Interim Results

Buckland Group PLC 08 September 2003 BUCKLAND GROUP PLC Interim Results For the period ended 30 June 2003 Chairman's Statement I am pleased to present the interim results for Buckland for the six month period ended 30th June 2003 . The results show a consolidated profit before exceptional item and tax of £ 21,000 on sales of £ 2.35m .An exceptional charge of £ 81,000 has been incurred relating to the closure of Derlite's factory in Bodmin and its transfer to Bangkok. There is no tax liability for the period. Before the exceptional charge, earnings per share were 0.014p ; after the exceptional item, the attributable loss was equivalent to 0.042p per share. No interim dividend is proposed. Trading The trading results to 30th June 2003 have been affected by certain one-off charges. During the period April to June this year we re-located, in phases, Euro Asia Connectors' original assembly plant in Bangkok to new buildings adjacent to the stamping, surface treatment and moulding operations. The associated costs of this process were some £ 25,000 and have been charged against operating profits for the period. Between January and April of this year all the manufacturing operations of Derlite in the UK were transferred in phases to Bangkok. The factory in Bodmin was closed on 30th April and an exceptional charge of £ 81,000 has been incurred, covering the costs of redundancies and the transfer of equipment to Thailand. Euro Asia Connectors' sales in the first half of the year declined, as anticipated, due to continuing pressure on selling prices and some reduction in underlying volumes, particularly for CRT sockets. The second half of the year should see the normal seasonal upturn and with all the operations now on one site we anticipate being able to achieve some further cost savings and working capital reductions. Derlite's sales for the half year were higher compared with the first half of 2002 reflecting increased volumes to existing customers augmented by some new business. The second half year should see significant further growth in sales as several major new accounts start to come on stream. Outlook Whilst Euro Asia Connectors' prospects remain constrained by the competitive environment in which it operates, the second half of the year will see for the first time the full benefits of having Derlite's manufacturing operations entirely in Thailand, with the corresponding large reduction in costs. With all our manufacturing facilities consolidated on one site and with the integration of Derlite now completed, we continue to look for further acquisitions where we can utilize our low cost manufacturing base in Thailand to realize significant margin improvements. Patrick Rogers Chairman 8th September 2003 Interim Report Consolidated profit and loss account for the six month period ended 30 June 2003 Unaudited Unaudited Six month Six month Twelve month Period Period Period ended ended ended 30 June 30 June 31 December 2003 2002 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 2,354 2,289 4,791 Turnover ========== ========= ========= Operating profit / (loss) before 29 163 145 interest Exceptional item (81) (210) Net Interest payable (8) (14) (23) ---------- --------- --------- Profit / (loss) on ordinary activities before taxation (60) (61) 122 Taxation - - 7 ---------- --------- --------- Profit / (loss) on ordinary activities after taxation (60) (61) 115 Minority Interests - (30) - ---------- --------- --------- Retained profit / (loss) for the (60) (91) 115 period ========== ========= ========= Earnings /(loss) per ordinary share Before exceptional item, basic 0.014p 0.15p 0.10p After exceptional item, basic (0.042)p (0.11)p 0.10p ========== ========= ========= Interim Report Consolidated balance sheet at 30 June 2003 At At 30 June 2003 31 December 2002 £ £ £ £ Fixed assets Intangible assets 428,354 436,658 Tangible assets 337,700 360,147 -------- -------- 766,054 796,805 Current assets Stocks 519,515 629,889 Debtors 763,850 847,486 Cash at bank and 17,026 177,966 in hand -------- -------- 1,300,391 1,655,341 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (1,129,377) (1,485,926) Net current 171,014 169,415 assets/ -------- -------- (liabilities) Total assets 937,068 966,220 less current liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (55,925) (79,234) -------- ------- 881,143 886,986 ======== ======== Capital and reserves Called up share capital 2,217,752 2,157,752 Share premium account 742,775 712,775 Profit and loss account (2,079,383) (1,983,541) -------- -------- Equity shareholders' funds 881,143 886,986 ======== ======== Notes to the Interim Results 1. The consolidated profit and loss account incorporates the unaudited results of Buckland Group Plc and all of its subsidiary undertakings made up to 30 June 2003, and has been prepared on a basis consistent with the accounting policies set out in the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2002. Earnings/ (loss) per share for the six months to June 2003 have been calculated based on the weighted average number of shares in issue for the period of 141,829,132 m. 2. This Interim Report was approved by the board of directors on 8th September 2003. This interim financial information does not comprise statutory accounts as defined in Section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. The financial information for the period ended 31 December 2002 is an extract from the latest company accounts. The accounts received an unqualified auditors report and have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The financial information for the period ended 30 June 2003 has not been subject to review by the auditors. 3. Copies of this Interim Report are being sent to shareholders and are available from the Company Secretary at Buckland Group plc, 3 Draycott Place, London SW3 2SE. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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