Image Scan Holdings Regulatory News (IGE)

Image Scan Holdings plc

Interim report 2014

12 June 2014

IMAGE SCAN HOLDINGS PLC

("Image Scan" or the "Company")

(AIM: IGE)

INTERIM RESULTS

Revenue up 57%, reduced overheads

Image Scan, the AIM-listed specialist supplier of x-ray screening systems to the security and industrial inspection markets, today announces its interim results for the six months ended 31 March 2014.

Financial summary:

· Revenue up 57% to £1,678,000 (2013: £1,072,000)

· Gross profit margin of 31% (2013: 32%) after provision for further losses on the nuclear contract

· Overheads down 22% to £576,000 (2013: £740,000) following the 2013 restructuring exercise

· Loss after taxation of £36,000 (2013: £389,000)

· Period end bank balance of £25,000 (2013: £138,000)

· Current bank balance of £190,000

Operational highlights:

· Board realigned and strengthened with appointment of Bill Mawer as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

· H1 revenue increase based on strong sales across whole security product range

· Delivered a number of multiple unit contracts for the portable FlatScan system

· Repeat sales of standard industrial systems to existing customer

· Confirmed orders of £2.3m having opened the year with £1.2m and booked £1.1m of new orders in the year to date

Bill Mawer, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Image Scan, commented: "These results show positive improvement over the equivalent period in the prior year, and the growth in sales in the core portable X-ray market is particularly encouraging. Maintenance of that growth is dependent, in the short term, on the supply of a newly developed replacement portable x-ray generator, and, in the medium term, on the timely completion of new product development.

"Image Scan has a strong brand in its core markets; however, there is a need to accelerate product development in order to drive the business forward, both in terms of the competitive solutions we provide and our geographical reach. Our strategy will focus on supporting targeted growth in our R&D and sales activity with the aim of evolving Image Scan into a business that consistently delivers both top-line growth and bottom line profitability."

For further information on the Company, please visit: www.ish.co.uk and for further information on its products, please visit: www.3dx-ray.com

Chairman's statement

Introduction

I am pleased to report my first set of results as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Image Scan. Image Scan remains focused on the development and commercialisation of market leading real-time x-ray solutions for use in the global security and industrial inspection markets. The Company's Security portfolio includes the Axis range of conveyor systems; the FlatScan range of portable bomb and suspect package detection systems; and SVXi, a small vehicle inspection system. The Industrial Inspection solutions include the MDXi product range, cabinet x-ray systems for laboratories and production lines.

Financial results

I am pleased to report that revenue for the six months has increased by 57% to £1,678,000 (2013: £1,072,000) based on strong sales across the whole security product portfolio. The gross margin of 31% (2013: 32%) reflected two significant security contracts which were subject to highly competitive tendering processes and the recognition of a further £30,000 (2013: £112,000) of losses against the nuclear contract.

Following the restructuring exercise carried out in May 2013, the comparative overheads for the period were down by 22% to £576,000 (2013: £740,000). As a result, the Company has made a loss after tax of £36,000 (2013: £389,000). The loss per share was 0.05p (2013: 0.5p).

The cash position as at the end of the period was £25,000 (2013: £138,000). The Company has an agreed £100,000 overdraft facility with the Royal Bank of Scotland. The current bank balance is £190,000.

Overview

Security accounted for 85% of total sales. Security revenue in the period was £1,427,000 (2013: £546,000) with increased levels of sales reported against each of the conveyor, portable and vehicle screening product ranges. First half sales of both the conveyor and portable products included a number of multiple unit contracts.

Industrial revenue of £251,000 (2013: £526,000) comprised 15% of total revenue and included the sale of a cabinet x-ray system to an existing customer and further deliverables on the nuclear contract. The nuclear customer has accepted delivery of the system and the final phases relate to installation, commissioning and training at the customer's site. Key software engineering resources previously engaged on this contract have now been refocused on the development of the core product range.

Subsequent to the period end, the following Board appointments were made to strengthen the technology lead and provide greater strategic focus:

o Bill Mawer, as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, who has 13 years' experience with Smiths Detection and is a specialist in product development and market strategy; and

o Dr Richard Leaver, as Non-Executive Director, who has extensive international experience of developing and sustaining value in technology-rich growth businesses at all stages of investment.

Outlook

The Company has total confirmed orders in the year to date of £2.3m, having started the year with an opening order book of £1.2m and secured new orders of £1.1m. All outstanding orders are deliverable in the current financial year. Whilst the revenue in the first half of the year was on target, performance in the second half will be reliant on the supply of a newly developed portable generator to replace the existing system which is no longer available.

 As a result of the commitment of a limited resource base to the nuclear contract over the last three years the Company's R&D activities have been restricted to modest incremental development. The Board recognises the need to expand the product range and has been reviewing what additional inputs are required to accelerate product development. The strategy that I have been developing since becoming involved with the Company in late 2013 will be to support carefully targeted growth in R&D and sales activity to include the following projects:

o complete the renewal of the existing portable x-ray product range to restore its competitive edge;

o extend the portable range to include both higher and lower-end solutions, giving the Company, for the first time, a competitive product in each market segment;

o co-development, with an experienced partner, of a highly competitive range of checkpoint x-ray systems to replace the current Axis products;

o recruit an additional security sales manager and development of the sales network to provide geographical coverage of all important security x-ray markets; and

o recruit a dedicated sales manager for industrial sales, in order to expand the Company's potentially valuable market position.

Image Scan has a strong brand in its core markets and loyal distributors and customers. Over-commitment of its limited R&D resources in recent years has caused a decline in competitiveness which is now being addressed. The staff at Image Scan are enthusiastic, dedicated and creative and on behalf of my fellow Board members and shareholders, I would like to formally thank our staff for their contribution during this period.

Bill Mawer

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

12 June 2014

Consolidated income statement

for the six months ended 31 March 2014

Consolidated statement of changes in equity

for the six months ended 31 March 2014

Consolidated balance sheet

as at 31 March 2014

This interim financial information was approved by the Board of Directors on 12 June 2014.

Bill Mawer

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Consolidated cash flow statement

for the six months ended 31 March 2014

Notes to the unaudited interim financial statements

for the six months ended 31 March 2014

1 Basis of preparation

The interim financial statements, which are unaudited, have been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies expected to apply for the financial year to 30 September 2014 and in accordance with recognition and measurement principles of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as endorsed by the European Union. The accounting policies applied in the preparation of these interim financial statements are consistent with those used in the financial statements for the year ended 30 September 2013.

The interim financial statements do not include all of the information required for full annual financial statements and do not comply with all the disclosures in IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting'. Accordingly, whilst the interim statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRS, they cannot be construed as being in full compliance with IFRSs.

The financial information for the year ended 30 September 2013 does not constitute the full statutory accounts for that period. The Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2013 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The independent Auditor's Report on the Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 30 September 2013 was unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis, and did not contain a statement under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

2 Losses on nuclear contract

In the 2013 interim results, the loss of £112,000 on the nuclear contract was reported as an exceptional item within administrative expenses. This was subsequently accounted for as cost of sales in the full statutory accounts for the year ended 2013. The comparative 2013 numbers in the 2014 interim results reflect this same treatment, giving cost of sales of £731,000 and administrative expenses of £740,000 (previously reported as £619,000 and £852,000 respectively).

3 Going concern

The interim financial information has been prepared on a going concern basis, which assumes that the Company will have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

4 Earnings per share ('EPS')

Basic earnings per ordinary share is based on the loss on ordinary activities after taxation of £36,000 and on 76,267,932 ordinary shares in issue throughout the period.

IAS 33 requires presentation of diluted EPS when a company could be called upon to issue shares that would decrease net profit or increase net loss per share. Earnings or loss per share would not be affected by the exercise of out-of-the-money options since it is inappropriate to assume that option holders would act irrationally. Accordingly as there are no other diluting future share issues, diluted EPS equals basic EPS.

5 IFRS 2 'Share-based payments'

Operating expenses includes a charge of £nil (2013: £nil) after valuation of the Company's employee share option schemes in accordance with IFRS 2. Under this standard, the fair value of the options at the grant date is spread over the vesting period. These items have been added back in the consolidated statement of changes in equity.

6 Additional copies

Further copies of the 2014 interim report are available on the Company's website, www.ish.co.uk, and from the Company's registered office, 16-18 Hayhill Industrial Estate, Sileby Road, Barrow-upon-Soar, Leicestershire LE12 8LD.