30 Sep 2010 07:00
30 September 2010 STERLING GREEN GROUP PLC ("Sterling Green" or "the Company") Final Results for the year ended 31 March 2010
CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT
Introduction and review of activities
I am pleased to present the final results of Sterling Green Group plc and its subsidiaries ("the Group") covering the year ended 31 March 2010.
Results and dividends
Revenue for the year ended 31 March 2010 was £2,106,000 (2009 - £1,966,000), which was made up of £1,977,000 (2009 - £1,609,000) from debt management services and £129,000 (2009 - £357,000) relating to mortgage business.
The Group loss after taxation for the year amounted to £238,000 (2009 - £ 347,000). The Directors are not able to recommend the payment of a dividend.
Trading review
Following the release in November 2009 of encouraging interim results for the first half of the financial year, the second half proved to be very disappointing, as the Group was unable to generate an operating profit for the year as a whole. Although debt management revenues for the year increased by 22.9% compared to the previous year, revenues fell short of management expectations for the second half of the financial year, in particular in the final quarter, as the sign up of new customers slowed considerably. This had a great deal to do with inconsistencies in the quality of leads from our external lead generators which affected our conversion ratios. Mortgage business remained very subdued during the year, in which there was a considerable 63.9% fall in revenues.
Gross margins improved from 45.6% in 2009 to 46.4% for the current year, while administration costs reduced by 6.2% compared to the previous year as the Board continued to monitor and control Group overheads.
Current performance and future developments
The lead supply problems experienced earlier this year have now been addressed as a number of new reliable lead providers have been sourced and evaluated, which provides the Group with leads in appropriate quantities and of suitable quality. While there is no guarantee that these arrangements will continue for the long term, the Board believes that the appointment of an increased number of reliable lead suppliers is a significant step forward for the Group in the development of its current business model. Certainly the early signs for the new financial year have been very encouraging, with the Group already adding over 700 new clients since 31 March 2010 compared to 792 for the whole of the previous year.
The mortgage industry remains very subdued. For the short term, the Board does not envisage any improved revenue activity in this area and accordingly it continues to monitor the contribution being made by this activity to the Group's trading performance.
The Group's working capital position remains challenging. However, the rising value of the Group's client portfolio, which is not recorded as an asset in the Group's accounts, has enabled the Board to renew the Group's external loan facilities to 30 September 2011. The Group is currently operating within these borrowing facilities and based on forecasts prepared for the period ending 31 March 2012, management remain confident that this situation will continue throughout the forecast period.
Trading in the period since 31 March 2010 has been marginally profitable at theGroup level and the Board continue to look at ways of increasing revenues andprofitability.J M EdelsonChairman30 September 2010Further enquiries:Sterling Green Group plc Tel: 0161 975 5757 Michael Edelson Merchant Securities Limited Tel: 020 7628 2200 Simon Clements/David Worlidge
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2010
Note 2010 2009 £000 £000 Revenue 2,106 1,966 Cost of sales (1,128) (1,069) Gross profit 978 897 Administrative expenses (1,143) (1,218) Loss from operations (165) (321) Investment income - 5 Finance costs (72) (49) Loss before tax (237) (365) Income tax (charge)/credit 2 (1) 18 Loss for the year and loss attributable (238) (347)to equity holders of the parent Loss per share Basic and diluted 3 (0.08p) (0.12p)
There were no other items of comprehensive income other than the loss for the year.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31 MARCH 2010
2010 2009 £000 £000 Non-current assets Intangible assets 1,115 1,115 Property, plant and equipment 116 209 Total non-current assets 1,231 1,324 Current assets Trade and other receivables 108 142 Cash and cash equivalents 28 182 Total current assets 136 324 Current liabilities Trade and other payables (361) (319) Current tax liabilities (1) - Borrowings (39) (86) Total current liabilities (401) (405) Net current liabilities (265) (81) Non-current liabilities Borrowings (279) (318) Total non-current liabilities (279) (318) Net assets 687 925 Equity attributable to the owners of the parent Called up share capital 304 288 Share premium account 1,794 1,710 Share capital to be issued - 100 Capital reserve 6 6 Other reserve 891 891 Accumulated losses (2,308) (2,070) Total equity 687 925
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2010
Note 2010 2009 £000 £000 Cash flows from/(used in) operating activities Loss before tax (237) (365) Adjustments for: Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 98 101 Investment income - (5) Finance costs 72 49 Operating cash flows before movement in working (67) (220)capital Decrease/(Increase) in trade and other 34 (1)receivables Increase in trade and other payables 42 1 Net cash from/(used in) operating activities 9 (220) Cash flows (used in)/from investing activities Investment income received - 5 Purchase of property, plant and equipment (5) (1) Net cash (used in)/from investing activities (5) 4 Cash flows (used in)/from financing activities Capital element of lease payments (86) (85) Loans advanced - 250 Issue of ordinary share capital - 200 Proceeds in advance of issue of share capital - 100 Finance costs paid (72) (49) Net cash (used in)/from financing activities (158) 416 Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash (154) 200equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at the start of the 182 (18)year Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 4 28 182
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2010
Attributable to equity holders of the parent Share Share Share Capital Other Accumulated Total capital premium capital reserve reserve losses account to be issued £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 At 1 April 2008 280 1,518 - 6 891 (1,723) 972 Loss for the year - - - - - (347) (347) Issue of share 8 192 - - - - 200capital Share capital to be - - 100 - - - 100issued
At 31 March 2009 288 1,710 100 6 891 (2,070) 925
Loss for the year - - - - - (238) (238)
Issue of share 16 84 (100) - - - -capital
At 31 March 2010 304 1,794 - 6 891 (2,308) 687
Other reserve
The other reserve is a merger reserve created on the acquisition of Sterling Green Limited.
NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2010
1. Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") as adopted by the European Union and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.
The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory financial statements for the years ended 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2010, but is derived from those financial statements. The Auditors have reported on those financial statements; their reports were unqualified and did not contain statements under the Companies Act 1985, sections 237(2) or (3). The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2009 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies, whereas those for the year ended 31 March 2010 will be delivered in due course.
The Board has considered the Group's financial position and trading prospects using detailed forecasts covering the period ending 31 March 2012. Those forecasts incorporate the current drawn down loan facility which is confirmed as available until 30 September 2011. There are no financial covenants attached to that facility. Accordingly, the Board considers that there will be no breaches of financial covenants during the period to 30 September 2011. Having made appropriate consideration, the Board believes that it has adequate resources to continue trading for the foreseeable future, and accordingly, the going concern basis has been adopted in preparing these financial statements.
2. Income tax (charge)/credit 2010 2009 £000 £000 Current year tax: UK corporation tax - 18 Prior year tax: UK corporation tax underprovided (1) - (1) 18
Corporation tax is calculated at 28% (2009 - 28%) of the estimated assessable loss for the year.
The tax (charge)/credit for the year can be reconciled to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as follows:
2010 2009 £000 £000 Loss before tax (237) (365) Loss on ordinary activities multiplied by the (66) (102)relevant standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 28% (2009 - 28%) Effect of: Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 4 6 Depreciation for year in excess of capital 4 28allowances Utilisation of losses - 18 Losses carried forward 58 68 UK Corporation tax underprovided in prior year (1) - Total tax (charge)/credit for the year (1) 18
Unrecognised deferred tax assets
The following deferred tax assets have not been brought into account as assets:
2010 2009 £000 £000 Tax losses 534 476 Temporary differences 60 563. Loss per share
The calculation of basic loss per share is based on the following:
Basic 2010 2009 Loss for the year (£000) (238) (347) Weighted average number of shares 303,587,719 287,569,637 Loss per share (pence) (0.08) (0.12)
Diluted loss per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue assuming conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. During the year the Company's potential ordinary shares consist of share options. Due to losses in the current and preceding year there are no dilutive ordinary shares.
4. Notes to the cashflow statement
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents consist of bank balances. Cash and cash equivalents included in the cash flow statement comprise the following amounts:
2010 2009 £000 £000 Cash at bank 28 1825. Related party transactions
The services of J M Edelson were provided to the Group under a service agreement by London & City Credit Corporation Limited. Amounts charged to the Group during the year for his services amounted to £25,000 (2009 - £25,000). At 31 March 2010 £2,448 (2009 - £nil) of this amount remained outstanding.
S. T. Ali and J. McClean have provided personal guarantees as security for £ 250,000 of the loan facility available to the Group.
6. Dividend
The directors are not able to recommend the payment of a dividend.
7. Copies of the Report & Accounts
Copies of the Report & Accounts will be posted to shareholders shortly and are also available from the Company's registered office at Number 14, The Embankment, Vale Road, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, Cheshire SK4 3GN and from the Company's website www.sterlinggreen.co.uk.
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