LONDON – Science Group plc (AIM:SAG) reported a profit before tax of £32.2 million for the first half of 2025. This is a significant increase from the £7.6 million it earned during the same time period the year before. The main reason for this increase was a gain of £24 million from its investment in Ricardo plc.
In the six months ended June 30, the international professional services and systems organization saw an increase in revenue to £57.2 million, up from £53.7 million in the first half of 2024. Adjusted operating profit increased slightly to £11.3 million from £11.0 million.
While adjusted basic earnings per share increased from 18.1 pence to 19.3 pence, the company’s statutory basic earnings per share increased to 55.3 pence from 12.9 pence during the same time period last year.
At the end of June, Science Group’s cash position significantly improved, with group cash totaling £82.0 million and net funds totaling £70.3 million, up from £38.8 million and £26.4 million, respectively, a year earlier.
The strong performance of the company’s Systems businesses compensated for the weaker Professional Services market conditions. While maintaining strong margins of 23.9 percent, the Professional Services division reported revenue of £33.2 million, down from £36.5 million.
A pre-tax return of £24.0 million, or a 74.2% return on investment, was generated by Science Group’s investment in Ricardo, where it acquired a stake of 21.8 percent before selling it in response to an offer from a third party.
The company completed new long-term financing arrangements in March 2025, including two term loans totaling £12.0 million and a revolving credit facility of £30.0 million, which remains undrawn.
Science Group is “well positioned for the full year” and will “continue to evaluate corporate opportunities should the potential risk-adjusted returns justify the capital deployment,” according to the company’s statement based on a press release.