RNS Number : 8524G
Sarantel Group PLC
09 February 2010
 



9 February 2010

 

Sarantel Group PLC

 

Preliminary results for the year to 30 September 2009

 

Sarantel Group PLC, (AIM: SLG, "Sarantel"), a leading manufacturer of high-performance, miniature antennas for mobile and wireless devices, announces preliminary results for the year ended 30 September 2009.

 

Highlights:

 

·      Group revenues grew by more than 50% to £2.8m

·      High-value markets account for around 40% of revenues

·      Operating loss reduced for third successive year

·      £2.25m placing completed in December 2009

·      Visibility of an increasing number and range of design opportunities in all market sectors

·      Mobile Satellite Services and military markets continue to grow 

 

Geoff Shingles, Chairman, said:

 

"Sarantel made solid progress in 2009. Revenues grew by over 50% and we reduced our losses for a third successive year. We are seeing an increasing number and range of design opportunities as GPS becomes ubiquitous and as we deepen our engagement in the higher-value markets, which accounted for 40% of our revenues.

 

"We remain confident that Sarantel's innovative technology will continue to increase market share as users demand ever-higher performance from navigation and other mobile devices."

 

 

Enquiries

 

01933 670 560




020 7107 8000



020 7457 2020

 

About Sarantel

 

 

Sarantel is a leader in the design of high-performance miniature antennas for portable wireless applications. Sarantel's revolutionary ceramic filtering antennas offer dramatically improved performance over existing antenna designs, resulting in a clearer signal, better range and a 90 per cent reduction in the amount of signal radiation absorbed by the body. Because of their smaller size and higher capabilities, Sarantel's antennas enable manufacturers to create innovative wireless products for the GPS, WiMax, Satellite Radio and Satellite phone markets.

High-volume GPS

There are a number of encouraging developments in the high-volume consumer market that indicate a clear trend to GPS integration in an increasing number of small, handheld devices that Sarantel believes will require better performance as these markets mature.

 

Mobile Satellite Services

During the year we began shipments of our antenna to Iridium for the new 9555 satellite phone, which was launched in November 2008. Initial production orders to fill channels ahead of the product launch generated more demand in the first half of 2009 than the second and since then, orders from Iridium have settled into a more stable pattern.

Sarantel now sells from a portfolio of eight antennas with others in development. Our manufacturing operations have a flexible manufacturing strategy to minimise stock levels and meet customer requirements. 

Summary and outlook

The Group has visibility of many opportunities developing in both the GPS and the high-value markets. The Board believes that the outlook for Sarantel remains very positive and is confident that further progress is achievable in 2010.

 

 

Consolidated Income Statement for the year ended 30 September 2009

 

Note

2009


2008


£


£






Revenue

4

2,811,437


1,858,463






Cost of sales


1,616,228


1,791,069






Gross profit


1,195,209


67,394






Research & development costs


1,220,303


1,037,317






Selling & distribution costs


599,575


401,696






Administration costs


2,285,392


3,357,492






Total operating costs


4,105,270


4,796,505






Operating loss

3

(2,910,061)


(4,729,111)






Operating loss before impairment, depreciation and amortisation


(1,907,832)


(2,781,460)

Impairment, depreciation and amortisation


(1,002,229)


(1,947,651)






Finance and other income


90,802


86,273

Finance and other costs


160,759


23,438






Loss before tax


(2,980,018)


(4,666,276)






Tax


195,297


198,171






Loss for the year


(2,784,721)


(4,468,105)






Basic and diluted loss per share

5

(1.5)p


(3.5)p

 

Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 30 September 2009

 

Note

2009


2008


£


£

Assets





Non-current





Intangible assets


1,476,654


1,270,515

Property, plant & equipment

6

1,382,299


2,055,483

Total non-current assets


2,858,953


3,325,998






Current





Inventories

7

224,525


344,862

Trade & other receivables


455,451


446,386

Current tax


195,667


206,887

Cash & cash equivalents

8

876,474


2,957,626

Total current assets


1,752,117


3,955,761






Total assets


4,611,070


7,281,759






Current liabilities





Trade and other payables


722,950


995,999

Amounts due under finance leases and HP agreements


185,294


242,534

Amounts due under invoice financing facility


137,204


-

Total current liabilities


1,045,448


1,238,533






Non-current liabilities





Amounts due under finance lease and HP agreements


344,941


203,991






Total liabilities


1,390,389


1,442,524






Equity





Share capital


8,788,562


8,788,562

Share premium


16,165,487


16,165,487

Share scheme reserve


500,248


334,081

Warrant reserve


75,600


75,600

Merger reserve


13,389,536


13,389,536

Retained loss


(35,698,752)


(32,914,031)

Total equity


3,220,681


5,839,235






Total liabilities & equity


4,611,070


7,281,759

 


Share capital

Share premium

Share scheme reserve

Warrant reserve

Merger reserve

Retained loss

Total equity


£

£

£

£

£

£

£

At 1 October 2007

7,643,553

14,252,078

203,465

-

13,389,536

(28,445,926)

7,042,706

Loss after tax

-

-

-

-

-

(4,468,105)

(4,468,105)

Share based payments

-

-

130,616

-

-

-

130,616

Warrants issued

-

-

-

75,600

-

-

75,600

Shares issued

1,145,008

1,913,409

-

-

-

-

3,058,417

At 30 September 2008

8,788,562

16,165,487

334,081

75,600

13,389,536

(32,914,031)

5,839,235

 

At 1 October 2008

8,788,562

16,165,487

334,081

75,600

13,389,536

(32,914,031)

5,839,235

Loss after tax

-

-

-

-

-

(2,784,721)

(2,784,721)

Share based payments

 

-

-

166,167

-

-

-

166,167

At 30 September 2009

8,788,562

16,165,487

500,248

75,600

13,389,536

(35,698,752)

3,220,681

 

 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 30 September 2009

 

2009

2008


£

£




Loss before tax

(2,980,018)

(4,666,276)

Adjustments for non-cash items:



Depreciation and amortisation

932,397

1,345,418

Depreciation absorbed to cost of sales

69,833

89,414

Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment

-

512,819

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

153

-

Investment revenue

(41,902)

(126,973)

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

(86,966)

20,076

Finance costs

160,759

23,438

Grants received

(8,200)

-

Change in fair value of derivative financial instruments

(40,700)

40,700

Share based payment

166,167

130,616

Decrease in inventories

120,337

396,418

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(9,065)

103,680

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

(232,349)

105,597

Taxation paid

(370)

-

Taxation received

206,887

146,686




Net cash outflow from operating activities

(1,743,037)

(1,878,387)




Investing activities



Interest received and similar income

41,902

126,973

Payments to acquire intangible assets

(381,663)

(311,868)

Payments to acquire property, plant and equipment

(153,675)

(327,346)

Disposal proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

-

-

Decrease in short term deposits

-

47,814

Net cash used in investing activities

(493,436)

(464,427)




Cash outflow before financing

(2,236,473)

(2,342,814)




Financing activities



Interest paid and similar expense

-

(52)

Finance lease interest paid

(73,793)

(43,464)

Grants received

8,200

-

Issue of shares

-

3,435,022

Expenses paid in connection with issue of shares

-

(301,005)

Cash received for new finance leases

314,058

500,000

Capital element of finance lease rentals

(230,348)

(672,319)

Net cash inflow from financing activities

18,117

2,918,182




Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

(2,218,356)

575,368




Cash and cash equivalents at start of period

2,957,626

2,382,258




Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

739,270

2,957,626

 

Notes to the Company Financial Statements

 

3.    Operating loss


2009

2008


£

£

Amortisation of intangible assets

175,524

136,017

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

826,705

1,298,814

of which, depreciation included in cost of sales

69,833

89,414

Impairment of plant and equipment

-

512,819

Loss on disposal of tangible assets

153

-




Auditors' remuneration



Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of these financial statements

13,000

13,700




Fees payable to the Company's auditor and its associates for other services



Audit of the financial statements of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

13,000

15,300

Other series relating to taxation

4,920

3,950

All other services

6,700

12,500


37,620

45,450




Operating lease rentals - land and buildings

135,000

135,000

Inventory written off against prior year provision

(32,915)

(133,140)

Write down of inventories

12,000

38,260

Write down of receivables

-

2,000

 


2009

2008


£

£

Sales of antennas

2,708,338

1,621,436

Sale of Non-Recurring Engineering services (NRE)

103,099

237,027

Total revenue

2,811,437

1,858,463

5.   Loss per Share

 

2009

2008

£

£

2,784,721

4,468,105

190,936,331

126,313,962

(1.5)p

(3.5)p

10,468,522

6,269,822

6.   Property, plant and equipment

 

The Group

 


Leasehold improvements

Property, plant and equipment

Total

Cost

£

£

£

At 1 October 2007

196,646

9,166,517

9,363,163

Additions

-

327,345

327,345

At 1 October 2008

196,646

9,493,862

9,690,508

Additions

-

153,675

153,675

Disposals

-

(7,576)

(7,576)

At 30 September 2009

196,646

9,639,961

9,836,607









Depreciation




At 1 October 2007

107,720

5,715,672

5,823,392

Charge for the year

19,437

1,279,377

1,298,814

Impairment

-

512,819

512,819

At 1 October 2008

127,157

7,507,868

7,635,025

Charge for the year

19,437

807,268

826,705

Disposals

-

(7,422)

(7,422)

At 30 September 2009

146,594

8,307,714

8,454,308









Carrying amount




At 30 September 2009

50,052

1,332,247

1,382,299





At 30 September 2008

69,489

1,985,994

2,055,483

 

 

The Group carried out an impairment review of property, plant and equipment as at the end of the year, as part of the annual review cycle and in view of the deteriorating economic conditions, it was determined that no impairment of property, plant and equipment was required (2008: £512,819).

 

During the year, the Group signed an agreement for the sale and leaseback of all of its unencumbered property, plant and equipment  comprising all plant and machinery, test and computer equipment to Close Leasing Limited for a total value of £600,000. At the same time, the Group settled a previous sale and leaseback agreement, so that the net effect was the realising of an additional  £311,000. The principal terms of the new agreement are a 36 months term at a monthly rent of approximately £20,000. In common with similar agreements, the lessor may adjust the amounts payable by the Group if assumptions (principally UK taxation laws) underpinning their eventual net return, as calculated at inception, are materially incorrect.  At the end of the term and subject to meeting certain conditions, the Group is appointed as the agent of the lessor, to sell the goods to a third party for a minimal nominal sum.

 

In accordance with IAS17 - Leases, the sale and leaseback transaction has been classified as a finance lease.  No adjustment has been made for the difference between the carrying value of the assets and the sale proceeds under the sale and leaseback agreement.

2009


2008

£


£

21,359


33,610

7.   Inventories

 


Group


2009


2008


£


£

Raw materials

130,709


117,734

Work in progress

10,523


59,522

Finished goods

83,293


167,606


224,525


344,862

 

The cost of inventories recognised as an expense and included in 'cost of sales' amounted to £826,101 (2008: £998,180)

 

Group


Company

2009


2008


2009


2008

£


£


£


£

876,474


2,957,626


173,196


2,157,042

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and short-term bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less. The Directors consider that the carrying amount of these assets approximates to their fair value. There is no collateral on the above amounts.

 

Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts include the following for the purposes of the cash flow statement:

 


Group


Company


2009


2008


2009


2008


£


£


£


£

Cash and cash equivalents

876,474


2,957,626


173,196


2,157,042

Amounts due under invoice financing facility

(137,204)


-


-


-









Cash and cash equivalents

739,270


2,957,626


173,196


2,157,042

9.   Post Balance Sheet Events

 


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