19 March 2024
The 600
Group PLC
("600
Group", the "Group" of or the "Company")
Trading
Update
Update
regarding Debt Facilities and Annual Report
600 Group plc, the industrial laser
systems manufacturer (AIM: SIXH), announces a trading update for
the financial year ended 31 March 2024 ("FY24") and provides a
further update in respect of the Company's currently defaulted bank
facilities.
Unaudited FY24 revenues for the 11
months ended 29 February 2024 were US$22.6 million, 19% and 24%
below the comparative periods in FY23 and FY22 respectively, with
an FY24 gross margin of 34.6% (2.0% lower than FY23 and 5.0% lower
than FY22) and the Group expected to incur FY24 losses before tax
of more than US$5 million.
As announced on 6 October 2023, the
Group has been in negotiations for the sale of its operating
businesses, all located in the United States, but has so far been
unable to conclude a satisfactory transaction. As a result, the
Group's US subsidiary, 600 Group, Inc, continues to be in default
on the Group's now expired and fully drawn US$5.5 million facility
with Bank of America (the "Facility"), in respect of which US$0.2
million of interest has now accrued.
Whilst negotiations continue with
potential acquirors for the operating businesses, there can be no
assurance that a satisfactory deal will be concluded within a
reasonable time frame or that the terms of any such transaction
would enable the Company to repay the Facility. As a result, the
Company is currently considering various alternatives including
bankruptcy and/or dissolution under US laws for its US
subsidiaries.
The Board of Directors confirms that
the Group will not be able to publish the 2023 Annual Report and/or
unaudited interim results for the six months ended 30 September
2023 prior to 31 March 2024.
Pursuant to Rule 41 of the AIM Rules
for Companies, the admission of the Company's ordinary shares to
trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange is due to be
cancelled with effect from 2 April 2024, being the date falling six
months from the date of suspension of trading in the Company's
ordinary shares on 2 October 2023 ("Cancellation").
Prior to Cancellation, and
notwithstanding the prevailing suspension of trading in the
Company's ordinary shares, the Company will continue to make
announcements as and when there are any developments that require
announcement in accordance with its obligations under the AIM Rules
for Companies.
Enquiries:
|
The
600 Group PLC
Paul Dupee, Executive
Chairman
|
Tel: +1 407 818 1123
|
|
Cavendish Capital Markets Ltd (Nominated Adviser and
Broker)
Ben Jeynes / Dan Hodkinson
(Corporate Finance)
Henry Nicol (Sales)
|
Tel: 020 7220 0500
|
The information contained within this announcement is deemed
by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under
the UK version of the EU Market Abuse Regulation 596/2014 which is
part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act
2018, as amended and supplemented from time to time. Upon the
publication of this announcement, this inside information is now
considered to be in the public domain