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RNS Number : 5122V Cohort PLC 14 December 2021 COHORT PLC HALF YEAR RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 31 OCTOBER 2021 Cohort plc , the independent technology group , today announces its half year results for the six months ended 31 October 2021 . Financial overview Revenue up 10 % to £ 60.0m ( 2020 : £ 54.4m ) . Order intake up 18 % to £ 105.3m ( 2020 : £ 89.2m ) . Record closing order book of £ 285.8m ( 30 April 2021 : £ 242.4m ) . Adjusted * operating profit down 60 % to £ 1.7m ( 2020 : £ 4.3m ) , due to weak performances at Chess and EID Net funds of £ 6.1m ( 31 October 2020 : net debt £ 6.1m ; 30 April 2021 : net funds £ 2.5m ) . Adjusted * earnings per share down 60 % to 3.04 pence ( 2020 : 7.74 pence ) . Interim dividend increased by 10 % to 3.85 pence per share ( 2020 : 3.50 pence per share ) . * Adjusted figures exclude the effects of marking forward exchange contracts to market value , amortisation of other intangible assets ( £ 3.4m ; 2020 : £ 3.3m ) and exceptional items ( £ 0.3m income ; 2020 : £ 1.1m charge ) . Divisional overview MCL had a stronger performance than last year , reflecting an improved UK domestic market ; SEA was also stronger on the back of good order intake in the second half of last year and more export activity improving its margin mix ; ELAC delivered a positive first half as work got underway on its significant Italian contract ; MASS remained the strongest contributor to Group profit , though its performance was behind last year's ; Chess had a weaker than expected performance due to order slippage and delivery delays ; and EID , as previously signalled , had a weaker performance reflecting lower order intake in 2020/21 . Looking forward Record order book of £ 286m underpins over £ 74m of revenue deliverable in the second half . Taking into account revenue recognised in the first half , this covers 89 % ( 2020 : 92 % ) of consensus forecast revenue for the full year . As at 10 December this coverage now stands at 92 % . The outlook for the majority of the Group's businesses is unchanged , but Chess order intake and delivery issues are expected to impact the Group result for the full year . We continue to see a positive outlook for organic growth in the medium term .