Member Info for mulledwine

http://www.investegate.co.uk/byotrol-plc-(byot)/rns/interim-results/201211200700085058R/

Commenting on the half year results, Chief Executive Officer Phil Bellamy-Lee said: "I am delighted to be able to report a strong operational and financial performance in the first half of the year, reflecting good organic growth across our three business divisions. Our primary strategy continues to be the expansion of our market share as a Meter Asset Manager ("MAM") and to remain the leading independent MAM, by volume of meters owned and managed, within the UK I&C gas sector. This position remains secure and has been further cemented through our growth in the year to date. The recent acquisition of GGES is a transformational deal for the Group providing us with a significant opportunity to more than double our existing I&C metering portfolio during the term of the contract, in partnership with one of the world's largest energy companies. Following the acquisition, we are now a leading provider and developer of AMR technology with a proven and significantly deployed technology platform and a range of products with the potential to serve the wider utilities markets. We have considerably strengthened our market position and, coupled with Government regulatory requirements to ensure meters in the UK are advanced or smart, we remain confident of our continued growth prospects into the future. We have added to our business development team through the appointment of individuals with strong industry expertise who will complement the expertise of the team at GGES. This strengthened resource will ensure that we can take advantage of the new opportunities available to us to grow our business. We have also strengthened our Siteworks design team, placed further emphasis on sales and marketing activities within AMR, and gained accreditation to enable direct metering installation works. All of these actions enable us to maximise the opportunity available to our integrated solution."

Current trading and outlook · The outlook for the Group has been enhanced considerably by the acquisition of GGES, a subsidiary of Gazprom Marketing and Trading Limited, which has significantly added to the install and meter exchange growth prospects already in existence through our contracts with Corona Energy and British Gas; · The Group continues its discussions with a number of other major gas suppliers requiring a fully integrated Metering, AMR, and Siteworks service provision and is confident that these will result in further expansion of all three business streams in the future; · The second half of the financial year has started well and the business continues to perform in line with expectations.

Operational highlights · The metering portfolio owned and installed has increased by 16% to circa 73,000 assets since the year end and by 30% since 30 September 2011; · Increased capital investment of 7% in meter assets which deliver our long term recurring revenue to £7.6m (H1 2011/12: £7.1m), bringing the total investment to £45.7m; · Energy Assets provides Meter Asset Management ("MAM") services to 24 gas suppliers within the I&C gas market; · The data logger portfolio has increased by 16% to circa 22,000 (H1 2011/12: circa 19,000) representing one of the largest independent portfolios within the I&C sector; · We continue to achieve a strong performance in AMR contract renewals with a 96% success rate based on the number of meter points as a percentage of AMR units, ensuring a continuation of the long term revenue attached to these contracts.

Financial highlights · Revenue increased by 27% to £7.6m (H1 2011/12: £6.0m); · Recurring revenue increased by 32% to £5.0m from £3.8m and represents 66% of total revenue; · EBITDA increased by 30% to £4.8m (H1 2011/12: £3.7m); · Profit before tax and exceptional items increased by 38% to £1.8m (H1 2011/12: £1.3m). Profit before tax was £1.5m (H1 2011/12: £1.3m); · Cash generated from operations of £3.8m (H1 2011/2012: £3.3m), a growth of 15%; · Diluted EPS of 4.25p (H1 2011/12: adjusted EPS based on share capital at the date of listing being in issue for the full year 3.67p).

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2012 Strong growth and a transformational acquisition Energy Assets Group plc (LSE: EAS.L), the largest independent provider of industrial and commercial ("I&C") gas metering services in the UK (by number of meters owned and managed), today announces its Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2012 (H1 2012/13). The first half of the year has delivered strong financial results which are in line with management expectations. The second half of the financial year has started well with the business continuing to perform strongly and, as recently announced, Energy Assets completed a transformational acquisition of Gazprom Global Energy Solutions Limited (GGES) immediately following the half year. This brings with it exclusive agreements with Gazprom for all three business streams including: · A doubling of the number of meter points from which data is collected on behalf of our customers; · The potential to double the size of the Group's I&C meter portfolio; and · A partnership with a growing gas supplier, offering the opportunity to increase our Automated Meter Reading ("AMR") portfolio and Siteworks activities. Integration of this business into the Group is progressing well.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/energy-assets-gp-plc-(eas)/rns/interim-results/201211200700075037R/

Nik Philpot, Chief Executive Officer, commented today: "The year has started positively, underpinned by excellent traction in our payments products and significant new business impact from our channel partners. Our client base is expanding at record levels with most of these new contracts generating recurring revenue in the second half of the current year. "The prominence of payment solutions in our sales pipeline is enabling us to rapidly increase the size and diversity of our client base, providing further confidence in generating greater levels of revenue and profit growth. Therefore, the outlook for the business remains buoyant with current trading in-line with market expectations."

Current Trading: · New three year contract with major financial services Company for both EckohPROTECT and EckohPAY · Strong pipeline of new business driven predominantly by EckohPROTECT and EckohASSIST · Five contracts won in the period will begin generating recurring revenue during the second half of the financial year · Three year renewal with Vue Entertainment, largest client to be renewed this year

Financial Highlights: · Revenue up 2% to £5.1m (H1 2011/12: £5.0m); 91% (FY2011/12: 87%) of revenue is of a recurring nature from contracted clients · Gross profit from continuing operations up 4% to £3.9m (H1 2011/12: £3.7m); gross margin increased to 77% (H1 2011/12: 75%) · Operating profit up 6% to £0.4m (H1 2011/12: £0.4m) · Profit before tax up 8% to £0.4m (H1 2011/12: £0.4m) · EBITDA up 9% to £0.9m (H1 2011/12: £0.8m) · Strong debt free financial position with a cash and short term investment balance up to £6.7m (31/3/12: £6.4m) · Dividend of 0.2p per share of progressive dividend policy paid in September.

Unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2012 Eckoh plc ("Eckoh" or "the Company"), the UK's leading provider of speech recognition and associated payment solutions, announces its unaudited results for the six months to 30 September 2012. Operational Highlights: · Strategy continues to deliver strong new business momentum during the period o Contract win with Whitbread plc to provide payment services to Premier Inn o Two further three year contract wins within the water utility sector · Accelerated market traction gained though recent sales partner agreements o Contract wins for payment services with Kiddicare and Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) o New partnership with Serco delivers contract with central government organisation · Contract renewals remain strong with Power NI, IPSOS MORI & Royal Mail secured · EckohPROTECT launched in January 2012 has already delivered four significant contracts

http://www.investegate.co.uk/eckoh-plc-(eck)/rns/interim-results/201211200700064944R/

Looks down and out - I thought Politics would have 'assisted' here - looking very bleak

("ATH" or the "Company" or the "Group") Trading Update ATH Resources plc (AIM: ATH), one of the UK's largest coal producers, today issues the following announcement. The Group has been notified by its lenders, HSBC PLC and Clydesdale Bank PLC (trading as Yorkshire Bank), that BECAP Fund LP has acquired some of ATH Resources plc and its subsidiaries' banking facilities and their related rights. As a result of initial discussions with representatives of BECAP Fund LP the Board understands that a comprehensive review and restructuring of the Group's business will be required and that, given the existing level of liabilities in the Company, it is unlikely that existing shareholder value will be maintained. Following completion of the review the new lender may be prepared to inject new capital into a restructured business. The Board will continue to update the market as appropriate.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/ath-resources-(ath)/rns/trading-update/201211190700093943R/

A British car parts supplier has come the rescue of Manganese Bronze, the black cab maker that went bust after problems with a Chinese steering box forced it to recall 400 taxis. PricewaterhouseCoopers, the company’s administrators, last night said the recalled fleet would be fitted with new parts “from a UK supplier” and be back on the road by December 14. [The Telegraph]

OUTLOOK The Melrose businesses are not immune to any worsening of macro-economic conditions internationally, but they are positioned in the strong end markets of Energy and Oil & Gas which should fare better than most over the medium term. In addition, the Group's five month order book gives protection to the short term outlook. Trading is in line with expectations for 2012, although revenue trends have slowed, and recently the sales outlook for 2013 has become more uncertain. Opportunities to improve the Group exist including those arising from the acquisition of Elster and this gives the Board confidence that Melrose will continue to prosper.

EXCHANGE RATES Historically the Group's exchange risk has been mainly weighted to the US Dollar. However, since the acquisition of Elster the exchange exposure is equally weighted between the Dollar and the Euro. Each ten cent movement in the Dollar or Euro moves profit by 2%. The weakening of the Euro during 2012 will have some negative impact. DEBT Group net debt at 30 June 2012 was £306.5 million. Post the Elster acquisition the leverage increased from 1.5x at June to just over 2.5x in the enlarged Group. The outlook for the year end is consistent with this. Significant capital expenditure at approximately twice the level of depreciation continues to be made.

OTHER INDUSTRIAL The two businesses within the Other Industrial division operate in very specific markets, which are experiencing opposing market conditions. Truth operates in the US housing market, both new build and renovation, and continues to experience mid single-digit revenue growth and improving margins. Truth will gain from any further recovery in the US housing market into 2013. Harris is exposed to the US scrap steel cycle which is experiencing difficult market conditions. Revenue and orders are significantly down on last year, however the company retains good operating margins. ELSTER Twelve weeks into the Elster acquisition our confidence in being able to improve the performance of the businesses is high. As with previous acquisitions, restructuring the Group to create shareholder value is well underway. The operational restructuring announced by Elster at the start of 2012 is on track and is being extended along with the commencement of many other projects to improve performance. Elster has been streamlined from five divisions into three - Gas, Electricity and Water and management teams are now in place for each division. This means a clear management structure is in place to create accountability and better focus. Current revenue trends have slowed with deferral of orders into 2013 and the long-awaited growth in European Electricity Smart Meters still seems some way off. However, the medium term dynamics are still positive and the opportunities for cost reduction via extensive restructuring are larger than previously indicated.

LIFTING Crosby revenue is up 14% year to date with order intake up 8%. The pace of revenue growth has slowed in the period but it is still healthy at 6%, although order intake in October and November was trending lower. Crosby has the ability to benefit from both the demand for oil and the demand for gas, and has the advantage of growing with whichever demand curve is strongest at each point in the cycle. Crosby has outperformed recent cycles due to its gain in market share, and it has an excellent presence in its market where it is a clear market leader. Bridon revenue is flat in the period as weaker construction and industrial markets have balanced the continued sales growth in Oil & Gas and Mining. Bridon has seen significant investment in 2012, which is helping this previously under invested business to be revitalised. The brand new, leading edge factory supplying the offshore Oil & Gas industry opened on time, and on budget, in Newcastle, UK on 15 November and initial demand indications are encouraging. The new technology centre in Doncaster opens early next year. All these actions will help improve the performance of Bridon.