Oxford-based communications, software, systems and services group Lynx Holdings Plc has announced strong half-year results. Turnover rose 53% to ?7.26m, with pre-tax profit up over fourfold at ?460,000. Much of this, according to finance director Paul Sinnett, is accounted for by the company’s recent acquisitions, notably S-Com Mobile Data Systems Ltd, which it bought in April. All the company’s divisions made a profit, although the computer maintenance operations showed a reduced figure. Sinnett confirmed that the company was still considering further acquisitions, particularly in the software field. Lynx already owns specialist software houses operating in the automotive, mortgage and off-shore banking areas, and Sinnett said a fourth vertical market would be welcome. He conceded that the company’s current rate of acquisitions couldn’t continue for ever and that integrating acquisitions was a priority; but We wouldn’t buy a company that needed major surgery, he said. Overall operating margins – before head office and interest costs – averaged 8.8%, compared with 5.5% for the corresponding period a year before. On the basis of the company’s strong performance, it is declaring an interim dividend of 0.36 pence, representing a 20% increase over the previous interim.
