TIDMSNX
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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