The following is a round-up of earnings for London-listed companies, issued on Wednesday and not separately reported by Alliance News:
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Character Group PLC - Surrey-based toy, games and giftware company - Pretax profit for the year that ended August 31 was £5.7 million, growing 19% from £4.7 million last year. Revenue rises 0.7% to £123.4 million from £122.6 million, and cost of sales increases 1.0% to £90.7 million from £89.8 million. Selling & distribution expenses, however, reduce 28% to £6.4 million from £8.5 million last year. The total dividend for the year is unchanged year-on-year at 19.0 pence per share. Character Group says: ‘The challenging and unpredictable conditions that persisted throughout much of the last financial year have continued into the current fiscal year. With buffeting from political and macroeconomic developments, consumer confidence remains low, and this has adversely affected footfall in the high street and clock-through from online marketplaces in the lead up to the key Christmas 2024 trading period. Despite this, we are encouraged by the resilience of our market share in our domestic markets and the prospects growth in our international markets expected in the fourth quarter of the current financial year.’ Character Group expects profit for financial 2025 to remain at a similar level to 2024.
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Empyrean Energy PLC - oil and gas development in China, Indonesia and the US - Widens its pretax loss to $1.6 million during the six months that ended September 30, from $436,000 the year before. Reports no revenue, unchanged from last year, and total administrative expenses more than double to £942,000 from £456,000. Empyrean is currently in discussions to acquire a stake in the Wilson oil prospect in the copper basin of South West Queensland, Australia.
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Active Energy Group PLC - London-based renewable energy developer focused on biofuels - Pretax loss narrows to $1.0 million during the six months that ended June 30, from $2.2 million the year before. This is due primarily to foreign exchange gains swinging to $160,973 from a loss of $1.1 million. The group reports no revenue, unchanged year-on-year, while administrative expenses increase 8.7% to $1.2 million from $1.1 million. The release of its interim results on Wednesday meant Active Energy’s shares were restored to trading, having been removed from FTSE Russell Index in August. Chief Executive Officer Michael Rowan says: ‘After an uncertain year, the board have completed the audit of the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2023 and these interim results. We have used every effort over many years to commercially develop CoalSwitch and are frustrated that we could not achieve this.’ In mid-October, Zen Ventures Ltd loaned Active Energy £125,000; this was subsequently increased to £100,000. In accordance with the loan heads of terms, Zen plans to appoint two new directors to the board before the annual general meeting in January.
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Incanthera PLC - Manchester, England-based developer of technologies in dermatology and oncology - Pretax loss widens in the six months that ended September 30 to £620,000 from £615,000, due primarily to total operating expenses increasing 6.1% to £654,000 from £615,000 the year before. It remains non-revenue generating. Incanthera adds: ‘Following the period end, the company announced on November 26 that it had received unsupported allegations from a third party, concerning a potential patent infringement in relation to the formulation of the Skin + Cell range of products. The company considers the unsupported allegations to be without merit and resolute in its commitment to a conclusion.’
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