DENTAL group 1st Dental Laboratories has reported "disappointing" first-half results as it struggled with business disruptions.
The Harrogate-based company did not elaborate on the disruptions, but said they resulted in a fall in turnover and profit at its Stourport and Blackpool laboratories.
The company, which supplies bridges and crowns to dentists, said it made an oper
ating loss of £141,000 for the six months to May 31, compared to a profit of £63,000 a year earlier. Its turnover was down to £4.87m from £5.38m.
Its shares dipped last month when it said "business disruptions beyond the control of the directors and management" had resulted in a 12 per cent decline in revenues.
Yesterday it said Stourport turnover and margin has returned to 84 per cent of pre-disruption levels. The group said it also hopes to rebuild the Blackpool business, and clients have been returning.
1st Dental also offers an online service called e-teeth, which allows dentists to buy products at competitive prices. It said turnover from this segment "continues to grow at an impressive rate", and is looking to further increases in performance. Its core business continues to perform well, it said, with labs in the Midlands and Yorkshire showing good growth.
The company announced earlier this month it had received a takeover approach at "no more than 8.5p per share". At that price it would value the company at about £3.6m.
Chairman Andrew Garner said: "These results are disappointing following the 2007 financial statements. However, this is due to the disruptions as previously mentioned and these laboratories are now recovering.
"Despite the business interruptions at the start of the year, the core laboratory business units are performing well, added to the continuing growth of e-teeth, a strengthened management team and board, the executives believe the company's prospects to the end of the year are good."
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