CAMBRIDGE NUTRITIONAL SCIENCES PLC — Interim / Quarterly Report 2014

Nov 26, 2014

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RNS Number : 9896X

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC

26 November 2014

26 November 2014

OMEGA DIAGNOSTICS GROUP PLC

("Omega" or the "Company" or the "Group")

INTERIM RESULTS

FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2014

Omega, the AIM listed medical diagnostics company, announces its unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2014.

Omega is one of the UK's leading companies in the fast growing area of food intolerance testing and also operates in markets supplying tests for allergies and autoimmune diseases and specific infectious diseases through a strong distribution network in over 100 countries.

Financial Highlights:

·      Revenue 2% ahead of last year at £5.69m (2013: £5.59m)

·      Gross profit increased by 3% on the same period last year at £3.66m (2013: £3.56m)

·      Gross margin slightly ahead of the same period last year at 64.3% (2013: 63.6%)

·      Adjusted profit before tax ("PBT") up 32% to £0.56m (2013: £0.43m)

·      Adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") of 0.5p (2013: 0.6p)

·      Cash at the period end of £2.1m (2013: £3.3m)

Other Highlights:

·      200-patient evaluation of Visitect® CD4 in India demonstrated acceptable performance against flow cytometry

·      Engagement with experts in lateral flow diagnostics to support the transfer process and scale up

·      Positive progress with 27 allergens from the allergy development programme now optimised

·      Recruitment of in-house scientific team to accelerate further allergen optimisation

Regarding outlook, David Evans, Chairman, said:

"We are optimistic about the continuing performance of our core business in the second half of this year, particularly in Food Intolerance, where we have built significant traction with new customers over recent years. We share your frustration with the inevitable delay that is occurring with Visitect® CD4 since the last trading update.  However, we believe we have taken the right course of action with the recent programme changes to prevent similar problems occurring with the product after its market launch.  Despite the setback, we continue to receive feedback from the HIV/Global Health arena that convinces us that the market opportunity and outlook for CD4 remains undiminished."

Contacts: 

Omega Diagnostics Group PLC	Tel: 01259 763 030 or www.omegadiagnostics.com
Andrew Shepherd, Chief Executive
Kieron Harbinson, Group Finance Director    Jag Grewal, Group Sales and Marketing Director
finnCap Ltd	Tel: 020 7220 0500
Geoff Nash/Christopher Raggett (Corporate Finance) Mia Gardner (Corporate Broking)
Walbrook PR Limited	Tel: 020 7933 8780 or [email protected]
Paul McManus	Mob: 07980 541 893
Lianne Cawthorne	Mob: 07584 391 303

Chairman's Statement

Financial performance

The trading performance of the core business has proved resilient overall in the face of certain headwinds.  Revenue was up by 2% on the prior period at £5.69m (2013: £5.59m) despite the strengthening effect of sterling reducing reported revenue by £0.25m in the current period.  The positive performance from our Food Intolerance segment has more than offset a reduction in revenue seen in our allergy/autoimmune and infectious disease segments.  We now have a number of key Food Intolerance customers in the EU, North America and BRIC countries supporting a sustainable increase in product volumes, leading to an overall increase in profitability.  The allergy/autoimmune segment in Germany continues to operate with reimbursement pressures leading to a reduction in sales in some regions.  The infectious disease segment was impacted by some raw material supply delays which led to back orders in the period which are being fulfilled in the second half.

Gross profit increased by 3% to £3.66m (2013: £3.56m) due to an improvement in segmental mix and continued efforts in cost management have helped to achieve a growth of 32% in adjusted PBT to £0.56m (2013: £0.43m).

The Group has recorded a tax charge in the period of £0.03m (2013: credit of £0.08m). Adjusted earnings per share has reduced slightly to 0.5p (2013: 0.6p) reflecting a higher average number of shares in circulation in the current period compared to the prior period.

Strategy

Point-of-care (POC) testing

Our POC strategy is dominated by the activities and prospects for Visitect® CD4.  When we announced in February 2014 that we had completed technology transfer, this was on the back of the accepted three-batch validation procedure on a statistically significant number of samples.  All three batches were made using our selected high volume manufacturing protocol with our contracted manufacturer.  Product from the third of these three batches was evaluated in India and Kenya, with acceptable results achieved in India and sub-optimal performance observed in Kenya as previously reported.

Subsequent batches of manufactured product have yielded variable results when tested on patient blood samples.  The combination of an outsourced manufacturing process, an in-house assembly process and the need to test finished devices on patient samples at a UK Reference Laboratory, has led to lead times which are fairly prohibitive when needing to test product refinements on an iterative basis.

We have therefore made a number of recent changes in programme management to achieve the ultimate aim of commercialisation within the shortest timeframe.  These changes include access to additional expert resource in rapid test development and manufacturing scale-up; bringing control in-house of the outsourced manufacturing process on a temporary basis and taking a step back into the technology transfer process to increase the understanding of how the test is manufactured on the semi-manual bench top basis first used by the Burnet Institute to develop the product. We shall continue to focus all available resource and effort on resolving the issues with CD4 before we look at the other rapid test opportunities we referred to in the last annual report.

Automation

We continue to make good progress with our allergy development programme.  We reported on 24 October 2014 that 16 allergens have completed their claim support work and that an additional 11 allergens have completed optimisation, bringing to 27 the number of allergens which can be used on the iSYS instrument with equivalent performance to the market leading product.  To date, a further six allergens have completed claim support, increasing the total of this group to 22, leaving a further five allergens optimised and in the queue to undergo claim support.  The remaining 13 allergens needed to complete the launch panel have been identified and are in varying stages of optimisation and as reported previously, we have recruited an in-house team of scientists to increase momentum in the optimisation work.  The timeline to optimise the remaining 13 allergens is dependent upon sourcing (externally and/or internally) allergen extract preparations of sufficient quality to achieve the performance design goals when incorporated into the assay system.

Outlook

As reported in the most recent trading update on 24 October 2014, our first half trading performance is in line with management expectation and ahead of last year.  We are optimistic about the continuing performance of our core business in the second half of this year, particularly in Food Intolerance, where we have built significant traction with new customers over recent years.

We share your frustration with the inevitable delay that is occurring with Visitect® CD4 since the last trading update.  However, we believe we have taken the right course of action with the recent programme changes to prevent similar problems occurring with the product after its market launch.  Despite the setback, we continue to receive feedback from the HIV/Global Health arena that convinces us that the market opportunity and outlook for CD4 remains undiminished.

David Evans

Non-Executive Chairman

26 November 2014

INDEPENDENT REVIEW REPORT TO OMEGA DIAGNOSTICS GROUP PLC

Introduction

We have been engaged by the Company to review the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2014 which comprises the Consolidated  Statement of Comprehensive Income, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and the related explanatory notes 1 to 6. We have read the other information contained in the half-yearly financial report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the information in the condensed set of financial statements.

This report is made solely to the company in accordance with guidance contained in International Standard on Review Engagements 2410 (UK and Ireland) "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Auditing Practices Board. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company, for our work, for this report, or for the conclusions we have formed.

Directors' Responsibilities

The half-yearly financial report is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The directors are responsible for preparing the Interim Report in accordance with the AIM Rules issued by the London Stock Exchange which require that it is presented and prepared in a form consistent with that which will be adopted in the company's annual accounts having regard to the accounting standards applicable to such annual accounts.

As disclosed in Note 1, the annual financial statements of the group are prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The condensed set of financial statements included in this half-yearly financial report has been prepared in accordance with the AIM Rules issued by the London Stock Exchange.

Our Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express to the Company a conclusion on the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report based on our review.

Scope of Review

We conducted our review in accordance with International Standard on Review Engagements (UK and Ireland) 2410, "Review of Interim Financial Information Performed by the Independent Auditor of the Entity" issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review of interim financial information consists of making enquiries, primarily of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters, and applying analytical and other review procedures. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) and consequently does not enable us to obtain assurance that we would become aware of all significant matters that might be identified in an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion.

Conclusion

Based on our review, nothing has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the condensed set of financial statements in the half-yearly financial report for the six months ended 30 September 2014 is not prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the accounting policies outlined in Note 1, which comply with IFRS's as adopted by the European Union and in accordance with the AIM Rules issued by the London Stock Exchange.

Ernst & Young LLP

Glasgow

26 November 2014

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

for the six months ended 30 September 2014

		6 months		6 months
		to 30 Sept		to 30 Sept
	Notes	2014		2013
		£		£
Continuing operations
Revenue	3	5,686,995		5,590,262
Cost of sales		(2,031,239)		(2,032,093)
Gross profit		3,655,756		3,558,169
Administration costs		(2,535,715)		(2,370,407)
Selling and marketing costs		(973,715)		(1,028,319)
Other operating income		49,765		-
Operating profit		196,091		159,443
Finance costs	4	(14,390)		(11,814)
Finance revenue - interest receivable		26,717		16,851
Profit before taxation		208,418		164,480
Tax (charge)/credit	5	(29,034)		82,940
Profit for the period		179,384		247,420
Other comprehensive income for the period to be reclassified
to profit and loss in subsequent periods
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations		(273,626)		(61,690)
Tax credit	5	28,420		5,552
Other comprehensive income for the period to be reclassified to profit and loss in subsequent periods		(245,206)		(56,138)
Total comprehensive income for the period		(65,822)		191,282
Earnings Per Share (EPS)
Basic and diluted EPS on profit for the period	6	0.2p		0.3p
Adjusted Profit before Taxation		6 months		6 months
for the six months ended 30 September 2014		to 30 Sept		to 30 Sept
		2014		2013
		£		£
Profit before taxation		208,418		164,480
IFRS-related discount charges		4,956		6,970
Amortisation of intangible assets		197,423		210,655
Share-based payment charges		151,842		45,158
Adjusted profit before taxation		562,639		427,263
Earnings Per Share (EPS)
Basic and diluted Adjusted EPS on profit for the period	6	0.5p		0.6p

Adjusted PBT stated before share-based payments, IFRS-related discount unwinds and amortisation of intangible assets.

Consolidated Balance Sheet

as at 30 September 2014

		At 30 Sept		At 31 March		At 30 Sept
		2014		2014		2013
		£		£		£
Assets
Non-current assets
Intangibles		11,629,551		11,259,215		10,752,018
Property, plant and equipment		2,440,875		2,283,911		2,244,045
Deferred taxation		1,260,698		1,138,404		810,721
Retirement benefit surplus		84,370		84,370		31,886
Total non-current assets		15,415,494		14,765,900		13,838,670
Current assets
Inventories		1,910,876		1,692,941		1,675,850
Trade and other receivables		2,492,611		2,415,917		2,428,939
Cash and cash equivalents		2,135,533		3,116,013		3,326,678
Total current assets		6,539,020		7,224,871		7,431,467
Total assets		21,954,514		21,990,771		21,270,137
Equity and liabilities
Issued capital		16,727,515		16,727,515		16,727,515
Retained earnings		1,817,073		1,731,053		1,221,811
Total equity		18,544,588		18,458,568		17,949,326
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Long term borrowings		367,146		319,044		345,313
Deferred taxation		1,165,833		1,042,925		777,977
Total non-current liabilities		1,532,979		1,361,969		1,123,290
Current liabilities
Short term borrowings		239,623		427,824		426,489
Trade and other payables		1,331,037		1,386,358		1,271,032
Deferred income		306,287		356,052		-
Other financial liabilities		-		-		500,000
Total current liabilities		1,876,947		2,170,234		2,197,521
Total liabilities		3,409,926		3,532,203		3,320,811
Total equity and liabilities		21,954,514		21,990,771		21,270,137

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the six months ended 30 September 2014

	Share		Share		Retained
	capital		premium		earnings		Total
	£		£		£		£
Balance at 1 April 2013	4,145,580		8,831,527		985,371		13,962,478
Issue of share capital for cash consideration	941,176		3,058,824		-		4,000,000
Expenses in connection with share issue	-		(249,592)		-		(249,592)
Profit for the period to 30 September 2013	-		-		247,420		247,420
Other comprehensive income - net exchange adjustments	-		-		(61,690)		(61,690)
Other comprehensive income - tax credit	-		-		5,552		5,552
Total comprehensive income	-		-		191,282		191,282
Share-based payments	-		-		45,158		45,158
Balance at 30 September 2013	5,086,756		11,640,759		1,221,811		17,949,326
Profit for the period to 31 March 2014	-		-		445,431		445,431
Other comprehensive income - net exchange adjustments	-		-		(64,824)		(64,824)
Other comprehensive income - actuarial gain on defined benefit pensions	-		-		51,941		51,941
Other comprehensive income - tax credit	-		-		(4,135)		(4,135)
Total comprehensive income	-		-		428,413		428,413
Share-based payments	-		-		80,829		80,829
Balance at 1 April 2014	5,086,756		11,640,759		1,731,053		18,458,568
Profit for the period to 30 September 2014	-		-		179,384		179,384
Other comprehensive income - net exchange adjustments	-		-		(273,626)		(273,626)
Other comprehensive income - tax credit	-		-		28,420		28,420
Total comprehensive income	-		-		(65,822)		(65,822)
Share-based payments	-		-		151,842		151,842
Balance at 30 September 2014	5,086,756		11,640,759		1,817,073		18,544,588

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

for the six months ended 30 September 2014

	6 months		6 months
	to 30 Sept		to 30 Sept
	2014		2013
	£		£
Cash flows generated from operations
Profit for the period	179,384		247,420
Adjustments for:
Taxation	29,034		(82,940)
Finance costs	14,390		11,814
Finance income	(26,717)		(16,851)
Operating profit	196,091		159,443
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables	(76,694)		127,823
(Increase)/decrease in inventories	(217,935)		158,037
Decrease in trade and other payables	(55,320)		(413,117)
Depreciation	161,711		135,918
Amortisation of intangible assets	197,423		210,655
Grant amortisation	(49,765)		-
Taxation received	-		7,106
Gain on sale of property, plant and equipment	(1,777)		(11,225)
Share-based payments	151,842		45,158
Net cash flow from operating activities	305,576		419,798
Investing activities
Finance income	26,717		16,851
Purchase of property, plant and equipment	(436,818)		(298,187)
Purchase of intangible assets	(649,640)		(638,318)
Sale proceeds of property, plant and equipment	8,365		32,500
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,051,376)		(887,154)
Financing activities
Finance costs	(8,499)		(3,443)
Proceeds from issue of share capital	-		4,000,000
Expenses of share issue	-		(249,592)
Loan repayments	(360,000)		(360,000)
New finance leases	247,500		282,366
Finance lease repayments	(33,493)		(11,056)
Net cash from financing activities	(154,492)		3,658,275
Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents	(900,292)		3,190,919
Effects of exchange rate movements	(80,188)		(24,934)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	3,116,013		160,693
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	2,135,533		3,326,678

Notes to the Interim Report

for the six months ended 30 September 2014

1. BASIS OF PREPARATION

For the purpose of preparing the March 2014 Annual financial statements the Directors used IFRS as adopted by the EU and in accordance with the AIM Rules issued by the London Stock Exchange. In preparing these interim financial statements, the same accounting policies have been used as set out in the Group's Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2014. The Group has not applied IAS 34 Interim Financial Reporting, which is not mandatory for AIM companies, in the preparation of these interim financial statements.

The interim financial statements are unaudited but have been formally reviewed by the auditors and their report is unqualified. The information shown in the consolidated balance sheet as at 31 March 2014 does not constitute statutory accounts as defined in Section 435 of the Companies Act 2006 and has been extracted from the Group's 2014 Annual Report which has been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors on the financial statements contained within the Group's 2014 Annual Report was unqualified and did not contain a statement under sections 498 (2) and 498 (3) of Chapter 3, Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006.  These interim financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 26 November 2014.

2. SEGMENT INFORMATION

For management purposes the Group is organised into three operating divisions: Allergy and Autoimmune, Food Intolerance and Infectious Disease and Other.

The Allergy and Autoimmune division specialises in the research, development, production and marketing of in-vitro allergy and autoimmune tests used by doctors to diagnose patients with allergies and autoimmune diseases.

The Food Intolerance division specialises in the research, development and production of kits to aid the detection of immune reactions to food. It also provides clinical analysis to the general public, clinics and health professionals as well as supplying the consumer Food Detective test.

The Infectious Diseases division specialises in the research, development and production and marketing of kits to aid the diagnosis of infectious diseases.

Corporate consists of centralised corporate costs which are not allocated across the three business divisions.

Inter segment transfers or transactions are entered into under the normal commercial conditions that would be available to unrelated third parties.

BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION

	Allergy and		Food		Infectious/
	Autoimmune		Intolerance		Other		Corporate		Group
September 2014	£		£		£		£		£
Statutory presentation
Revenue	1,865,892		3,464,378		1,143,421		-		6,473,691
Inter-segment revenue	(39,053)		(680,867)		(66,776)		-		(786,696)
Total revenue	1,826,839		2,783,511		1,076,645		-		5,686,995
Operating costs	(1,932,699)		(1,877,495)		(1,232,347)		(448,363)		(5,490,904)
Operating profit/(loss)	(105,860)		906,016		(155,702)		(448,363)		196,091
Net finance costs	7		99		(8,499)		20,720		12,327
Profit/(loss) before taxation	(105,853)		906,115		(164,201)		(427,643)		208,418
Adjusted profit before taxation
Profit/(loss) before taxation	(105,853)		906,115		(164,201)		(427,643)		208,418
IFRS-related discount charges	-		-		-		4,956		4,956
Amortisation of intangible assets	133,770		49,444		14,209		-		197,423
Share-based payment charges	-		-		-		151,842		151,842
Adjusted profit/(loss) before taxation	27,917		955,559		(149,992)		(270,845)		562,639
	Allergy and		Food		Infectious/
	Autoimmune		Intolerance		Other		Corporate		Group
September 2013	£		£		£		£		£
Statutory presentation
Revenue	2,127,232		2,717,484		1,374,835		-		6,219,551
Inter-segment revenue	(61,041)		(470,096)		(98,152)		-		(629,289)
Total revenue	2,066,191		2,247,388		1,276,683		-		5,590,262
Operating costs	(2,016,645)		(1,724,289)		(1,264,885)		(425,000)		(5,430,819)
Operating profit/(loss)	49,546		523,099		11,798		(425,000)		159,443
Net finance costs	18		234		(3,430)		8,215		5,037
Profit/(loss) before taxation	49,564		523,333		8,368		(416,785)		164,480
Adjusted profit before taxation
Profit/(loss) before taxation	49,564		523,333		8,368		(416,785)		164,480
IFRS-related discount charges	-		-		-		6,970		6,970
Amortisation of intangible assets	148,071		49,443		13,141		-		210,655
Share-based payment charges	-		-		-		45,158		45,158
Adjusted profit/(loss) before taxation	197,635		572,776		21,509		(364,657)		427,263

3. REVENUES												6 months		6 months
												to 30 Sept		to 30 Sept
												2014		2013
												£		£
UK												463,023		431,578
Germany												1,564,409		1,801,014
Rest of Europe												1,658,335		1,374,347
North America												248,814		212,381
South/Central America												388,278		354,234
Asia and Far East												857,887		700,936
Africa and Middle East												506,249		715,772
												5,686,995		5,590,262

4. FINANCE COSTS

						6 months		6 months
						to 30 Sept		to 30 Sept
						2014		2013
						£		£
Interest payable on loans						2,798		3,506
Unwinding of discounts						4,956		6,970
Finance charges payable under finance leases						6,636		1,338
						14,390		11,814

5. TAX (CHARGE) / CREDIT

										6 months				6 months
										to 30 Sept				to 30 Sept
										2014				2013
										£				£
Tax (charge) / credit in the income statement
Current tax - current year										-				--
Current tax - prior year adjustment										-				-
Deferred tax - current year										(20,361)				119,845
Deferred tax - prior year adjustment										(8,673)				(36,905)
										(29,034)				82,940

Tax relating to items charged or credited to other comprehensive income
Deferred tax on net exchange adjustments							28,420		--5,552
							28,420		5,552

Reconciliation of total tax charge / (credit)
Factors affecting the tax charge / (credit) for the period:
Profit before tax					208,418		164,480
Effective rate of taxation					21%		23%
Profit before tax multiplied by the effective rate of tax					43,768		37,830
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes and permanent differences					32,994		12,966
Research and development tax credits					(144,771)		(167,815)
Movement on deferred tax arising from share based payments					106,515		-
Tax under provided in prior years					8,673		36,905
Adjustment due to different overseas tax rate					(10,868)		(2,826)
Impact of UK rate change on deferred tax					(7,277)		-
Tax charge / (credit) for the period					29,034		(82,940)

The main UK corporation tax rate will be reduced from the current rate of 21% which has applied from 1 April 2014, to 20% via a 1% reduction at 1 April 2015. The reduction in the corporation tax rate to 20% was included within the 2013 Finance Act that was enacted on 17 July 2013. As both rates were substantively enacted at the balance sheet date deferred tax has been calculated at the rate of 20%, as this is the rate at which deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to reverse.

6. EARNINGS PER SHARE

	6 months to 30 Sept 2014	6 months to 30 Sept 2013
	£	£
Profit attributable to equity holders of the Group	179,384	247,420
	2014 Number	2013 Number
Weighted average number of shares	108,745,669	92,352,226
Share options	1,555,777	190,172
Diluted weighted average number of shares	110,301,446	92,542,398

The number of shares in issue at the period end was 108,745,669. Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing profit for the year attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Group by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year.

Diluted earnings per share are calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to ordinary equity holders of the Group by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year plus the weighted average number of ordinary shares that would be issued on the conversion of all the dilutive potential ordinary shares into ordinary shares. Diluting events are excluded from the calculation when the average market price of ordinary shares is lower than the exercise price.

Adjusted Earnings per share on profit for the period

The Group presents adjusted earnings per share which is calculated by taking adjusted profit before taxation and adding the tax (charge)/credit in order to allow shareholders to understand better the elements of financial performance in the year, so as to facilitate comparison with prior periods and to assess better trends in financial performance.

	6 months to 30 Sept 2014	6 months to 30 Sept 2013
	£	£
Adjusted profit before taxation	562,639	427,263
Tax (charge) / credit	(29,034)	82,940
Adjusted profit attributable to equity holders of the Group	533,605	510,203

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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