purchase of property, plant and (8)
equipment (13) (1)

Interest received 1 6 7

Acquisition of subsidiary net of - - 2
cash acquired

Net cash used in investing (12) 5 1
activities

Cash flows from financing
activities

Proceeds from borrowings 100 450 600

Repayment of borrowings - - (36)

Interest Paid (20) (3) (10)

Net cash from financing activities 80 447 554

Net cash decrease in cash and cash (765)
equivalents (57) (908)

Cash and cash equivalents at 943
beginning of period 178 943

Cash and cash equivalent at end of 178
period 121 35



CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2009

Share
Share Share Option Retained
Capital Premium Reserve Earnings Total

GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000

At 30 September 6,315 11,675 120 (17,162) 948
2008

Changes in equity

Loss for period - - - (343) (343)

Equity share option - - 3 -
recognised 3

At 31 March 2009 6,315 11,675 123 (17,505) 608

Share
Share Share Option Retained
Capital Premium Reserve Earnings Total

GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000

At 30 September 6,310 11,634 117 (16,734) 1,327
2007

Changes in equity

Profit for period - - - (145) (145)

Equity share option - - 2 -
recognised 2

At 31 March 2008 6,310 11,634 119 (16,879) 1,184


NOTES TO THE HALF-YEARLY RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 MARCH 2009

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

The interim report is unaudited and does not constitute statutory accounts
within the meaning of s240 of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts
for 2007, which were prepared under IFRS, have been delivered to the Registrar
of Companies. The auditor's opinion on these accounts was unmodified and did
not contain a statement under s237 (2) or s237 (3) of the Companies Act 1985.

The interim financial information has been prepared on a basis which is
consistent with the accounting policies adopted by the Company for the last
financial statements and in compliance with IAS 34.

Comparative figures are given for the six months ended 31 March 2008 and the
year ended 30 September 2008.

2. REVENUE AND LOSS ON ORDINARY ACTIVITIES BEFORE TAXATION

The results for the six months ended 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2008 are
unaudited. The audited results for the year ended 30 September 2008 have also
been shown.

By geographical 2009 2008
location

Loss Loss
Before Before
Revenue Taxation Revenue Taxation
GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000

United Kingdom 295 (334) 1,096 (137)

United States - - - -

Asia 8 (9) 68 (8)

303 (343) 1,164 (145)


3. LOSS PER ORDINARY SHARE

The loss per share is based on a loss for the period of GBP343,000 (six months
ended 31 March 2008: a loss of GBP145,000; year ended 30 September 2008: a loss
of GBP428,000), being the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders, and a
weighted average of 16,670,284 (31 March 2008: 16,210,284; 30 September 2008:
16,241,791) ordinary shares.

The diluted loss per share is based on a time weighting of the options granted
by the current Talent Group employee share option plan.

4. RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

31-Mar 31-Mar 30-Sep
2009 2008 2008

(Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited)

GBP'000 GBP'000 GBP'000

Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
in the period (57) (908) (765)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning 178 943 943
of period

Cash and cash equivalents at end of 121 (35) 178
period




5. COPIES OF THE INTERIM RESULTS

Copies of the half-yearly results will be available from the Company's
registered office 13-19 Vine Hill, London EC1R 5DW and will be available from
the Company's website www.talenttv.com.





END

Recent news on Global Opportunities Trust

See all news