TIDMTRBO

RNS Number : 8433I

Turbotec Products PLC

31 July 2012

 
     Press Release       31 July 2012 
 

Turbotec Products Plc

("Turbotec", "the Company" or "the Group")

Final Results

Turbotec Products Plc (TRBO.L), the designer and manufacturer of compact high performance heat exchangers and heat transfer tubing, today announces its final results for the year ended 31 March 2012.

Highlights

 
 
        *    Sales turnover of $22.1 million (2011: $24.8 million) 
 
        *    Earnings of $0.1 million before tax (2011: $1.4 
             million), despite significant development costs for 
             new facility 
 
       *    Net assets increased to $11.6 million (2011: $11.4 
            million) 
 
        *    Investments in new Hickory, North Carolina 
             manufacturing facility eclipse $8.4 million 
 
        *    Transition to new Hickory manufacturing facility 
             continuing with completion expected during 2013 
 
          *    Final settlement of litigation proceeds received in 
               July 2011 ($0.3 million) 
 

Commenting on the Final Results, Sunil Raina, Managing Director of Turbotec, said:

"Turbotec has continued to show measured progress in these extremely difficult economic times with its dual strategy of protecting market share while transitioning the business to its North Carolina location. With now over 50% of the unit volume being produced in North Carolina, the Company expects to continue to build on this momentum and is forecasting over 75% of units to be shipped from this new facility by the end of 2012 with full completion in 2013. "

- Ends -

For further information please contact:

 
     Turbotec Products Plc 
     Robert Lowe, Non Executive Chairman             +44 (0) 7917 148930 
      RLowe@trbohx.com 
 
      Sunil Raina, Managing Director              Tel: +1 (860) 731-4200 
      SRaina@trbohx.com                         www.turbotecproducts.com 
 
      Robert Lieberman, Finance Director 
      RLieberman@trbohx.com 
 
      Seymour Pierce Limited 
     Guy Peters, Corporate Finance                  Tel: +44 (0) 20 7107 
      Paul Jewell, Corporate Broking                                8000 
                                                   www.seymourpierce.com 
 

Media enquiries:

 
     Abchurch Communications 
     Sarah Hollins / Oliver Hibberd           Tel: +44 (0)20 7398 
      oliver.hibberd@abchurch-group.com        7714 
                                               www.abchurch-group.com 
 

Chairman's Statement

In a world where change is often rapid it is disappointing to report that the statement I wrote for the half year to September 30, 2011 would fit well as my report for the full year, virtually unchanged. Economic indicators continue to disappoint in our main market, the US, while the months of turmoil in the Eurozone have only exacerbated the global economic situation.

The good news for consumers in the US market is that the plentiful supply of natural gas has driven gas prices downwards to lows not seen for many years. The bad news for our customers, the Heat Pump Manufacturers, is that demand for energy efficient heat pumps has softened as prices of natural gas fall. Yet again, the housing market continues to be weak, with minimal recovery in the marine and swimming pool markets.

Our move to our new manufacturing facility in Hickory, North Carolina continues and the Board is confident that we will have completed a significant portion of the move in calendar year 2012. While the move has taken longer than was originally planned the result will be a modern manufacturing facility capable of increased production and reduced costs. The on-going added costs of operating two manufacturing plants in the meantime have impacted negatively on our profit line.

The Group generated net sales of $ 22.1 million in the period, a reduction of $2.8 million (-11.2%), compared to the fiscal year ended 31 March 2011. The Gross profit fell from $ 5.0 million in F/Y 2011 to $3.1 million in the current year. Profit before tax fell to $0.1 million as compared to $1.4 million in the last fiscal year.

The Board would like to thank our employees for a year of hard work under difficult circumstances.

I would like to thank the executive team, under Sunil Raina, Managing Director, for continuing to focus on our goals of servicing and supplying our customer base, while continuing the move to Hickory, rebuilding our manufacturing infrastructure and cutting costs related to the dual manufacturing facilities as quickly as possible.

Robert Lowe Non-executive Chairman

Chief Executive's Review

Strategic Review

Turbotec Products is a market leader in tube-in-tube heat exchangers used in the highest efficiency heating and cooling devices, such as water source and geothermal heat pumps. Turbotec also provides titanium twisted tubes in plastic outer casings that are used as heat transfer devices in swimming pool heat pumps. Our heat exchangers are also used in marine air conditioning, ice machines and heat re-claimers.

Twisting metal tubes to create a highly enhanced surface providing superior heat transfer is the heart of our heat exchangers. The technology continues to evolve with improvements to the characteristics of the twisted tube geometry to continuously expand the heat transfer capability of the products. Enhanced surface tubing is currently used in a limited number of other heat transfer applications. The potential for serving additional heat transfer markets with a variety of applications remains substantial.

Markets

The Group saw an 8% decrease in the unit volume of its heat exchangers compared to the previous year resulting in revenue of $22.1 million, a decrease of 11% from the previous year. The Company supplies products to original equipment manufacturers using an inside sales force with 97% of sales generated in the US.

In previous years, the Company has benefited from a robust housing market and more flexible lending practices as well as increasing energy costs. The current economic climate with single family home construction hovering around a fifty-year low, record low natural gas prices and continued weak job growth has created a less than favourable environment for our customers' products.

Significant financial incentives in the form of a 30% US federal tax credit along with state tax credits are available for residential installations of geothermal heat pump systems, which continue to present a strong case for the application of this technology. US factory shipments of water source and geothermal heat pumps have stabilised with a modest increase of 2% over the past year after a decline of 5% for the previous year while still down 15% after peaking in calendar year 2008.

Florida, traditionally the largest market for swimming pool heat pumps, continues to see reduced demand and with no outside stimulus anticipated, shipments are expected to remain at reduced levels for the foreseeable future.

The Group supplies vented double wall heat exchangers that are used for making potable hot water from waste heat that is integral to water source heat pumps manufactured by many of our customers. The Group also supplies packages integrating these heat exchangers with pumps and controls that are then field installed on existing air conditioning and refrigeration systems. Although this market has suffered in the US with the current record low prices of natural gas, we remain optimistic of the potential especially in geographical regions with expensive and/or limited local energy sources.

The Company has seen increased competition in certain of its markets by domestic and overseas manufacturers. The Company has vigorously worked to defend market share through some aggressive contract negotiations and has secured multi-year agreements with some of its major customers.

Commodities

The Group uses both ferrous and non-ferrous metals in the manufacture of its products. Commencing 2009 copper prices steadily rose and peaked at around $4.60/lb in January 2011, dropped to around $3.15/lb in September 2011 and became more stable in the beginning of 2012 hovering in the $3.50-$3.80/lb range. Similarly, nickel prices have increased and are now in the $7.50-$9.50 range. To manage these cost changes, some fixed price purchasing of copper is done by the Group working with its tubing suppliers, In order to protect its pricing of products to customers from significant fluctuations.

The Group has pricing arrangements with its customers whereby a trailing rolling average of copper and nickel price is used to calculate raw material price adjustments that are passed through to customers. While the customers have accepted the metal price increases, expectations have now shifted to the need for reduction in base prices thereby limiting the total increase, which coupled with increasing business costs has negatively impacted the Group's gross margins and profitability.

Business Transformation Strategy - Relocation to Hickory, North Carolina

During this year, work continued at the new Hickory manufacturing site to transition manufacturing from Windsor. The Group has made substantial investments in modernising the equipment installed in this facility. While some machinery and tooling has been designed and built by outside vendors, a substantial portion is designed and constructed in house.

Due to the critical nature of the application for our products and its impact on system efficiency, customers are requiring that the products to be manufactured at this new facility go through an intensive testing and qualification program. This will require the continued use of the current Windsor facility for the foreseeable future at diminishing capacity. To prevent the loss of intellectual property and to continue access to the proprietary experience developed over the years, the Group plans to maintain a small operation in Connecticut for product and technology development and other support functions.

People

Any business is only as good as its people and we continue to be highly rated for our service levels to customers. The Group implemented a retention bonus program to keep essential staff and production workers during our move to Hickory. The Company also continues to recruit and train new employees in Hickory. We currently have the strongest management team in our history to guide us through this transition. We are confident that the "new and improved" Turbotec will be better than ever.

Future

Turbotec is focused on serving our markets with quality products and strong relationships with our customers. We continue to be on the lookout for synergistic products and applications for our technology to expand our revenue stream. This along with the development of the Hickory operation will position us for long-term growth as the markets for our products recover.

In closing I would like to thank our customers for their continued confidence in our ability to service their needs, our suppliers for supporting us during the continued fluctuating commodity costs and demand shifts, and our employees for their continued dedication and commitment to help us achieve our goals.

I would also like to thank Rob Lowe (Non-Executive Chairman) and Joe DeSena (Non-Executive Director) who have helped guide the Group this past year. With the 2012 financial year behind us, we are confident that Turbotec is poised for long-term growth and will be an integral part of global energy efficient heating and cooling markets in the years ahead.

Sunil Raina

Managing Director

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT of comprehensive income

For the YEAR ended 31 MARCH 2012

 
                                               2012              2011 
                                              $'000             $'000 
                                      -------------  ---------------- 
 
     Revenue                                 22,062            24,839 
     Cost of sales                         (18,952)          (19,886) 
     Gross profit                             3,110             4,953 
 
     Distribution expenses                    (632)             (614) 
     Administrative expenses                (2,294)           (2,905) 
                                      -------------  ---------------- 
     Profit from operations                     184             1,434 
 
     Finance expenses                          (58)              (10) 
                                      -------------  ---------------- 
 
     Profit before tax                          126             1,424 
 
     Tax benefit (expense)                       15             (586) 
 
     Profit and total comprehensive 
      income                                    141               838 
                                      =============  ================ 
 
     Earnings per share - basic                1.1c              6.5c 
                                      =============  ================ 
     Earnings per share - diluted              1.0c              5.9c 
                                      =============  ================ 
 
 

The profit for the year is all attributable to the equity holders of the parent Company.

CONSOLIDATED statement of changes in equity

For the YEAR ended 31 MARCH 2012

 
 
 
 
                                          Share          Share         Retained        Merger 
                                         capital        Premium        earnings        Reserve        Total 
                                   -------------  -------------  --------------  -------------  ----------- 
                                           $'000          $'000           $'000          $'000        $'000 
 
     Balance at 31 March 
      2010                              228               3,441           6,952          (168)       10,453 
 
     Profit and total recognized 
      income and expenses 
      for the period                           -              -             838              -          838 
     Share based payment 
      expense                                  -              -             135              -          135 
 
     Balance at 31 March 
      2011                              228               3,441           7,925          (168)       11,426 
 
 
     Profit and total recognized 
      income expenses for 
      the period                          -           -         141           -          141 
     Share based payment 
      expense                             -           -          48           -           48 
 
     Balance at 31 March 
      2012                              228       3,441       8,114       (168)       11,615 
                                   --------  ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------- 
 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AT 31 MARCH 2012

 
                                            2012         2011 
                                           $'000        $'000 
                                     -----------  ----------- 
     Assets 
     Non-current assets : 
     Property, plant and equipment        13,336       11,778 
     Intangible assets                       187          271 
     Other                                    36            9 
                                     -----------  ----------- 
                                          13,559       12,058 
 
     Current Assets: 
     Inventories                           4,151        4,365 
     Trade and other receivables           2,619        1,971 
     Cash and cash equivalents                22            5 
                                     -----------  ----------- 
                                           6,792        6,341 
                                     -----------  ----------- 
 
     Total Assets                         20,351       18,399 
                                     ===========  =========== 
 
 
     Liabilities 
     Non-current liabilities 
     Long-term borrowings                  2,965          764 
     Deferred tax liability                1,146          894 
                                     -----------  ----------- 
                                           4,111        1,658 
                                     -----------  ----------- 
 
     Current Liabilities 
     Trade and other payables              1,633        2,488 
     Loans and borrowings                  2,992        2,827 
 
                                           4,625        5,315 
                                     -----------  ----------- 
 
     Total Liabilities                     8,736        6,973 
                                     ===========  =========== 
 
     Net assets                           11,615       11,426 
                                     ===========  =========== 
 
 
     Shareholders' equity: 
     Share capital                           228          228 
     Share premium account                 3,441        3,441 
     Merger reserve                        (168)        (168) 
     Retained earnings                     8,114        7,925 
 
     Total equity                         11,615       11,426 
                                     ===========  =========== 
 
 

cONSOLIDATED Statement of Cash Flows

for the YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2012

 
 
                                                            2012          2011 
                                                           $'000         $'000 
                                                    ------------  ------------ 
 
     CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES 
      Profit before tax                                      126         1,424 
      Adjustments to reconcile net income 
       to net 
      cash provided by operating activities: 
      Depreciation expense                                   374           392 
      Amortisation expense                                    84            84 
      Finance expense                                         58            10 
      Charge recognised in respect of share 
       based payment                                          48           135 
 
     Cash flows from operating activities 
      before changes in                                      690         2,045 
     working capital and provisions 
      Decrease (increase) in inventory                       214         (615) 
      (Increase) in trade and other receivables            (392)         (430) 
      (Decrease) increase in trade and other 
       payables                                            (803)         1,293 
 
     CASH (USED IN )GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS              (291)         2,293 
      Taxes paid                                            (67)         (520) 
 
       Net cash (used in) generated 
        from operations                                    (358)         1,773 
                                                    ------------  ------------ 
 
     CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
      Purchases of property, plant and equipment         (1,932)       (6,646) 
       Net cash used in investing 
        activities                                       (1,932)       (6,646) 
                                                    ------------  ------------ 
 
     CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
      Proceeds from bank borrowings                        2,668         3,645 
      Principal payments on long term debt                 (303)         (221) 
      Finance expense                                       (58)          (10) 
       Net cash used in financing 
        activities                                         2,307         3,414 
                                                    ------------  ------------ 
     NET CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS                  17       (1,459) 
     CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning 
      of period                                                5         1,464 
                                                    ------------  ------------ 
     CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period                 22             5 
                                                    ============  ============ 
 
 
   1.   BASIS OF PREPARATION 

The financial statements of the group have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS" and IFRIC interpretations) issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as adopted for use in the European Union and with those parts of the Companies Act of 2006 applied to companies preparing their accounts under IFRS. The Company has elected to prepare its parent company financial statements in accordance with UK GAAP.

The financial information set out above/ below does not constitute the company's statutory accounts for 2012 or 2011. Statutory accounts for the years ended 31 March 2012 and 31 March 2011 have been reported on by the Independent Auditors. The Independent Auditors' Report on the Annual Report and Financial Statements for 2012 and 2011 were unqualified, did not draw attention to any matters by way of emphasis, and did not contain a statement under 498(2) or 498(3) of the Companies Act 2006.

Statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2011 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 March 2012 will be delivered to the Registrar in due course.

   2.     TAXATION 

Analysis of charge in period:

 
                                                          2012           2011 
                                                      ($000's)       ($000's) 
 
 
       Current tax (benefit) expense computed 
        at US tax rates                                  (267)            567 
       Deferred tax expense computed at US tax 
        rates                                              252             19 
       Total income tax (benefit) expense                 (15)            586 
                                                 =============  ============= 
 
 

Tax reconciliation:

The tax for the period is different than the standard rate of corporate tax in the UK (26% in 2012 and 28% in 2011). The differences on a combined basis after consideration of both UK and US tax authorities are attributable to the following:

 
                                                            2012         2011 
                                                        ($000's)       ($000's) 
                                                   -------------  ------------- 
 
       Profit before tax                                     126          1,424 
 
       Profit before tax multiplied by rate 
        of 
       corporate tax in the UK of 26% (2011:28%)              33            399 
 
       Effect of: 
       Higher rate of tax on overseas earnings              (62)            176 
       Differences between taxable and book 
        income                                                50            123 
       Utilisation of tax losses                            (34)          (161) 
      Other                                                  (2)             49 
 
       Total (benefit) taxation                             (15)            586 
                                                   =============  ============= 
 
 
   3.     BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE 

The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per ordinary share are based on the profit for the financial year and the weighted average number of equity voting shares in issue and dilutive shares during the year.

 
                                                       2012                                  2011 
                                     ------------------------------------  ------------------------------------ 
                                          Income               Shares             Income             Shares 
                                          (Numerator)       (Denominator)       (Numerator)       (Denominator) 
                                          $'000             Number              $'000             number 
 
            Net income                        141                                   838 
                                     ----------------                      ---------------- 
 
      Basic EPS 
           Income available 
            to common 
           shareholders                       141              12,806,773           838              12,806,773 
 
           Effect of Dilutive 
            Securities 
      Stock options                                             1,756,450                             1,360,000 
                                     ----------------  ------------------  ----------------  ------------------ 
 
      Diluted EPS 
           Income available 
            to common shareholders 
           including assumed 
      conversions                             141              14,563,223           838              14,166,773 
                                     ================  ==================  ================  ================== 
 

4. OPERATING PROFIT

Administrative expenses from operations decreased significantly during the year as during 2011 the Group instituted a relocation / retention bonus plan for its Connecticut employees and incurred a significant amount of other non-capitalised expenses relating to the development of the new Hickory facility. In addition, administrative costs for the parent company were reduced in 2012 as two former non-executive directors who left the company in the prior year received fees during 2011. The non-executive director who joined the company in 2011 has elected to serve without compensation.

   5.   LONG TERM BOROWINGS 
 
                                                 2012           2011 
                                             ($000's)       ($000's) 
    Current financial liabilities 
 
    Bank loans- secured                           466          2,437 
    Revolving line of credit                    2,526            390 
                                        -------------  ------------- 
         Current loans and borrowings           2,992          2,827 
                                        =============  ============= 
 
    Non-current financial liabilities 
    Bank loans- secured                         2,965            764 
                                        =============  ============= 
 
 

The bank loans are secured by a fixed charge over the assets of the Group. In addition, the Group must comply with certain financial and non-financial covenants, noncompliance with which would be considered an event of default and provide the bank with the right to demand repayment prior to the loan's maturity date.

In April 2010 the Group entered into a mortgage agreement with its bank as the primary source of funding for the Hickory facility. The mortgage, in the amount of $2,215,000, has a maturity date of April 2015. Under the terms of the note, principal is amortised using a 25 year amortisation schedule. Interest for the first three years has been fixed at a rate of 5.4% with a floating rate thereafter.

The interest rate on floating rate financial liabilities is linked to the bank's prime rate. The interest rates charged at the balance sheet for floating rate debt are as follows:

                                                                   31 March 2012            31 March, 2011 
   Bank overdrafts and secured loans              3.25%                           3.25% 

The Group has a revolving line of credit with its primary bank, originally dated October 31, 1994, that is subject to annual renewal. The agreement provides for a borrowing base equal to the sum of 80% of qualified receivables, plus the lesser of $1,500,000 or 50% of the lower of cost or market value of eligible inventory (as defined), less undrawn letters of credit and acceptances issued by the bank, to a maximum of $3,250,000. Interest is charged at the bank's prime rate. At 31 March, 2012 there was approximately $724,000 available to be drawn against the revolving line of credit.

In April 2012, concurrent with the issuance of a new $500,000 line of credit for future capital expenditures, the availability under the revolving line of credit was reduced to $2,500,000. Interest is charged at the bank's prime rate.

   6.   CALLED UP SHARE CAPITAL 
 
 
 
                                  Issued and Fully 
                                   Paid 
           Ordinary shares 
            of 1p each 
 
                                           2011                          2010 
                             ----------------------------  ---------------------------- 
                                                                  Number 
                                  Number of                         of 
                                    Shares         $000's         Shares         $000's 
 
 At beginning 
  of year                         12,806,773          228       12,806,773          228 
     Changes during 
      year                                 -       -                     -            - 
                             ---------------  -----------  ---------------  ----------- 
 
     At end of year               12,806,773          228       12,806,773          228 
 
   7.      LITIGATION WITH FORMER PARENT COMPANY 

On 10 May 2010 the Company was notified that it was successful in its defence of the claim brought by Thermodynetics, Inc., its former parent company, in relation to the payment of administration fees under the Relationship Agreement entered into at the time of its admission to AIM. The Company was awarded substantial costs, including an order of payment on account of 350,000 pounds sterling ($501,000) by Thermodynetics, Inc. with an additional amount to be paid as determined by the court. The initial payment was received by the Company in May 2010 and included in administrative costs in the fiscal year 2011 accounts. The balance of the judgment was satisfied by a payment of 210,000 pounds sterling ($336,000) in July 2011 pursuant to a negotiated settlement between the parties and is included in administrative costs for the year ended 31 March 2012

   8.   ANNUAL REPORT 

Copies of the Report and Accounts will be available shortly from the Company's website www.turbotecproducts.com and the Company's Registered Office:

The Registry

34 Beckenham Road

Beckenham

Kent BR3 4TU

   9.   ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 

The Annual General meeting of the Company is to be held on 17 September, 2012.

- Ends -

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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