Cambridge, UK-based Laser-Scan Holdings Plc, manufacturer of the Gothic geographical information system brings good tidings with its six-month results to June 30. The company reports pre-tax profits of 125,000 pounds, up 155% from 49,000 pounds last time, on revenue up 16% to 4m pounds. Laser-Scan’s financial director, Roger Winter said the company was particularly pleased by the fact that no development expenditure has been capitalized this period, compared with 239,500 pounds in the same pe riod in 1995. In addition, Laser-Scan was pleased to announce the progress it has made with introducing its Gothic Ade object-oriented database tool kit to its mapping and charting business, and its subsequent installation at the UK Hydrographic Office and Ordnance Survey of Great Britain – an old customer of Laser-Scan – as well as with the New Zealand and South African Departments Of Survey and Land Information. On the South East Asian front, Laser-Scan was also able to secure a $1m order with the Korea Cadastral Survey Corp through its reseller Ssang Yong. Back in the UK, it won an unspecified three-year contract with the Royal Air Force Aeronautical Information Document Unit to supply hardware and software maintenance support. In July, the company applied for a full listing on the London Stock Exchange, and alloted the remainder of its shares from the one-for-one rights issue made last June (CI No 2,751). It managed to raise an additional 451,000 pounds cash, net of expenses. Although the company has spoken of the possiblilty of paying dividends within two years of the rights issue, it still has no intention of paying a dividend for this interim period.
