Journeo Regulatory News (JNEO)

21 December 2012

21st Century Technology plc

("21st Century" or "the Company" or "the Group")

Trading update

Continued momentum in profit underpinned by a solid platform

21st Century, a leading supplier of public transport CCTV and other monitoring systems, including their award winning EcoManager, today provides the following update on trading for its financial year to 31 December 2012.

The Company's initiatives to improve operational and overhead efficiencies have borne fruit and the Company expects this to lead to a significant improvement in operating margin and profit after tax for the current year compared to the prior year.

In the second half of the year the Company has increased its momentum and secured a number of new orders and, subject to audit, the Company's profit before tax for the year will be around £1.8m some 20% above that achieved last year. This profit would have been higher but due to changes in some bus manufacturer production schedules, fulfilment of certain orders which had underpinned management's expectations for the second half will now not take place until early in the New Year. Assuming that cash generation and profitability are maintained, it is the intention of the board to propose a dividend equivalent to at least one third of pre-tax profit.

The Company has a solid platform of pipeline orders and potential new business to underpin continued growth in profit. This will be enhanced by the appointment of a Sales Director to the main board, the recruitment process for which is underway. The Company expects to announce its Final Results for the year ending 31 December 2012 in late March 2013.

Commenting on the trading update, 21st Century's Chairman, Jan Holmstrom, said:

"We are pleased to report an expected impressive growth in profit after tax for the fifth successive year. Despite difficult market conditions, we have continued to make good progress and we are confident that several opportunities, originally anticipated before the year end, will be realised in the New Year. Our cash position and balance sheet are strong and we are encouraged by our growth prospects for next year, as we look forward to taking advantage of opportunities across our target markets and existing customer base. The appointment of Wilson Jennings as Chief Executive in October of this year has been seamless. Wilson's enthusiasm and drive has inspired the confidence and support of the Board, the Company's staff and its customers. We see the appointment of a Sales Director to the main Board as an important next step to continue the path of increasing our order book and profits in the New Year and beyond."

Ends