RNS Number : 1093Y
Arcontech Group PLC
24 February 2025
 

 

ARCONTECH GROUP PLC

 

("Arcontech" or the "Group")

 

INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2024

 

Arcontech (AIM: ARC), the provider of products and services for real-time financial market data processing and trading, reports its unaudited results for the six months ended 31 December 2024.

 

 

Overview:

 

  •  Revenue increased by 4.3% to £1,511,346 (H1 2023: £1,448,804)

  • Recurring revenues represented 97% of total revenues for the period (H1 2023: 100%)
       
  • Adjusted EBITDA* decreased by 12.1% to £446,513 (H1 2023: £507,668) reflecting the expected increase in staff costs

(* adjusted ebitda is defined as operating profit before depreciation, amortisation, share base payments and releases of historic accruals relating to administrative expenses)

  •  Profit before tax decreased by 3.8% to £518,166 (H1 2023: £538,790)


  • Our preferred measure of adjusted profit before tax, which excludes the release of accruals unrelated to the underlying business, decreased by 7.5% to £494,360 (H1 2023: £534,775)

  •  Net cash of £7,166,839 at 31 December 2024, up 24.9% (H1 2023: £5,734,226). The period under review saw the return to a normal billing cycle for one of our large customers, and a record dividend payment of £501,479 on 1 November 2024

  •  Trading in line with full year market expectations and confident in the full year outturn

 

 

 

Geoff Wicks, Chairman of Arcontech, said:

 

"The improvements to market conditions we mentioned in our Preliminary Statement last year have continued and the growth has materialised. We remain cautious as customers are careful about increasing their costs and lead times remain long. However, our pipeline is strong and we are confident about our future and the full year outturn."

 


Enquiries:

 

Arcontech Group plc

020 7256 2300

Geoff Wicks, Chairman and Non-Executive Director


Matthew Jeffs, Chief Executive




Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd (Nomad & Broker)

020 7220 0500

Carl Holmes/Rory Sale (Corporate Finance)

Harriet Ward (Corporate Broking)




 

To access more information on the Group please visit: www.arcontech.com

 

The interim report will only be available to view online enabling the Group to communicate in a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective manner.

 

 

Chairman's Statement

 

Arcontech has seen continued growth and although market conditions have improved many customers are cautious about embarking on new projects and increasing their cost base. As a result our pipeline has improved but lead times remain long. Our continued focus on our core market has ensured we continue to build the potential for future growth.

 

Our expected growth is likely to be tempered by some downsizing at larger customers as technology and markets change, however we are confident that new business will continue to work its way through the pipeline. With the complexity of markets changing, we have started to see some one-off contracts for work to change and embed our products into our customers' systems. It remains a small part of our business.

 

Revenue was £1.51 million, up 4.3% on the same period last year, Profit before tax ("PBT") was £0.51 million, down 3.8% on the same period last year. Adjusted profit before tax, which is PBT before the release of accruals for administrative costs in respect of prior years was £0.50 million, down 7.5% on the previous year.

 

Financing

 

Our balance sheet remains robust with net cash of £7.1 million, £1.2 million higher than at 31 December 2023. The cash generation profile for the period normalised with a return to regular timing of the billing cycle for a large customer. This cash position allows for continued investment in sales and products and for us to remain alert to opportunities to acquire small complementary businesses.

 

Dividend

 

No interim dividend is proposed to be paid in respect of the half year. The Board expects to continue its policy of paying a dividend following the announcement of its full year results.

 

Outlook

 

The improvements to market conditions we mentioned in our Preliminary Statement last year have continued and the growth has materialised. We remain cautious as customers are careful about increasing their costs and lead times remain long. However, our pipeline is strong and we are confident about our future and the full year outturn.

 

 

Geoff Wicks

Chairman and Non-Executive Director


 

GROUP INCOME STATEMENT AND STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

 



Note

Six months ended 31

 December


Six months ended 31

 December


Year ended

 

30 June




2024


2023


2024




(unaudited)

£


(unaudited)

£


(audited)

£









Revenue



1,511,346


1,448,804


2,910,232









Administrative costs



(1,109,882)


(1,039,456)


(2,040,541)









Operating profit


4

401,464


409,348


869,691









Finance income



139,066


126,055


247,903









Finance costs


12

(22,364)


3,387


(18,635)

















Profit before taxation



518,166


538,790


1,098,959









Taxation


6

-


-


(31,302)

 

Profit for the period after tax


 

 

518,166


538,790


 

1,067,657









Total comprehensive income



518,166


538,790


1,067,657









Profit per share (basic)



3.87p


4.03p


7.98p









Adjusted* Profit per share (basic)



3.70p


4.00p


7.80p









Profit per share (diluted)



3.85p


4.02p


7.96p









Adjusted* Profit per share (diluted)



3.68p


3.99p


7.78p

 

 

All of the results relate to continuing operations and there was no other comprehensive income in the period.

* Before release of accruals for administrative costs in respect of prior years.

 

GROUP BALANCE SHEET


 

 

Note

 

31 December 2024


 

31 December 2023


 

30 June

2024



(unaudited)

£


(unaudited)

£


(audited)

£

Non-current assets







Goodwill


1,715,153


1,715,153


1,715,153

Property, plant and equipment


10,220


6,325


5,404

Right of use asset

12

447,279


559,098


503,190

Deferred tax asset


358,000


328,000


358,000

Trade and other receivables

9

141,750


141,750


141,750








Total non-current assets


2,672,402


2,750,326


2,723,497








Current assets







Trade and other receivables

9

821,336


1,335,408


677,069

Cash and cash equivalents


7,166,839


5,734,226


7,160,177








Total current assets


7,988,175


7,069,634


7,837,246








Current liabilities







Trade and other payables

10

(594,088)


(473,512)


(595,190)

Deferred income


(1,221,194)


(1,013,405)


(1,092,835)

Lease liabilities

12

(114,893)


(68,869)


(110,308)

Provisions


-


(50,000)


-








Total current liabilities


(1,930,175)


(1,605,786)


(1,798,333)








Non-current liabilities







Lease liabilities

12

(368,748)


(483,641)


(427,365)

Provisions


(70,000)


(20,000)


(70,000)








Total non-current liabilities


(438,748)


(503,641)


(497,365)








Net current assets


 6,058,000


 5,463,848


6,038,913








Net assets


8,291,654


7,710,533


8,265,045

Equity







Share capital


1,671,601


1,671,601


1,671,601

Share premium account


115,761


115,761


115,761

Share option reserve


340,668


305,101


330,746

Retained earnings


6,163,624


5,618,070


6,146,937










8,291,654


7,710,533


8,265,045

 



GROUP

 



Note

Six months ended 31

December


Six months ended 31

December


Year ended

 

30 June




2024


2023


2024




(unaudited)

£


(unaudited)

£


(audited)

£

Cash generated from / (used in) operating activities


11

432,237


(296,937)


 

1,051,177









Tax paid


6

-


-


(15,586)









Net cash generated from / (used in) operating activities



432,237


(296,937)


 

1,035,591









Investing activities
















Interest received



137,775


126,055


247,903









Proceeds on disposal of fixed assets



-


417


417

 

Purchases of plant and equipment



 

(7,840)


 

(3,471)


 

 (12,055)









Net cash generated from investing activities



 

129,935


 

123,001


 

         236,265









Financing activities
















Dividends paid



(501,479)


(468,048)


(468,048)









Payment of lease liabilities



(54,031)


(35,031)


(54,872)

















Net cash used in financing activities



(555,510)


(503,079)


(522,920)

 

 

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents



 

 

6,662


 

 

(677,015)


 

 

         748,936









Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period



 

7,160,177


 

6,411,241


 

       6,411,241









Cash and cash equivalents at end of period



 

7,166,839


 

5,734,266


     

7,160,177

 

 

GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 


Share

capital

Share

premium

Share-option reserve

Retained

earnings

 Total

 


                £

                £

               £

              £

                £

At 1 July 2023

1,671,601

115,761

279,455

5,547,328

7,614,145

Profit for the period

-

-

-

538,790

538,790

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

538,790

538,790

Dividends paid

-

-

-

(468,048)

(468,048)

Share-based payments

-

-

25,646

-

25,646

Total transactions with owners

-

-

25,646

(468,048)

(442,402)

At 31 December 2023

1,671,601

115,761

305,101

5,618,070

7,710,533

Profit for the period

-

-

-

528,867

528,867

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

528,867

528,867

Share-based payments

-

-

25,645

-

25,645

Total transactions with owners

-

-

25,645

-

25,645

At 30 June 2024

1,671,601

115,761

330,746

6,146,937

8,265,045

Profit for the period

-

-

-

518,166

518,166

Total comprehensive income for the period

 

-

-

-

518,166

518,166

Dividends paid

-

-

-

(501,479)

(501,479)

Share-based payments

-

-

9,922

-

9,922

Total transactions with owners

-

-

9,922

(501,479)

(491,557)

At 31 December 2024

1,671,601

115,761

340,668

6,163,624

8,291,654



NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

1.    The figures for the six months ended 31 December 2024 and 31 December 2023 are unaudited and do not constitute statutory accounts. The accounting policies adopted are consistent with those applied by the Group in the preparation of the annual consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2024. The Group has not early adopted any standard, interpretation or amendment that has been issued but is not yet effective. Several amendments and interpretations apply for the first time in the 2025 financial year, but these do not have a material impact on the interim condensed consolidated financial statements of the Group.   

2.   The financial information for the year ended 30 June 2024 set out in this interim report does not comprise the Group's statutory accounts as defined in section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. The statutory accounts for the year ended 30 June 2024, which were prepared in accordance with UK-adopted international accounting standards, have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The auditors reported on those accounts; their report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under either Section 498(2) or Section 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006 and did not include references to any matters to which the auditor drew attention by way of emphasis.

3.   Copies of this statement are available from the Company Secretary at the Company's registered office at 1st Floor 11-21 Paul Street, London, EC2A 4JU or from the Company's website at www.arcontech.com.

4.   Operating profit is stated after release of accruals for administrative expenses in respect of prior years of £23,806 (31 December 2023: £4,014; 30 June 2024: £24,603).

5.   Earnings per share have been calculated based on the profit after tax and the weighted average number of shares in issue during the half year ended 31 December 2024 of 13,372,811 (31 December 2023: 13,372,811 30 June 2024: 13,372,811).

The number of dilutive shares under option at 31 December 2024 was 76,017 (31 December 2023: 26,988; 30 June 2024: 31,620). The calculation of diluted earnings per share assumes conversion of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares, all of which arise from share options. A calculation is done to determine the number of shares that could have been acquired at the average market price during the period, based upon the issue price of the outstanding share options including future charges to be recognised under the share-based payment arrangements.

6.   Taxation is based on the unaudited results and provision has been estimated at the rate applicable to the Company at the time of this statement and expected to be applied to the total annual earnings. No corporation tax has been charged in the period as any liability has been offset against tax losses brought forward from prior years. The tax paid represents the cash payment of tax liability from the preceding income tax year.

7.   A final dividend in respect of the year ended 30 June 2024 of 3.75 pence per share (2023: 3.50 pence per share) was paid on 1 November 2024.

8.   The Directors have elected not to apply IAS 34 Interim financial reporting.


9.   Trade and other receivables


31 December
2024
£

(unaudited)


31 December
2023

£

(unaudited)


30 June
2024
£

(audited)

Due within one year:












Trade and other receivables

628,762


1,137,648


458,227







Prepayments and accrued income

192,575


197,760


218,842







Other receivables

-


-


-


821,336


1,335,408


677,069

 


31 December
2024
£

(unaudited)


31 December
2023

£

(unaudited)


30 June
2024
£

(audited)

Due after more than one year:












Other receivables

141,750


141,750


141,750


141,750


141,750


141,750

 

The long term trade receivable of £141,750 is the rental agreement deposit for the Group's Paul Street office.

 

10. Trade and other payables


31 December
2024
£

(unaudited)


31 December
2023

£

(unaudited)


30 June
2024
£

(audited)







Trade payables

88,874


27,055


61,328







Other tax and social security payable

169,864


69,714


106,899







Other payables and accruals

335,350


376,743


426,963


594,088


473,512


595,190

 



11. Cash generated from operations



Six months ended 31

December


Six months ended 31

December


Year ended

 

30 June





2024


2023


2024





(unaudited)

£


(unaudited)

£


(audited)

£












Operating profit


401,464


409,348


869,691












Depreciation charge


58,933


76,688


134,518












Non-cash share option charges


9,922


25,646


51,291












Lease interest charge


(21,569)


(476)


(18,435)





 







Other interest charge


(795)


(1,141)


(200)





 







Profit on disposal of fixed assets


-


(152)


(151)



 

Increase in trade and other receivables


(133,039)


(990,910)


 

 

(318,958)












Increase in trade and other payables


117,321


184,060


333,421



Cash generated from / (used in) operations


 

432,237


 

(296,937)


 

1,051,177










 















12. Leases

 

As a lessee, under IFRS 16 the Group recognises right-of-use assets and lease liabilities for all leases on its balance sheet. The only lease applicable under IFRS 16 is the Group's office.

The key impacts on the Statement of Comprehensive Income and the Statement of Financial Position are as follows:


Right of use asset

£


Lease liability

£


Income statement

£

As at 1 July 2024

503,190


(537,672)


-







Depreciation

(55,911)


-


(55,910)

Interest

-


(21,569)

 

(21,569)

Lease payments

-


75,600


-

Carrying value at 31 December 2024

447,279


(483,641)


(77,479)

 

 


Right of use asset

£


Lease liability

£


Income statement

£

As at 1 July 2023

73,152


(40,324)


-







Recognition of new lease under IFRS 16

559,803


(552,220)


-

Depreciation

(73,857)


-


(73,857)

Liability write-back at expiry

-


5,293


5,293

Interest

-


(765)

 

(765)

Lease payments

-


35,506


-

Carrying value at 31 December 2023

559,098


(552,510)


(69,329)

 


 

Contractual maturity analysis of lease liabilities as at 31 December 2024

 


Less than 3 months

£

3 - 12 months

 

£

1 - 5 Years

 

£

Longer than 5 Years

£

Total

 

£

Lease liabilities

37,800

113,400

332,441

-

483,641

 

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