5 September 2012

 

Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc

(“AMS” or the “Group”)

 

Interim Results for the six months ended 30 June 2012

 

Winsford, UK: Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc (AIM: AMS), the global medical technology company, today announces its interim results for the six months ended 30 June 2012.

 

Financial Highlights:
•	Group revenue up 52% to £24.8 million (2011 H1: £16.3 million), representing growth of 55% on a constant currency basis¹
•	Underlying like-for-like Group revenue on a constant currency basis (excluding RESORBA®) flat at £16.0 million
•	Adjusted2 operating margin up 660 bps to 23.2% (2011 H1:16.6%)
•	Adjusted2 profit before tax up 98% to £5.4 million (2011 H1: £2.7 million)
	•	Profit before tax up 72% to £4.5 million (2011 H1: £2.6 million)
•	Adjusted2 diluted earnings per share up 30% to 2.27p (2011 H1: 1.74p)
	•	Fully diluted earnings per share up 11% to 1.87p (2011 H1: 1.68p)
•	Operating cash flow before exceptional items3 of £5.6 million (2011 H1: £1.5 million)
•	€2 million of €25 million loan to acquire RESORBA® has been repaid ahead of schedule
•	Interim dividend of 0.17p per share (2011 H1: 0.145p), a 17.2% increase

 

Business Highlights:
•	In the US, LiquiBand® market share by volume increased to 6% in the hospital segment and 10% in the alternate site segment
•	ActivHeal® continues its excellent progress in the NHS, with a 40% increase in revenues
•	New trilaminate foam range has achieved CE certification and has now been launched
•	Silver alginate destocking finished and partners are growing sales faster than the wider market
•	RESORBA® integration is going well and progressing to plan – LiquiBand® sales in Germany via RESORBA®  have increased by 15%
•	Own brands now account for over 50% of revenues (2011 H1: approximately 25%)

 

Subsequent Events:
•	First contract award for LiquiBand® Flex with a major US hospital group, and agreements now in place with five additional US distributors
•	Successful contract award to supply NHS with sutures, haemostats as well as tissue adhesives from October 2012

 

 

Commenting on the results Dr. Don Evans, Chairman of AMS, said:

 

“The first half of 2012 has again seen significant progress by AMS, with LiquiBand^® continuing to increase its market shares in the US, another strong performance by ActivHeal^® in the UK and an excellent initial contribution from RESORBA^®. In addition to further gains from these parts of our business, the second half is also expected to benefit from stronger silver alginate sales, initial trilaminate foam revenues and an additional boost in the US from LiquiBand^® Flex. Further out, we have a number of exciting developments coming through our R&D pipeline which, combined with further strong progress anticipated in our existing businesses, lead the Board to be very optimistic about our long term prospects.”

 

– End –

 

¹        Constant currency removes the effect of currency movements by re-translating the current period’s performance at the previous period’s exchange rates

²     All items are shown before exceptional items which, in 2012 H1, were £0.6 million (£nil in 2011 H1) and before amortisation of acquired intangible assets which, in 2012 H1, were £0.2 million (2011 H1: £0.1 million) as defined in the financial review

³     Before exceptional items which, in 2012 H1, were £0.6 million (£nil in 2011 H1)

 

 

For further information, please visit www.admedsol.com or contact:

 

Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc	Tel: +44 (0) 1606 545508
Chris Meredith, Chief Executive Officer Mary Tavener, Group Finance Director
Tavistock Communications	Tel: +44 (0) 20 7920 3150
John West / Chris Munden / Andrew Dunn
Investec Bank plc (NOMAD)	Tel: +44 (0) 20 7597 5970
Gary Clarence / Daniel Adams / Patrick Robb

 

About Advanced Medical Solutions Group plc – see www.admedsol.com 

 

Founded in 1991, AMS is a leader in the development and manufacture of innovative and technologically advanced products for the US$15 billion global wound care market. These products are sold in countries across the globe either directly or through strategic partners and distributors.

 

AMS’s advanced woundcare products are based on an extensive range of technologies including alginates, silver alginates, hydrophilic polyurethane foams and collagens. These and other products protect the wound, deal with tissue fluids, provide an optimal environment for healing to occur and, in the case of silver alginates, include a safe and effective broad-spectrum anti-microbial agent for infection control. AMS’s advanced woundcare products are sold globally both on an Original Equipment Manufacturer basis and directly via the Group’s RESORBA^® brands, as well as in the UK direct to the NHS under the ActivHeal^® brand.

 

AMS’s wound closure and sealants products are mostly based on cyanoacrylate adhesive (“superglue”) technology developed for medical applications. Tissue adhesives are simple to use, help to reduce the risk of infection, minimise trauma to the patient and provide good clinical and cosmetic outcomes. The technology is also ideally suited to protecting skin from breakdown or for use as a skin sealant to help prevent infection of surgical sites. AMS’s tissue adhesive products are primarily sold under the LiquiBand^® brand both directly and via a network of distributors. AMS also has a range of RESORBA^® branded suture products which are sold directly via the Group’s own surgically focused sales teams.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman’s Statement

 

Introduction

 

The Group’s performance during the first half of 2012 underpins the confidence that I have in the business and our strategy going forward as outlined in the 2011 Annual Report.

 

Financial Highlights

 

Reported Group revenue was up 55% to £24.8 million at constant currency. On a like-for-like, constant currency basis, excluding the contribution from RESORBA®, revenue was flat at £16.0 million (2011 H1: £16.0 million).

 

The Group’s adjusted operating margin increased by 660 bps to 23.2% (2011 H1:16.6%), mainly due to the mix of business and the initial contribution from sutures and collagen. After net finance costs of £0.4 million (2011 H1: £nil), adjusted profit before tax nearly doubled to £5.4 million (2011 H1: £2.7 million).

 

Adjusted basic earnings per share¹ increased by 30% to 2.31p (2011 H1: 1.78p) and adjusted fully diluted earnings per share¹ increased 30% to 2.27p (2011 H1: 1.74p).

 

Following the RESORBA^® acquisition in December 2011, the Group had net debt of £13.4 million at 31 December 2011. The Group’s net debt at 30 June 2012 was £10.6 million (2011 H1: net funds of £3.1 million). In this regard, our strong cash flow has enabled us to repay €2 million of the original €25 million RESORBA^® related term loan ahead of schedule.

 

Key Achievements

 

LiquiBand^® in the US has achieved further market share gains, and now has an estimated 6% of the US hospital market volume and an estimated 10% of the non-hospital or alternate site market.

 

LiquiBand^® Flex was launched at the beginning of 2012. We are pleased with the number of evaluations undertaken, and are encouraged by the progress and positive initial feedback from trials. Subsequent to the period end, we have won our first contract with a major US hospital group to supply LiquiBand^® Flex adhesive into both its Emergency Room and Operating Room settings. We have also signed distribution agreements with a further five specialised regional distributors, increasing the number of distributors promoting LiquiBand^® products in the US to nine, and we anticipate continuing progress through the second half of 2012.

 

ActivHeal^® continues to deliver significant cost savings to the NHS without any compromise to clinical outcome or patient care, and has achieved a 40% increase in interim revenues, all the more pleasing given the significantly higher base following strong gains in prior periods.

 

Subsequent to the period end, we have learned that we have been successful in our tender to supply sutures and collagens to the NHS alongside our tissue adhesives. This agreement lasts for a period of three years, starting from October 2012 and, whilst in itself it does not guarantee any sales, it allows us to offer our products to Trusts under contract.

 

Sales of fully converted foam dressings increased 27% in the period. However, as expected, total foam revenues fell by 12% year-on-year, reflecting the ‘Year 2 effect’ following the significant product launches of foam rollstock made in 2011.

 

The destocking we experienced last year in silver alginate is over and our European business is again delivering strong growth. Our US silver alginate partners continue to capture market share but, due to order phasing, we did not see this translate to sales in the first half of 2012. Total silver alginate sales, through our partners, continue to achieve growth rates faster than the overall market.

 

Our Winsford facility continues to deliver improvements in both efficiences and economies and, together with the positive impact of RESORBA®’s higher margin own-brands, has contributed to the increase in our margins.

 

¹ Adjusted basic earnings per share and adjusted fully diluted earnings per share are described in Note 4

 

The integration of RESORBA^® is going well and is on track with both our original timetable and our financial and strategic expectations. In this regard, the Group’s brands now contribute over 50% of Group revenues compared to approximately 25% in 2011 H1.

 

Dividend

 

The Board intends to pay an interim dividend of 0.17p per share (2011 H1: 0.145p), an increase of 17.2%, on 2 November 2012 to shareholders on the register at the close of business on 5 October 2012.

 

Employees

 

On behalf of the Board and our shareholders, I would like to thank all Group employees, including our new colleagues at RESORBA®, for all their hard work, in the continued development of AMS as a global medical technology business.

 

Outlook

 

In addition to further progress from the RESORBA^® brands, growth in the second half of 2012 will be driven by LiquiBand^®‘s growing presence in the US, including LiquiBand^® Flex, further gains by ActivHeal^®, stronger Group revenues from our partners’ silver alginate sales, and initial revenues from the launch of our new trilaminate foam range.

 

Despite the ongoing effects of the Euro on revenues, as highlighted previously, we expect to meet current market expectations for profit for the full-year.

 

Looking further ahead, we continue to be excited about the opportunity presented by our LiquiBand^® range in the US and anticipate an increasing number of two-way benefits from RESORBA^®. We also have a number of exciting new product developments such as our hernia mesh fixation device which is on track to launch in Europe in late 2013 and which will provide us with another product offering to help strengthen our growing presence in the Operating Room.

 

The Group’s longer-term prospects remain excellent and we look forward with confidence.

 

Dr. Don W. Evans

Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

Business Review

 

Advanced Woundcare

 

Advanced Woundcare revenue was 10% higher at £14.4 million (2011 H1: £13.1 million).

 

ActivHeal^®

Sales of our ActivHeal^® range into the NHS were 40% ahead of 2011 H1, a strong result that is even more impressive given the significantly higher base we now have after the 73% increase in 2011. Our combined messages of cost savings without any compromise to clinical outcome or patient care are increasingly attractive to hospitals, which are under pressure to extract the best value from all suppliers. In hospitals which are already customers, ActivHeal^® is increasingly being used as product of first choice by nurses, and we are steadily adding new Primary Care Trusts to our customer base.

 

Foams

Our converted dressings continue to show good growth and revenue increased 27% in the period. Our new range of trilaminate dressings has received CE mark approval and has been launched on schedule, increasing our product portfolio and enhancing our offering to both partners and the NHS. However, as outlined in previous announcements, we are seeing the typical ‘Year 2 effect’ of pipeline filling activity arising from the significant product launches of our foam rollstock by partners in 2011. Our rollstock foam business was down 32% in the period. We do not expect to receive significant repeat orders in 2012 from these partners.

 

Silver products

Sales into the UK and Europe increased 18% with the de-stocking effect seen last year now fully behind us. Sales into the US were however 13% lower, but this is as a result of the ordering patterns of our partners, which were particularly strong in the comparative 2011 H1 period and growth has been resumed since the half-year. Overall, our partners continue to outstrip the low single-digit market growth rate, are continuing to take market share from the market leader, and we are confident that our partners’ success will be reflected in higher revenues for the full year. Total sales of silver alginate grew 3% compared with the same period of 2011.

 

Collagen

These consist of a range of branded dressings which serve a number of surgical woundcare applications, including for use in haemostasis as anti-microbials and to help tissue repair and regeneration. They are derived from a proprietary, IP protected collagen technology platform and are marketed directly into the Operating Room (OR) in Germany, the Czech Republic and Russia. Sales of the Group’s branded collagens increased 6% over the same period in 2011.

 

A range of collagen products is also manufactured under a private label for a major global healthcare company for use in highly sensitive fields such as neurosurgery. Whilst sales in 2012 H1 were 64% lower than in the equivalent period last year, contractual commitments are already in place for the second half guaranteeing that sales for the full year will at least be at a similar level to that of 2011.

 

Overall collagen revenues in 2012 H1 were £1.4 million, a decrease of 10% over the same period in 2011. Revenues from collagen products are not included in the 2011 Group numbers and are provided purely for comparative purposes.

 

Winsford facility

We continue to achieve greater efficiencies and economies from our world class site in Winsford which opened at the end of 2010. At that time, we set a target of achieving an improvement of at least 2% in our Advanced Woundcare operating margin over the following two to three years. During 2011, Winsford delivered an estimated 180 basis points of operating margin improvement and, in 2012 H1, we estimate another 90 basis points of improvement has been achieved. The combined gain of 270 basis points means that we have already achieved our target, well ahead of schedule.  

 

Wound Closure and Sealants

 

Wound Closure and Sealants revenue was up 232% to £10.4 million (2011 H1: £3.1 million).

 

LiquiBand^® in the US

LiquiBand^® has increased its volume market shares in the US to an estimated 6% and 10% of the hospital market and non-hospital or alternate site market, respectively. These compare favourably with 5% and 8% at the end of 2011, demonstrating that LiquiBand^®‘s combination of technical superiority and price competitiveness is continuing to take market share from the leading brand. Revenues, however, remained flat in 2012 H1 as end-customer sales continue to be satisfied from existing stock held with distributors but we anticipate that LiquiBand^®‘s progress in the US will be better reflected in increased ex-factory sales during the second half.

 

The LiquiBand^® range was increased at the beginning of 2012 by the launch of LiquiBand^® Flex, our protective, anti-microbial liquid bandage which has recently won its first contract with a major US hospital group. Distributor agreements have also been signed with an additional five specialised regional distributors with a strong OR focus, increasing the number of distributors promoting LiquiBand^® products in the US to nine. This now provides us with strong coverage of the majority of the US for our LiquiBand^® range.

 

As anticipated, one of our distributors has now launched, in August 2012, its own-brand tissue adhesive alongside LiquiBand^® in the US. We view this launch positively as we anticipate a reinvigoration of tissue adhesives sales activity resulting from the new marketing campaign promoting both products.

 

LiquiBand^® in other markets

In both the UK and Europe, we have again maintained our leading market shares. Sales in the UK grew by 8% in 2012 H1 while direct sales in Germany increased by 15%. Sales in the remainder of Europe, which are made through distributors, are small and fell 23%.

 

In the UK we have also replaced our OR distributor with our own small sales team totally focusing on this opportunity directly. This initiative is in its early stages but we are pleased that we have already won an initial contract with a leading hospital group for tissue adhesives.

 

Elsewhere, we continue to make steady and encouraging progress in both Japan and Canada, although both markets are at early stages in development terms and our revenues are currently small. In China, the process of obtaining regulatory approval for LiquiBand^® continues, as do preliminary discussions with potential partners. We have started the regulatory approval process for LiquiBand^® in Russia and are on track to potentially obtain multiple product approvals before the year end.

 

Sutures and dental products

These consist of a range of branded absorbable and non-absorbable sutures, including some for the dental/oral surgery market, which are marketed directly into the OR in Germany, the Czech Republic and Russia. Revenues in 2012 H1 were £6.8 million, an increase of 9% over the same period in 2011. Revenues from sutures and dental products are not included in the 2011 Group numbers and are provided purely for comparative purposes.

 

InteguSeal^®

Revenues remain small but we are unchanged in our view that InteguSeal^® is an excellent product. In this regard, we have reached agreement with Kimberley Clark to take back all rights to InteguSeal^® in Germany from the beginning of 2013, following which we will channel the product via the German sales team directly into Europe’s largest OR market.

 

RESORBA^® integration

Since this acquisition completed on 22 December 2011, we have had a team of senior personnel working on integrating the businesses. This process is progressing well and on schedule.

 

The German group of companies is being restructured with the result that the trading company of RESORBA^® will be known as RESORBA^® Medical GmbH. A further result of this reorganisation is that, now that all primary functions report directly into the UK Head Office, Christian Huber, the former CEO, has left the business.

 

There have been a number of important developments in relation to the acquisition in the first six months, some of which have been referred to elsewhere in this report. The key ones are:

 

LiquiBand®:	sales in Germany increased by 15% in 2012 H1
	LiquiBand® Flex launched in Germany in 2012 Q2
	LiquiBand® products to be launched in the Czech Republic in 2012 H2
	regulatory approval process for oral surgery use in Europe in process
	regulatory approval process for Russia in process
InteguSeal®:	to be relaunched in Germany in 2013
RESORBA® :	suture and collagen products included in successful major NHS tender to supply products from October 2012
	regulatory strategy being developed for selling sutures into the US market

 

 

Research and Development (R&D)

The upgrade to our foam technology range with the introduction of trilaminate dressings has been completed. We have received CE mark certification and have launched the range during Q3 2012.

 

Our hernia mesh fixation device, developed with the support of Surgical Innovations Group, has successfully passed the feasibility stage and has now moved into full scale development, keeping us on track for a potential European launch in late 2013.

 

Our work with Sinclair IS Pharma on their Delmopinol^® ‘anti-biofilm’ technology has however not been as successful as we had hoped. Initial results were encouraging, but subsequent testing has revealed some formulation challenges with foam as well as weakness against one chronic-wound bacterium. Whilst disappointing, the otherwise positive results mean that we are actively looking to identify alternative solutions.

 

Elsewhere, a considerable amount of R&D work is ongoing in the Group, in both the UK and Germany, with a number of projects at various stages of development. To highlight a few projects that are more advanced, we are working on various new fibre dressing variations, the development of our collagen technology for the chronic woundcare market, and a new form of anti-microbial dressing that is not based on silver technology. The latter could be available for launch before the end of 2012.

 

Financial Review

 

Summary

 

The Group is reporting its Interim Results under its existing business segments of Advanced Woundcare and Wound Closure and Sealants, with the collagen products acquired with the RESORBA^® acquisition being reported under Advanced Woundcare and sutures and dental products being reported as part of Wound Closure and Sealants. We are currently reviewing the way we report the various business operations to reflect more accurately the way the business will be organised following the recent acquisition.

 

Reported revenue increased by 52% to £24.8 million (2011 H1: £16.3 million). At constant currency (that is re-translating the current period’s performance at the previous period’s exchange rates), revenue growth would have been 55%.

 

The Group had £0.6 million of exceptional items in the first half of 2012 (2011 H1: £nil) relating to integration and restructuring costs associated with the acquisition of the RESORBA^® business. Amortisation of acquired intangible assets was £0.2 million in the six month period (2011 H1: £0.1 million).

 

Comparisons with 2011 are made on a pre-exceptional, pre-amortisation of acquired intangible asset cost basis as we believe that this provides a fairer representation of the Group’s trading performance. To aid comparison, the Group’s adjusted income statement is summarised in Table 1 below.

 

 

 

Table 1	Six months ended 30th June 2012	Six months ended 30th June 2011
Adjusted Income Statement	£’000	£’000	Change
Revenue	24,766	16,251	52.4%
Gross profit	13,691	7,565	81.0%
Distribution costs	(277)	(150)
Administrative expenses¹	(7,743)	(4,849)
Other income	82	134
Adjusted operating profit	5,753	2,700	113.1%
Net finance costs	(403)	3
Adjusted profit before tax	5,350	2,703	97.9%
Amortisation of acquired intangibles	(242)	(84)
Exceptional items	(610)	–
Profit before tax	4,498	2,619	71.7%
Tax	(638)	50
Profit for the period	3,860	2,669	44.6%
Adjusted earnings per share – basic²	2.31p	1.78p	29.8%
Earnings per share – basic²	1.89p	1.72p	9.9%
Adjusted earnings per share – diluted²	2.27p	1.74p	30.5%
Earnings per share – diluted²	1.87p	1.68p	11.3%

¹ Administration expenses exclude exceptional items and amortisation of acquired intangible assets

² see Note 4 Earnings per share for details of calculation

 

Adjusted operating profit increased by 113% to £5.8 million (2011 H1: £2.7 million) and the adjusted operating margin increased by 660 basis points to 23.2% (2011 H1: 16.6%).

 

Adjusted basic earnings per share increased by 30% to 2.31p (2011 H1: 1.78p) and adjusted fully diluted earnings per share by 30% to 2.27p (2011 H1: 1.74p).

 

The Group generated net cash from operating activities of £4.9 million and had net debt of £10.6 million at the half year (2011 H1: net funds of £3.1 million).

 

Income Statement

 

Revenues

Advanced Woundcare revenues increased by 10% to £14.4 million (2011 H1: £13.1 million). Newly acquired collagen products contributed £1.4 million to this growth.

 

The Wound Closure and Sealants business grew by 232% to £10.4 million (2011 H1: £3.1 million). Sutures and dental products contributed £6.8 million to this growth.

 

Geographic breakdown of revenues

Following the acquisition of RESORBA®, the geographic breakdown of Group revenues in 2012 H1 is shown in Table 2 below:

 

Table 2
£ millions	2012 H1	% of total	2011 H1	% of total
Europe (excluding UK)	15.0	60.6	7.3	44.6
UK	4.8	19.3	4.1	25.4
USA	4.6	18.6	4.6	28.4
Rest of World	0.4	1.5	0.3	1.6

 

 

Whilst over 85% of RESORBA®’s revenues are in Euros, across the Group less than 40% of revenues are in Euros as most sales made from the UK to Europe are denominated in Sterling and most sales into the US are denominated in US Dollars. The Group’s policy is to hedge transactional risk. 

 

Profit from operations

Gross margin across the Group increased by 870 basis points to 55.3% (2011 H1: 46.6%), mainly due to the change in mix of business and the higher margin suture and haemostat products. Gross margin improvements were also delivered from the Winsford site where it is estimated that operational efficiencies delivered approximately 90 basis points of the overall margin gain. 

 

Distribution costs increased to £0.3 million (2011 H1: £0.2 million), reflecting the increased size of the Group. Administrative expenses excluding exceptional items and amortisation of acquired intangibles increased by 60% to £7.7 million (2011 H1: £4.8 million) with selling expenses from the direct sales team in Germany contributing £2.1 million of the increase. R&D expensed was 5% of revenues or £1.3 million (2011 H1: 4% or £0.7 millon).

 

Adjusted operating profit increased by 113% to £5.8 million (2011 H1: £2.7 million) and the adjusted operating margin increased by 660 basis points to 23.2% (2011 H1: 16.6%).

 

The Advanced Woundcare business segment contributed £3.9 million (2011 H1: £2.8 million) to Group adjusted operating profit, with an improved operating margin of 27% (2011 H1: 21%). This was due to the mix of products as well as greater operating efficiences. After exceptional items and amortisation, the Advanced Woundcare business segment contributed £3.6 million (2011 H1: £2.8 million) to Group operating profit with an operating margin of 25% (2011 H1: 21%).

 

The Wound Closure and Sealant business segment contributed £2.8 million (2011 H1: £0.8 million) to Group adjusted operating profit, with an improved operating margin of 27% (2011 H1: 26%). The mix of business, in particular the inclusion of the suture and dental products, contributed to the improvement in operating margin. After amortisation, the Wound Closure and Sealant segment contributed £2.7 million (2011 H1: £0.7 million) to Group operating profit with an operating margin of 26% (2011 H1: 23%).

 

Profit before tax for the period was 72% higher at £4.5 million (2011 H1: £2.6 million).

 

The Group effective rate of tax for the six months was 14%. This is reflective of the recognition of previously unrecognised brought forward tax losses in the UK and research and development (R&D) relief. It also reflects the impact of blending profits and losses from different countries and the different tax rates associated with these countries.

 

Adjusted profit after tax increased by 71% to £4.7 million (2011 H1: £2.7 million), resulting in a 30% increase in adjusted basic earnings per share to 2.31p (2011 H1: 1.78p) and a 30% increase in fully diluted adjusted earnings per share to 2.27p (2011 H1: 1.74p).

 

Profit after tax (after exceptional items and amortisation) increased 45% to £3.9 million (2011 H1: £2.7 million), resulting in a 10% increase in basic earnings per share to 1.89p (2011 H1: 1.72p) and an 11% increase in fully diluted earnings per share to 1.87p (2011 H1: 1.68p).

 

The Board intends to pay an interim dividend of 0.17p per share on 2 November 2012 to shareholders on the register on 5 October 2012. This is an increase of 17.2% compared with 2011 H1.

 

 

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

 

Table 3 summarises the Group cash flows.

 

Table 3	Six months ended 30th June 2012	Six months ended 30th June 2011
Cash Flow	£’000	£’000
Adjusted operating profit (Table 1)	5,753	2,700
Non-cash items	1,114	725
Adjusted EBITDA	6,867	3,425
Working capital movement	(1,275)	(1,906)
Operating cash flow before exceptional items	5,592	1,519
Exceptional items	(610)	–
Operating cash flow after exceptional items	4,982	1,519
Capital expenditure and capitalised R&D	(1,324)	(1,319)
Interest	(403)	(8)
Tax	(121)	–
Free cash flow	3,134	192
Financing	(1,551)	(239)
Dividends paid	(617)	(590)
Proceeds from share issues	143	70
Exchange (losses)/gains	(622)	68
Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	487	(499)

Note: Adjusted EBITDA is earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, intangible asset amortisation and share based payments

 

The Group had an operating cash flow before exceptional items of £5.6 million (2011 H1: £1.5 million) and a conversion of adjusted operating profit into free cash flow of 55% (2011 H1: 7%).

 

Exceptional items are the £0.6 million of integration and restructuring costs associated with the acquisition of the RESORBA^® business (2011 H1: £nil).

 

Working capital increased by £1.3 million in the period. Inventory increased by £0.7 million to 3.9 months (2011 H1: 2.2 months) of supply, largely due to the levels of inventory acquired with the acquisition. Trade receivables decreased by £2.2 million due to general geographic mix. Debtor days are 41 (2011 H1: 61), helped by collection in Germany averaging less than 30 days. Trade payables reduced by £2.8 million since the beginning of the year when expenses associated with the acquisition were still outstanding.

 

We have invested £1.3 million in capital equipment and software in the first six months (2011 H1: £1.3 million). Spend has been incurred in upgrading equipment and business information systems and £0.3 million of R&D spend has been capitalised (2011 H1: £0.1 million).

 

Finance costs of £0.4 million have been paid on our €25 million term loan facility and the availability of the £8 million revolving credit facility with HSBC.

 

Taxation of £0.1 million is a payment on account made against the German group of companies.

 

The Group paid its final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2011 of £0.6 million (2011 H1: £0.6 million) on 15 June 2012.

 

The Group had a free cash flow of £3.1 million in the period (2011 H1: £0.2 million), enabling a payment of €2 million against the €25 million term loan ahead of schedule.

 

The fair value exercise following the acquisition of RESORBA^® in December 2011 has now been completed following the valuations of land and properties and a further assessment of the intellectual property rights acquired. There was no impact on the 2011 Group Income Statement or Group Cash flow as a result. The restatement of the comparatives is shown in Note 3.

 

In December 2011, the Group entered into a €25 million amortising term loan facility with HSBC with a final maturity of 31 July 2015. This facility carries an annual interest rate of EURIBOR plus a margin of 1.5% to 2.5% depending on the Group’s net debt to EBITDA ratio. On 22 June 2012 the Group repaid €2 million of this facility ahead of the agreed schedule, leaving €23 million drawn down as at 30 June 2012.

 

On 13 July 2012, subsequent to the period end, the Group converted half of the €23 million term loan into Sterling. The resulting £9.4 million facility carries an annual interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 1.5% to 2.5% depending on the Group’s net debt to EBITDA ratio. With cash being generated in both Sterling and Euros, this restructuring of the Group’s debt will better align the cash flows generated with the repayment of the term loan.

 

In December 2011, the Group also entered into a £8 million revolving credit facility with HSBC with a final maturity of 31 July 2015. This facility is for general working capital purposes, and carries an annual interest rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 1.5% to 2.5% depending on the Group’s net debt to EBITDA ratio. This facility was undrawn as at 30 June 2012.

 

At the end of the period, the Group had net debt¹ of £10.6 million (2011 H1: net funds² of £3.6 million), a reduction of £2.7 million since 31 December 2011. The movement in net debt during 2012 H1 is reconciled in Table 4 below:

 

Table 4
Movement in net debt	£’000
Net debt as at 1 January 2012	(13,377)
Exchange rate impacts	87
Free cash flow	3,134
Dividends paid	(617)
Proceeds from share issues	143
Net debt as at 30 June 2012	(10,630)

 

Note:¹ Net debt is defined as financial liabilities and bank loans less cash and cash equivalents plus short term investments

   ² Net funds is defined as cash and cash equivalents plus short term investments less financial liabilities and bank loans

 

The Group’s going concern position is fully described in note 11 and the Group remains comfortably within its lending covenants.