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Applied sees growth

• FROM: July 2006 |
• TAGS: support services, applied optical technologies |
• COMMENTS: Add yours

• Applied sees growth
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Applied Optical Technologies is at the forefront of helping companies and governments to protect their brands, technology or currencies. This a growing market as demand for the technology increases and the technology itself has to be upgraded to keep ahead of counterfeiters.

Applied started life as Applied Holographics two decades ago but nowadays it is much more than a holographics company. Earlier this year the consolidation of all UK manufacturing on one site was completed. The US contributes the majority of turnover. The main business areas are banknotes and high security documents, brand protection and ID technologies. Applied can offer a wide range of different technologies to all of these markets.

The latest figures show a swing from loss to a profit of £1.7m in the year to March 2006. That includes a £690,000 contribution from joint venture 3dcd, whose technology is used on software and film discs to verify that they are genuine and not counterfeit. Applied has barely ever made a profit in its history but this is no flash in the pan. It is on course to do even better this year. House broker Oriel forecasts profits of £2.9m this year.

Applied had net cash of £7.6m at the end of March. Since then it has bought US-based anti-counterfeiting and antidiversion software provider GenuOne.

It reported turnover $6.1m in 2005 and brings with it tax losses that can be used by other parts of the business. Applied still has available bank facilities so it is well placed to make more bolt-on acquisitions if it wants to.

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