Business
Preliminary Results
Preliminary Results.
About this update from Rtc Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n ATA Group PLC\n17 April 2007\n\n\n \n ATA Group plc\n Preliminary results for the year ended 31 December 2006\n\n\nATA Group plc ('ATA') is a human resource support services group, which provides\nemployment solutions and training services to client companies in the United\nKingdom and the Republic of Ireland.\n\nHIGHLIGHTS\n\nGroup pre-tax profits at £618,000 (2005: £500,000).\n\nEarnings per share at 4.60p (2005:5.15p after a lower tax charge).\n\nDividends for the year have been maintained at 3.0p (2005: 3.0p).\n\nRecruitment made steady progress and achieved operating profits at £414,000.\n\nRailway activities continued to suffer the full impact of reorganisation and\nclosure costs following infrastructure maintenance being taken over by Network\nRail resulting in operating and non-recurring losses of £592,000.\n\nDiscontinued operations attendant upon the sale of the assets and business of\nGem-Weld (UK) Limited accounted for losses of £291,000.\n\nExceptional credits amount to £1,090,000.\n\nTaxation charges in 2006 are higher than normal following non-allowable write\noffs.\n\nA more promising trading year is anticipated in 2007.\n\n\nCommenting on the results Bill Douie, Chairman, said:\n\n'There can be no doubt that, as expected, 2006 was a trying year. Opportunities\nto resolve outstanding problems were taken and a clean out of underperforming\noperations has now all but concluded. The Group now comprises a strong and\ngrowing Recruitment business, tightly focused on attractive market areas, with a\nfresh approach to people development and retention and further enhancement of\nmanagement strengths and experience. The Railway division has stabilised and\nconcentrated in markets with promise and growth potential, albeit at a lower\nlevel of turnover (and costs). Additionally there is a new drive to create fast\nexpanding revenues from our Derby premises and, to that end, we are presently\nengaging in a major refurbishment and re-branding exercise. There remains,\nhowever, one activity which is in a declining market, that of labour supply, and\nit is unlikely that we will continue this in the longer term. This is a year\nwhen our strong feelings of achievement must be tempered by caution as the\nstrength of both our own markets and the Global Economy as a whole cannot be\ntaken for granted.\n\nThat accepted, your...