Sanderson Electronics Plc, sponsor of not one, but two Premier League football clubs, is riding high in the table itself, posting record interim figures with the expectation of further improvement in its second half. Pre-tax profits for the six months to March 31 were up 29% at ú2.8m from turnover that soared 91% to ú27.1m, but ú5.9m of that was generated by acquisitions in the half. Sanderson is one the hungriest companies around and even took an advert out in the Financial Times in March openly inviting computer-related business for sale to contact it. In November, Sanderson raised its stake in Sanderson Pacific Ltd to 78% for a cash and share mix of ú3.4m. A month later it was increased to 80%, the day after some of the management of the Antipodean company had diluted it to 72% with their share options. The subsidiary contributed ú578,000 operating profit from its ú5.9m turnover. All of the company’s 15 subsidiaries were profitable in the half, the problems at two that were loss-making having been sorted out. The hotel and health care software markets are ones that chairman Paul Thompson believes could be particularly lucrative in the future. Sanderson enjoyed ú9m turnover from recurring software licence fees and service support contracts, which together with the acquisition’s turnover is more than half the total. The firm spends ú2m each year on marketing and promotion and wants to spread its brand awareness in Britain to aid its organic growth. The south coast of Britain should be more aware of Sanderson n ext year through its sponsorship of Southampton Football Club to add to its support of the local team, Sheffield Wednesday. The interim dividend will be 1.8 pence, up 20%.
