Red letter day for mail-order supply specialist

Mail-order dealer Action Computer Supplies has released unaudited preliminary results for 1996, the first since it achieved its stock market listing in July through a reversal into Standard Platforms Holdings.

Pro forma, the company made a pre-tax profit of #3.22 million on a turnover of #134.6 million in the year ended 30 August. Profit was up 82 per cent, while turnover increased 32 per cent over 1995.

Henry Lewis, Action chairman, said: 'We intend to use our strong financial position to enhance the performance of our core UK mail order business through continued investment in our product range and customer service.'

Lewis claimed Action would also grow through the acquisition of similar businesses and said it was looking for those with quality customer bases.

The group had #1.25 million in cash at the end of the year.

Action Computer Supplies' priority is its UK business, although the company said its loss-making Spanish subsidiary will give it the opportunity to replicate the UK success elsewhere in Europe.