Sabien Tech. Regulatory News (SNT)

7 February 2012

Sabien Technology Group Plc

("Sabien" or the "Group")

Unaudited Interim Results for the period to 31 December 2011

Sabien Technology Group plc (AIM: SNT), the manufacturer of the patented M2G energy saving devices, announces its interim results for the six month period ended 31 December 2011:

Highlights in the period

·; Sales up 32% to £1,492k (£1,128k in 1st half 2010/11)

·; Profit before tax up 63% to £301k (£185k in 1st half 2010/11)

·; £1,510k of sales orders already achieved in the first 6 months of this financial year (£1,450k in 1st half 2010/11)

·; £354k of orders received since 1 January 2012 giving total orders received for the financial year to date of £1,864k which compares with 2010/11 full year revenue of £2,087k

·; New orders for M2G received from public and private sector organisations

·; Sales from indirect partners in the period increased to £311k (21% of the total) compared to £70k (6% of the total) in 1st half 2010/11

·; Cash at the end of the period was £1,343k (£1,033k at 30 June 2011)

·; Sales pipeline of £9.5m up from £8.3m in October's update

·; Appointment of Westhouse Securities Limited as NOMAD and Broker

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer's Report

Our Marketplace and Business Drivers

Sabien was set up in 2004 to commercialise M2G, a patented boiler energy efficiency technology, which reduces gas and oil consumption in commercial boilers. In May 2006, Sabien acquired the intellectual property and all commercial rights to M2G and floated on AIM in December 2006. In March 2009, Sabien obtained Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification which enabled M2G to be sold in the USA.

Sabien operates in a market where companies demand high standards of performance delivery including end to end project management, proven technology solutions with an estate wide application and a record of delivering proven energy savings along with validation of the same.

We continue to win new business with blue-chip and public sector clients, while also securing from existing clients multiple repeat orders for our M2G technology. Recent examples of these clients are British Telecommunications Plc, the Ministry of Defence and Royal Mail.

Finance

The Group's turnover in the first six months increased by 32% to £1,492k and profit before tax increased by 63% to £301k compared to the period ended 31 December 2010.

The Group has received confirmation in January 2012 from the Court of its acceptance of the capital reorganisation that was approved at the Annual General Meeting in November 2011. As a result, the Group's share premium account will be offset against the accumulated losses leaving a distributable reserve brought forward amounting to £1,243k. This reserve will be available for distribution to shareholders in the future should circumstances permit and subject to the Board's approval. The Group still has trading losses of £1,400k which will be available to set off against taxable profits in the future.

As at 31 December 2011, the Group's cash reserves amounted to £1,343k compared to £1,033k at 30 June 2011 and £912k at 31 December 2011. This increase is a reflection of the increased profitability of the Group in the period under review. The Group's target is to hold at least 6 month's operating cash on current account and short term deposit.

Operations

Sabien continues to strengthen relationships with its Alliance Partners and Approved Supplier network (see below) which together delivered £311k (21% of the total) compared to £70k (6% of the total) in the same period for 2010.

Alliance Partners and Approved Suppliers include: G4S, CBRE, Vinci FM, Babcock, Romec, EDF Energy, Scottish & Southern Energy, Carillion, EMCOR and Norland FM. The company will look to broaden its alliance programme further with major tier 1 facility management companies.

Companies and organisations which have installed M2G since 1 July 2011 include: Prudential, Grant Thornton, British Telecommunications, Royal Mail, Cambridge Airport, Royal College of Surgeons, Glasgow City Council, Surrey Water, Portsmouth Council, Marriott Hotels, Regus, Tower of London, Highways Agency, Dover Port and the NHS.

In 2011, the Group started early stage research in developing an alternative application using its core M2G technology. This research continues but it is still too early a stage to update the market on the technical or commercial viability of the project.

In the USA, our M2G distributor, Greffen Systems, Inc., has completed its winter M2G pilot season and we will update the market as and when we receive material orders from them.

Current Trading

£354k of orders have been received since 1 January 2012 giving total orders received for year to date of £1,864k which represents 90% of full year revenues of £2,087k for 2010/11. Orders from indirect partners for the year to date now amount to £603k which represents 32% of orders received.

The sales pipeline currently stands at £9.5m. This pipeline includes sales with an order date in the future and sales where we have been asked to quote. The size of the sales pipeline is a key performance indicator as it gives an indication of the level of business that could be generated over the following 6-24 months. Sabien's experience is that it can take at least 18 months for a customer enquiry to convert to a sales order.

Proven track record

Sabien has a number of unique competitive advantages in that it has: a proven, patented technology (M2G), a track record of delivering nationwide installation projects for our clients, a low fixed cost structure not linked to turnover, a fabless model generating c70% gross margin, with increasing sales from its alliance partner programme and a business model that doesn't rely on any government subsidies or legislation.

Our clients are seeking energy efficiency solutions as a way of managing their utility costs. We operate in a market with high barriers to entry due to the strict criteria clients impose on companies wishing to work with them including financial stability, business sustainability and ubiquitous technology solutions along with a proven track record of energy savings and delivering end to end project management at scale.

The Group now has a good balance of business across a wide variety of sectors and this diversity has stood us in good stead during challenging economic times. During the period under review, our client mix was approximately 89% private sector to 11% public sector but we continue to see high levels of interest from public sector clients whose spending plans have already been committed by the Government. These plans are driven by regulatory obligations, operational efficiency and a desire to reduce costs and CO2 emissions.

Salix Funding

New funding is now available from Salix Finance Limited, the independent not for profit company, which announced in December 2011 that it had been awarded an additional £20million by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC) for its successful public sector energy efficiency loans programme.

The loans, which are available for energy efficiency projects in England across the public sector - from schools and universities to local authorities and NHS Trusts - before the end of March 2012, will save organisations money on energy bills and reduce carbon emissions.

"Know how" and expertise

Our strength lies in our technical and operational "know how" and expertise in delivering multi-site nationwide project management and M2G installation where realisation of savings benefits is vital to success.

We are confident that we have a strong business which will not only continue to gain market share during the current economic conditions but which is perfectly placed to grow fast organically as economic conditions improve, both in the UK and overseas.

Legislation

The demand for energy efficient products like M2G is still growing, driven increasingly by regulation as well as the need to cut the ever increasing cost of fuels. In the UK, the government's CRC Efficiency Scheme requires larger companies to purchase CO2 credits according to how much CO2 they produce and is designed to encourage a proactive approach to reducing CO2 emissions.

Energy Costs

Recent press articles have highlighted falling UK power prices since late summer with the one year forward base load contract down £10/MWh (-19%) since September. The downward trend in power prices is being caused primarily by a 10% fall in the one year gas price and a 35% fall in the price of carbon over the last three months. These falls have been caused by a warmer winter period and lower economic activity, so reducing consumption.

Weather and economic activity will not be the only factors impacting on UK power prices. The burning of fossil fuels will be increasingly expensive as the effects of the Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD - NOx compliance) and the EU's Industrial Emissions Directive (IED - SOx compliance) impose stricter emissions criteria that will either lead to power points closing and/or the installation in these facilities of expensive plant processing equipment to reduce sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions over the next few years.

Since September 2011 the carbon support price (CPS) has exceeded the spot European carbon price. When the Government first announced the introduction of the CPS in March 2011, the Treasury estimated rates of £7.25/tCO2 and £9.68/tCO2 for the periods 2014-15 and 2015-16 respectively. However, since this date the price of carbon has fallen and therefore the CPS costs for fossil based energy generation will increase to around £10t/CO2 in the period 2014-15.

We believe the ingredients are in place for energy prices to rise faster than inflation in the years ahead particularly with utilities focused on closing the energy gap caused by the retirement of 25% of the UK's generating capacity over the next decade in order to meet 2020 emissions reduction targets.

In our view, Combined Cycle Gas Turbine plants will be used as a substitute for high cost offshore wind, and with 46% of UK electricity supply derived from gas we believe they will increase market share moving forward. There will also be a stronger link between electricity costs and heating expense in the near future. We see M2G as an ideal solution for commercial energy users to reduce their CO2 emissions and, more importantly, to reduce the cost of heating in the years ahead.

Future Prospects

Sabien has again delivered a robust period of profitability, cash generation and improved trading results.

Growth from our existing business in the form of repeat orders has created a solid platform for 2012. Taken together with the sales performance since 1 January 2012, the Group is well positioned to take advantage of market opportunities as and when they appear.

The Board fully supports the executive team's strategy and looks forward to the next trading period and the future with confidence. We would like to thank all of the Sabien team for their hard work - your talents and contributions are always appreciated.

For further information:

Sabien Technology Group Plc

Unaudited Condensed Group Statement of Comprehensive Income for the period ended 31 December 2011

Sabien Technology Group Plc

Unaudited Condensed Group Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2011

Sabien Technology Group Plc

Unaudited Condensed Group Cash Flow Statement for the period ended 31 December 2011

Sabien Technology Group Plc

Unaudited Condensed Group Statement of Changes in Equity as at 31 December 2011

Sabien Technology Group Plc

Notes to the Financial Statements for the period ended 31 December 2011

1. Accounting policies

The interim financial information has not been audited or reviewed by the auditors and does not constitute statutory accounts for the purpose of Sections 434 and 435 of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial information in this document has been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted under International Financial Reporting Standards and is consistent with those used in the preparation of the most recent annual financial statements.

The following significant principal accounting policies have been used consistently in the preparation of the consolidated financial information of the Group. The consolidated information comprises the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as "the Group").

a) Basis of Preparation: The financial information in this document has been prepared using accounting principles generally accepted under International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), as adopted by the European Union.

The directors expect to apply these accounting policies which are consistent with International Financial Reporting Standards in the Group's Annual Report and Financial Statements for all future reporting periods.

The directors believe that the Group is a going concern and have accordingly prepared these financial statements on a going concern basis.

The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis and are presented in £'000 unless otherwise stated.

b) Basis of consolidation: The consolidated balance sheet and statement of comprehensive income incorporate the financial statements of the Group at 31 December 2011. Control is achieved where the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an investee entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

Except as noted below, the financial information of subsidiaries is included in the consolidated financial statements using the acquisition method of accounting. On the date of acquisition the assets and liabilities of the relevant subsidiaries are measured at their fair values.

All intra-Group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Accounting for the Company's acquisition of the controlling interest in Sabien Technology Limited: The Company's controlling interest in its directly held subsidiary, Sabien Technology Limited, was acquired through a transaction under common control, as defined in IFRS 3 Business Combinations. The directors note that transactions under common control are outside the scope of IFRS 3 and that there is no guidance elsewhere in IFRS covering such transactions.

IFRS contain specific guidance to be followed where a transaction falls outside the scope of IFRS. This guidance is included at paragraphs 10 to 12 of IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors. This requires, inter alia, that where IFRS does not include guidance for a particular issue, the directors may also consider the most recent pronouncements of other standard setting bodies that use a similar conceptual framework to develop accounting standards. In this regard, it is noted that the UK standard FRS 6 addresses the question of business combinations under common control.

In contrast to IFRS 3, FRS 6 sets out accounting guidance for transactions under common control. The guidance contained in FRS 6 indicates that merger accounting may be used when accounting for transactions under common control.

Having considered the requirements of IAS 8, and the guidance included in FRS 6, it is considered appropriate to use a form of accounting which is similar to pooling of interest when dealing with the transaction in which the Company acquired its controlling interest in Sabien Technology Limited.

In consequence, the Consolidated Financial Statements for Sabien Technology Group Plc report the result of operations for the year as though the acquisition of its controlling interest through a transaction under common control had occurred at 1 October 2005. The effect of intercompany transactions has been eliminated in determining the results of operations for the year prior to acquisition of the controlling interest, meaning that those results are on substantially the same basis as the results of operations for the year after the acquisition of the controlling interest.

Similarly, the consolidated balance sheet and other financial information have been presented as though the assets and liabilities of the combining entities had been transferred at 1 October 2005.

The Group did take advantage of section 131 of the Companies Act 1985 and debited the difference arising on the merger with Sabien Technology Limited to a merger reserve.

c) Property, plant and equipment: Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Assets are written off on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful life commencing when the asset is brought into use. The useful lives of the assets held by the Group are considered to be as follows:

Office equipment, fixtures and fittings 4 years

d) Intangible assets: Intellectual property, which is controlled through custody of legal rights and could be sold separately from the rest of the business, is capitalised where fair values can be reliably measured.

Intellectual property is amortised on a straight line basis evenly over its expected useful life of 20 years.

Impairment tests on the carrying value of intangible assets are undertaken:

·; At the end of the first full financial year following acquisition

·; In other periods if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be fully recoverable.

If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). Recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value, less costs to sell, and value in use. In assessing the value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but only in so far that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised in income immediately.

e) Fixed asset investments: Fixed asset investments are stated at cost less any provision for impairment in value.

f) Inventories: Inventories are valued at the lower of average cost and net realisable value.

g) Financial Instruments

Financial Assets

The Group classifies its financial assets as loans and receivables and cash. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial assets were acquired. Management determines the classification of its financial assets at initial recognition.

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are classified as non-current assets.

Trade receivables are classified as loans and receivables and are recognised at fair value less provision for impairment. Trade receivables, with standard payment terms of between 30 to 65 days, are recognised and carried at the lower of their original invoiced and recoverable amount. Where the time value of money is material, receivables are carried at amortised cost. Provision is made when there is objective guidance that the Group will not be able to recover balances in full. Balances are written off when the probability of recovery is assessed as being remote.

Financial Liabilities

The Group classifies its financial liabilities as trade payables and other short term monetary liabilities. Trade payables and other short term monetary liabilities are recorded initially at their fair value and subsequently at amortised cost. They are classified as non-current when the payment falls due more than 12 months after the balance sheet date.

h) Cash and Cash Equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, and bank overdrafts.

i) Revenue recognition: Revenue from sale of goods is recognised upon delivery and installation at a customer site or delivery to a customer's incumbent facilities manager which subsequently carries out the installation itself. Where goods are delivered to overseas distributors, revenue is recognised at the time of shipment from the company's warehouse.

Revenue from services generally arises from pilot projects for customers and is recognised once the pilot has been completed and the results notified to the customer. Pilot projects generally have a duration of between 1 and 3 months.

Revenue is shown net of value-added tax, returns, rebates and discounts and after eliminating sales within the Group.

Interest income is accrued on a time basis by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable.

j) Share-based payments: The Group has applied the requirements of IFRS2 Share-based Payments. The Group issues options to certain employees. These options are measured at fair value (excluding the effect of non-market based vesting conditions) at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant date is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period based on the Group's estimate of the shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market based vesting conditions.

Fair value is measured by use of the Black-Scholes model. The expected life used in the model has been adjusted, based on management's best estimate for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural conditions.

k) Operating leases: Rentals applicable to operating leases where substantially all of the benefits and risks of ownership remain with the lessor are charged to the statement of comprehensive income on the straight line basis over the lease term.

l) Taxation: The charge for current tax is based on the results for the period as adjusted for items that are non-assessable or disallowed. It is calculated using rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method in respect of temporary differences arising from differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax basis used in the computation of taxable profit. In principle, deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction which affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, and interest in joint ventures, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

Deferred tax is calculated at the rates that are expected to apply when the asset or liability is settled. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the statement of comprehensive income, except when it relates to items credited or charged directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

m) Standards, amendments and interpretations effective in 2011

·; Improvements to IFRSs 2010 - This is the third set of amendments published under the IASBs annual improvements process and incorporates minor amendments to seven standards and interpretations. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011.

·; Amendments to IFRS 1 'First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards- These amendments provide limited exemption for comparative IFRS 7 disclosures for first-time adopters. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011.

·; Amendments to IFRS 7 'Financial Instruments: Disclosures'-These amendments are intended to provide greater transparency around risk exposures when a financial asset is transferred but the transferor retains some level of continuing exposure in the asset. The amendments also require disclosures where transfers of financial assets are not evenly distributed throughout the period. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2011.

·; Amendment to IAS 12 'Income Taxes' issued in December 2010 which requires an entity to measure deferred tax relating to an asset depending on whether the entity expects to recover the carrying amount of the asset through use or sale. The effective date is 1 January 2012.

·; Revised IAS 24 (revised), 'Related party disclosures', issued in November 2009. It supersedes IAS 24 (revised), 'Related party disclosures', issued in 2003. The revised IAS 24 is required to be applied from 1 January 2011 and clarifies and simplifies the definition of a related party. The Group has applied the revised standard from 1 July 2011.

·; 'Prepayments of a minimum funding requirement' (amendments to IFRIC 14), issued in November 2009. The amendments are effective for annual periods beginning 1 January 2011.

n) Standards, interpretations and amendments to published standards that are not yet effective andhave not been adopted early by the Group 

·; Amendment to IAS 1 'Presentation of Financial Statements' issued in June 2011 which confirms previous amendments to IAS 1. The standard is not applicable until 1 July 2012 but is available for early adoption.

·; Amendment to IAS 19 'Employee Benefits' issued in June 2011 which requires additional disclosures in respect of defined benefit schemes. The standard is not applicable until 1 January 2013 but is available for early adoption.

·; IAS 27 (revised 2011) 'Separate financial statements' issued in May 2011 where consolidation requirements are now included in IFRS 10. The effective date is 1 January 2013.

·; IAS 28 (revised 2011) 'Associates and joint ventures' issued in May 2011. The effective date is 1 January 2013.

·; IFRS 9, 'Financial instruments', issued in November 2009. This addresses the classification and measurement of financial assets and may affect the Group's accounting for its financial assets. The standard is not applicable until 1 January 2013 but is available for early adoption.

·; IFRS 10, 'Consolidated Financial Statements', issued in May 2011. This includes a revised definition of control which forms the centre of a new consolidation model. The revised definition states that control exists when an investor has the right to variable returns and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The standard is applicable to annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013.

·; IFRS 11, 'Joint Arrangements', issued in May 2011. The standard addresses inconsistencies in the reporting of joint arrangements by requiring a single method to account for interests in jointly controlled entities. The effective date of the standard is 1 January 2013.

·; IFRS 12, 'Disclosure of interest in other entities', issued in May 2011. The standard is a comprehensive standard on the disclosure requirements for all forms of interests in other entities including subsidiaries, joint arrangements, associates and unconsolidated structured entities. The effective date of the standard is 1 January 2013.

·; IFRS 13, 'Fair Value Measurement', issued in May 2011. The standard sets out a single IFRS framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosure about fair value measurements. The effective date of the standard is 1 January 2013. 

2. Segmental reporting

Based on risks and returns, the directors consider that the primary reporting business format is by business segment which is currently just the supply of energy efficiency products, as this forms the basis of internal reports that are regularly reviewed by the company's chief operating decision maker in order to allocate resources to the segment and assess its performance. Therefore the disclosures for the primary segment have already been given in these financial statements. The secondary reporting format is by geographical analysis by destination. Non-UK revenues amounted to less than 5% of total revenues for the period and are therefore not reportable.

During the period, sales to the group's largest customer were as follows:

3. Taxation

The company has recognised a deferred tax asset of £63k (2010: nil) in respect of £301k of available losses brought forward as the Directors believe that the Group will continue to be profitable in the future but have limited their estimate to the same level of profit as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income in view of uncertainty as to when future profits will arise.

4. Earnings per share (EPS)

The calculation of the basic earnings per share is based on the earnings attributable to the ordinary shareholders, divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue in the period.

At the period end, warrants for 1,518,356 shares and options over shares were in issue.

5. Share capital

The Company's issued ordinary share capital, at the date of this Balance Sheet is:

6. Seasonality

The business of the Group is not seasonal and there are no substantial and recurring variations between the results in the first half-yearly period compared to the second half-year.