REG - Petards Group PLC - Half-year Report
15/09/2022 07:01
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RNS Number : 5034Z Petards Group PLC 15 September 2022
15 September 2022
Petards Group plc
("Petards", "the Group" or "the Company")
Interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2022
Petards Group plc (AIM: PEG), the AIM quoted developer of advanced security
and surveillance systems, is pleased to report its interim results for the six
months ended 30 June 2022.
Key Highlights:
· Financial
o Revenue £5.5 million (H1 2021: £7.7 million)
o Gross profit margin 49.3% (H1 2021: 39.6%)
o Adjusted EBITDA £606,000 (H1 2021: £929,000)(1)
o Post-tax profit £101,000 (H1 2021: £430,000)
o Cash generated from operating activities £1,120,000 (H1 2021:
£1,669,000)
o Net funds at 30 June 2022 increased to £2.5 million (31 Dec 2021: net
funds £1.5 million)²
o Diluted EPS 0.17p earnings (H1 2021: 0.74p)
· Operational
o Continued strong cash generative performance
o Significant growth at QRO with revenues up over 30%
o Rail market challenging but spares, repairs services revenues back to
pre-Covid levels
o Significantly improved gross profit margin reflects increased content of
higher margin engineering and support services and lower cost base
o All expiring RTS software licenses and support renewed with increased
number of users
o Order book at 30 June 2022 £6 million (31 Dec 2021: £7 million)
(1. Earnings before financial income and expenses, tax, depreciation,
amortisation, and share based payment charges)
(2. Total net funds comprise cash and cash equivalents less
interest-bearing loans and borrowings (including lease liabilities))
Commenting on the current outlook, Raschid Abdullah, Chairman, said:
"The Board anticipates the Group will make further progress in the second half
year and deliver a satisfactory and cash generative performance for year"
This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of
the UK version of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 which is part of UK law by
virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, as amended ("MAR"). Upon
the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service,
this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.
Contacts:
Petards Group plc www.petards.com (http://www.petards.com)
Raschid Abdullah, Chairman Mb: 07768 905004
WH Ireland Limited, Nomad and Joint Broker www.whirelandcb (http://www.whirelandcb) .com
Mike Coe, Sarah Mather Tel: 0207 220 1666
Hybridan LLP, Joint Broker www.hybridan.com (http://www.hybridan.com)
Claire Louise Noyce Tel: 020 3764 2341
claire.noyce@hybridan.com
Chairman's statement
I am pleased to report that for the six months to 30 June 2022 the Group
continued to trade both profitably and cash generatively. While lower than
the corresponding period in 2021, revenues for the six months to 30 June 2022
were £5.5 million (H1 2021: £7.7 million).
Adjusted EBITDA for the period was £606,000 (H1 2021: 929,000), and profit
after tax £101,000 (H1 2021: £430,000). The Group generated net cash from
operations of £1.1 million (H1 2021: £1.7 million) with cash balances
closing at £3.0 million (31 Dec 21: £2.3 million) with net funds of £2.5
million (31 Dec 21: £1.5 million).
These results reflect the present challenging conditions within the UK market
rail market that I outlined in my last Chairman's Statement, and that last
year's revenues were weighted towards the first six months.
Business overview
Petards continues to focus upon the development, supply and maintenance of
technologies used in advanced security, surveillance and ruggedised electronic
applications, the principal markets for which are;
· Rail
- eyeTrain software driven video camera and sensor-based systems for
on-train applications marketed to global train builders and UK rolling stock
owners and operators, providing critical data on and off-train to improve
operational and rail safety performance; and
- RTS real-time safety critical software supporting the UK rail
network, and infrastructure rail asset management, logistics, planning and
business workflow SaaS software for UK rail prime contractors using the RTS
Rail Ops and Asset Management Services suite of applications.
· Traffic
Systems marketed under the QRO name whose brands include ProVida, NASBox and
Q-Box, to UK and overseas law enforcement agencies:
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) for intelligence-led
policing on a national and cross border level, and other ANPR applications,
and
- UK Home Office approved mobile speed enforcement systems.
· Defence
Electronic countermeasure protection systems, mobile radio systems and related
engineering services sold predominantly to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD).
Operating review
The Group results for the first half of 2022 represent the third consecutive
reporting period that the Group has returned a pre-tax profit, improved the
gross profit margin, and been cash generative.
The rail sector continues to be challenging and the first half year saw a
marked reduction in eyeTrain revenues, although those from spares, repairs and
services recovered to levels last seen pre-Covid. However, we are
experiencing a higher level of activity in enquiries and tenders for rolling
stock refurbishment and upgrade programmes, which is increasing our order
prospects. Refurbishment and upgrade contracts are anticipated to be the
precursor to securing future larger contract awards.
This month will be the first time since 2018 that InnoTrans, the world's
largest trade fair focused on the rail transport industry, will be held in
Berlin. As in the past, Petards will be exhibiting and fielding a strong
team encompassing both eyeTrain and RTS. We are pleased with the resumption of
this event and look forward to welcoming both existing and potential new
customers to our stand.
Our rail-based customers continue to be cautious in the placement of new
business, which is delaying orders and is against a background of gradually
recovering passenger numbers, together with the complexities relating to the
implementation of the UK's new rail operating model, Great British Railways,
and its funding.
RTS continued to progress and is investing in additional business development
resource and software engineering capability to pave the way for planned new
product launches. During the first six months it secured the renewal of all
its existing software licence and maintenance contracts expiring in the period
and increased the number of SaaS user licences.
Our investment strategy to expand the RTS portfolio of rail infrastructure
related software products has progressed according to plan, and in the fourth
quarter of 2022 it will be launching its newly developed real-time remote
working and reporting modules. These will extend its Rail Operations and Asset
Management Services suites of software and will significantly enhance the ease
and speed of reporting by on-site and trackside field service rail personnel,
increasing efficiency and safety.
QRO continued to perform well achieving revenue growth of 31% over the
comparable period in 2021, and a highly satisfactory result. Q-Box, a cost
effective in-vehicle ANPR solution launched by QRO earlier in the year, has
attracted a high level of customer interest and over £750k of Q-Box orders
were secured by the half year end.
Although QRO's first half was affected by supply chain capacity issues, action
has been taken to address this and another strong performance is expected for
the full year.
Our defence business traded above expectations in terms of revenue and margins
and delivered a good result for the first half of the year. Activities in
the period included the delivery of new equipment to the RAF as part of the
JETS threat simulator systems five-year framework contract secured last year.
Specialist engineering services provided included the Challenger 2 VICS engine
and transmission management system survey programme, and the support of vital
MOD communication equipment in the UK and overseas.
Following overseas trials earlier this year and building upon previous work
with the British Army's Armoured Trials and Development Unit, further trials
of Petards' eyeCraft 360 are planned for later this year and into 2023.
Financial review
Operating performance
Revenues for the six months ended 30 June 2022 totalled £5.5 million (H1
2021: £7.7 million). Revenues for the period were only slightly below those
achieved in the second half of 2021, whereas the first half of 2021 had
benefitted from revenues of £1.8 million from two individual shipments of
equipment, one relating to Rail and one to Defence.
The Group's overall gross profit margin increased significantly to 49.3% (H1
2021: 39.6%), sustaining the improvements achieved over the past two years or
so since management acted to re-align eyeTrain's cost base. The improvement in
the first six months of 2022 reflected those cost reductions as well as the
growth in revenues of higher margin spares, repairs, and engineering services
across the Group.
Administrative expenses were broadly unchanged at £2.6 million (H1 2021:
£2.6 million).
Adjusted EBITDA for the period was £606,000 (H1 2021: £929,000), and with
amortisation and depreciation charges at similar levels to the comparable
period in 2021, the Group generated an operating profit of £125,000 (H1 2021:
£454,000). Net financial expenses, which predominantly relate to the Group's
term loan and lease liabilities, remained at £24,000 (H1 2021: £24,000).
After a nil tax charge (H1 2021: nil), the Group's profit after tax was
£101,000 (H1 2021: £430,000) and the basic and diluted earnings per share
were 0.18p and 0.17p respectively (H1 2021: basic and diluted profit of 0.75p
and 0.74p respectively).
Cash, cash flow and net debt
The Group continued its recent record of strong cash generative performance,
generating net cash from operating activities in the period of £1.1 million
(H1 2021: £1.7 million).
After repayment of debt and interest of £0.1 million, cash balances increased
to £3.0 million (31 December 2021: £2.3 million). Net funds at 30 June 2022,
after deducting term loan and lease liabilities, grew to £2.5 million from
£1.5 million at 31 December 2021.
With two years remaining on its undrawn £2.5 million 3-year overdraft
facility and with its existing cash resources, the Group has sufficient
capacity to fund organic growth and its working capital requirements.
Acquisitions
Acquisitions continue to be a part of the board's strategy and we have
reviewed several businesses which would complement the Group activities.
Some of these companies have yet to recover to their pre-Covid earnings levels
and as a result agreeing values remains the challenge in the present climate.
Outlook
The Group's activities generally performed well during the period to 30 June
2022, apart from eyeTrain where delays in order placement for new systems
reduced revenues. The Group's order book at 30 June 2022 of £6 million
reflects this lower eyeTrain order intake.
While UK rail passenger journeys have recovered from the extreme lows of 2020
and doubled in the year to March 2022, they were still less than two thirds of
those undertaken pre-Covid. We believe that until such time as the Great
British Railways model is operational, UK train operators are likely to remain
restricted in the placement of new business, particularly for larger orders.
However, there are smaller opportunities which are presently under discussion
with existing customers.
Despite this background, the Board anticipates the Group will make further
progress in the second half year and deliver a satisfactory and cash
generative performance for year.
Raschid Abdullah
15 September 2022
Condensed Consolidated Income Statement
for the six months ended 30 June 2022
Note Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended 30 June ended 30 June 31 December
2022 2021 2021
£000 £000 £000
Revenue 5,521 7,692 13,574
Cost of sales (2,801) (4,647) (7,482)
Gross profit 2,720 3,045 6,092
Administrative expenses (2,601) (2,591) (5,530)
Other income 6 - 8
Adjusted EBITDA* 606 929 1,534
Amortisation of intangibles (313) (297) (603)
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (77) (99) (193)
Amortisation of right of use assets (91) (63) (136)
Share based payment charges - (16) (32)
Operating profit 125 454 570
Financial expenses
(24) (24) (68)
Profit before tax 101 430 502
4 - - 363
Income tax
Profit for the period attributable to equity shareholders of the company 101 430 865
Other comprehensive income - - -
Total comprehensive income for the period 101 430 865
Earnings per ordinary share (pence)
Basic 9 0.18 0.75 1.51
Diluted 9 0.17 0.74 1.47
* Earnings before financial income and expenses, tax, depreciation,
amortisation and share based payment charges
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
for the six months ended 30 June 2022
Share Share Equity Retained Total
capital premium Treasury shares reserve earnings equity
£000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000
At 1 January 2021 (audited) 575 1,624 14 4,715 6,928
-
Profit for the period - - - - 430 430
430
Total comprehensive income for the period - - - - 430
Equity settled share based payments - - - - 16 16
At 30 June 2021 (unaudited) 575 1,624 - 14 5,161 7,374
At 1 January 2021 (audited) 575 1,624 14 4,715 6,928
-
Profit for the year - - - - 865 865
Total comprehensive income for the year 865 865
- - - -
Purchase of treasury shares - - (103) - - (103)
Equity settled share based payments - - - - 32 32
At 31 December 2021 (audited) 575 1,624 14 5,612 7,722
(103)
At 1 January 2022 (audited) 575 1,624 14 5,612 7,722
(103)
Profit for the period - - - - 101 101
Total comprehensive income for the period 101
- - - - 101
At 30 June 2022 (unaudited) 575 1,624 (103) 14 5,713 7,823
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
at 30 June 2022
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
30 June 30 June 31 December 2021
2022 2021 £000
£000 £000
ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 656 761 686
Right of use assets 316 324 366
Intangible assets 3,720 4,341 4,031
Investments 5 5 5
Deferred tax assets 396 522 396
5,093 5,953 5,484
Current assets
Inventories 1,488 2,738 1,659
Trade and other receivables 5 2,285 1,890 1,989
Cash and cash equivalents 3,019 3,549 2,277
6,792 8,177 5,925
Total assets 11,885 14,130 11,409
EQUITY AND LIABILITIES
Equity attributable to equity holders
of the parent
Share capital 575 575 575
Share premium 1,624 1,624 1,624
Treasury shares (103) - (103)
Equity reserve 14 14 14
Retained earnings 5,713 5,161 5,612
Total equity 7,823 7,374 7,722
Non-current liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 8 120 463 284
120 463 284
Current liabilities
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings 8 382 374 483
Trade and other payables 6 3,560 5,919 2,920
3,942 6,293 3,403
Total liabilities 4,062 6,756 3,687
Total equity and liabilities 11,885 14,130 11,409
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
for the six months ended 30 June 2022
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended 30 June ended 30 June 31 December 2021
2022 2021
£000 £000 £000
Cash flows from operating activities
Profit for the period 101 430 865
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 73 99 193
Amortisation of right of use assets 95 63 136
Amortisation of intangible assets 313 297 603
Profit on disposal of right of use assets - (8) (8)
Financial expenses 24 24 68
Equity settled share-based payment expenses - 16 32
Income tax charge/(credit) - - (363)
Operating cash flows before movement in
working capital 606 921 1,526
Change in inventories 170 (366) 713
Change in trade and other receivables (296) 740 641
Change in trade and other payables 640 359 (2,596)
Cash generated from operations 1,120 1,654 284
Tax received - 15 461
Net cash from operating activities 1,120 1,669 745
Cash flows from investing activities
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment (43) (99) (118)
Sale of right of use assets - 8 8
Capitalised development expenditure - (21) (17)
Net cash outflow from investing activities (43) (112) (127)
Cash flows from financing activities
Bank loan repaid (125) (125) (250)
Interest paid on lease liabilities (12) (14) (18)
Interest paid on loans and borrowings (7) (10) (122)
Principal paid on lease liabilities (185) (61) (27)
Other interest and foreign exchange losses (6) (2) (25)
Purchase of treasury shares - - (103)
Net cash outflow from financing activities (335) (212) (545)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 742 1,345 73
Total movement in cash and cash equivalents
in the period 742 1,345 73
Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January 2,277 2,204 2,204
Cash and cash equivalents 3,019 3,549 2,277
Notes to the financial statements
1. Reporting entity
Petards Group plc (the 'Company') is incorporated and domiciled in England and
its shares are publicly traded on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock
Exchange. These condensed consolidated interim financial statements ('interim
financial statements') as at and for the six months ended 30 June 2022
comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the
'Group').
Copies of these interim financial statements will be available on the
Company's website (www.petards.com) and from the Company's registered office
at Parallel House, 32 London Road, Guildford, GU1 2AB.
2. Basis of preparation
As permitted, these interim financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with AIM Rules for Companies and are not required to comply with
IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' to maintain compliance with IFRS. They
should be read in conjunction with the Group's last annual consolidated
financial statements as at and for the financial year ended 31 December 2021
('last annual financial statements'). They do not include all of the financial
information required for a complete set of IFRS financial statements, however
selected explanatory notes are included to explain events and transactions
that are significant to the understanding of the changes in the Group's
financial position and performance since the last annual financial statements.
This financial information does not constitute statutory accounts as defined
in Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006.
The comparative figures for the financial year ended 31 December 2021 set out
in these interim statements are not the Group's statutory accounts for that
financial year. Those accounts have been reported on by the Company's auditors
and delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors was
(i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the
auditor drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report, and
(iii) did not contain a statement under section 498 (2) or (3) of the
Companies Act 2006.
3. Use of judgements and estimates
In preparing these interim financial statements, management has made
judgements and estimates that affect the application of accounting policies
and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expense. Actual
amounts may differ from these estimates.
The significant judgements made by management in applying the Group's
accounting policies and the key sources of estimation uncertainty were the
same as those described in the last annual financial statements.
4. Taxation
No provision for taxation has been made in the Condensed Consolidated Income
Statement for the six months to 30 June 2022 based on the estimated tax
provision required for the year ending 31 December 2022 (H1 2021: nil).
5. Trade and other receivables
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended 30 June ended 30 June 31 December 2021
2022 2021
£000 £000 £000
Trade receivables 1,974 1,734 1,683
Other receivables and prepayments 311 156 306
2,285 1,890 1,989
6. Trade and other payables
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended 30 June ended 30 June 31 December 2021
2022 2021
£000 £000 £000
Trade payables 843 1,487 606
Contract liabilities 1,366 1,621 69
Non-trade payables and accrued expenses 1,351 2,811 2,245
3,560 5,919 2,920
7. Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
Current liabilities
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended 30 June ended 30 June 31 December 2021
2022 2021
£000 £000 £000
Bank loan 250 250 250
Lease liabilities 132 124 233
382 374 483
Non-current liabilities
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended 30 June ended 30 June 2021 31 December 2021
2022
£000 £000 £000
Bank loan - 250 125
Lease liabilities 120 213 159
120 463 284
8. Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit for the period
attributable to the shareholders by the weighted average number of shares in
issue.
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended 30 June ended 30 June 31 December 2021
2022 2021
Earnings
Profit+ for the period (£000) 101 430 865
Number of shares
Weighted average number of ordinary shares ('000) 56,528 57,528 57,441
Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share assumes conversion of all potentially dilutive
ordinary shares, which arise from share options that would decrease earnings
per share or increase loss per share from continuing operations and is
calculated by dividing the adjusted profit for the period attributable to the
shareholders by the assumed weighted average number of shares in issue.
Unaudited Unaudited Audited
6 months 6 months Year ended
ended 30 June ended 30 June 31 December 2021
2022 2021
Earnings
Profit for the period (£000) 101 430 865
Number of shares
Weighted average number of ordinary shares ('000) 57,832 57,791 58,744
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