Interim Results - Replacement

Andrews Sykes Group PLC 29 September 2000 The following amendments have been made to the 'Interim Results' announcement released at 07:05 today under RNS No 7485R. Parts of the text of the announcement were duplicated. The duplications have been removed. In Note 5, the entry for 'Amortisation of goodwill as set out in note 4' for the 53 weeks to 1 January 2000 should read 434 and not 4. All other details remain unchanged. The full corrected text is shown below. ANDREWS SYKES GROUP PLC INTERIM RESULTS FOR THE 26 WEEKS TO 1 JULY 2000 Chairman's Statement I am able to report a satisfactory start to trading results for the year 2000. The salient points of the accounts for the six months ended 1 July 2000 are as follows: £000 Group operating profit before exceptional 6,574 items and goodwill amortisation increased by £763,000 to EBITDA remained virtually unchanged at 11,943 Group operating profit decreased by 3,357 £421,000 to Profit before tax remained virtually 2,166 unchanged at Net cash inflow from operating activities increased by £3,495,000 to 11,607 Gearing reduced from 98.6% to 77.1% Financial review Our plans to focus on our core UK based hire business has shown early progress with effective controls being implemented across the Group. The decision has been taken to close both the small operations in Poland and Singapore where we considered both the return on capital employed and growth potential for the Group to be unsatisfactory. The closure costs were not significant and have been fully absorbed in the reported figures. We continued to develop and implement sales focused strategies as outlined in the 1999 report and accounts. Despite all management's efforts the effect of the continuing downward pressure on general plant hire prices during the period impaired the Group's ability both to increase turnover and grow profits to the desired extent. Consequently a further detailed financial review of Cox Plant Limited has been carried out in accordance with FRS 11 which has led management to reassess the carrying value for goodwill on the balance sheet. It was the view of the Board that the value of goodwill was overstated by £3 million and therefore this has been written off in the half year accounts. The above write off is a non cash item and therefore has had no effect on the Group's ability to generate cash. I am pleased to be able to report that the net cash inflow from operating activities has increased by £3.5 million compared with the same period last year to £11.6 million. The Group's operating profit before exceptional items and goodwill amortisation also showed a 13% improvement compared to the previous year. Whilst the air conditioning hire and unit sales show an improvement compared to the first half of 1999 they are still below the level achieved in the same period in 1998 due to a relatively poor summer. In particular the air conditioning business suffered from poor weather related trading conditions in May and June after a promising period in April. Prospects The poor summer continues to depress air conditioning hire into the third quarter and as a result the outlook for the second half remains cautious with efforts being directed at non-seasonal activity to underpin the new strategies for the medium to long term. Share buy back programme During the period under review the company has purchased 1,575,000 shares for a total consideration of £876,000. The Board continues to believe that shareholder value will be optimised by a judicious purchase of our own shares, coupled with investment in organic growth. In consequence the policy outlined previously will continue. J G Murray Chairman 29 September 2000 For further information please contact: Robert Stevens (Chief Executive) Telephone 01902 328 700 Andrews Sykes Group plc Andrews Sykes Group plc Group Profit and Loss Account For the 26 weeks ended 1 July 2000 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 53 weeks to 1 July 2000 26 June 1999 1 January 2000 Total Total Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 43,864 44,238 94,673 Cost of Sales (25,434) (26,393) (56,179) Gross profit 18,430 17,845 38,494 Net operating expenses (15,073) (14,067) (26,819) (previous periods include exceptional items set out in note 3) Group operating profit 3,357 3,778 11,675 EBITDA* 11,943 11,946 27,238 Depreciation and asset disposals (5,369) (6,135) (12,494) Operating profit before exceptional items 6,574 5,811 14,744 and amortisation of goodwill Exceptional items 0 (1,816) (2,635) Amortisation of goodwill as set out in (3,217) (217) (434) note 4 Group operating profit 3,357 3,778 11,675 Share of operating (loss)/profit of 0 (7) 0 associates Income from other participating interests 0 0 135 Loss on the termination of overseas 0 0 (955) operations Net interest payable (1,191) (1,582) (2,857) Profit on ordinary activities before tax 2,166 2,189 7,998 Tax on profit on ordinary activities (1,753) (737) (2,674) Profit on ordinary activities after 413 1,452 5,324 taxation being profit for the financial period Dividends: Ordinary shares 0 (1,328) (1,326) Convertible preference 0 (186) (220) shares Retained profit / (loss) for the period 413 (62) 3,778 Basic earnings per ordinary share 0.45 1.53 5.97 Fully diluted earnings per ordinary share 0.45 1.47 5.73 Exceptional items 0.00 2.11 2.96 Amortisation of goodwill 3.49 0.25 0.47 Adjusted fully diluted earnings per 3.94 3.83 9.16 ordinary share Dividends per share: Preference 0.00 3.50 3.50 Ordinary 0.00 1.44 1.44 There were no significant acquisitions or discontinued operations during the period. *Earnings Before Interest, Taxation, Depreciation and Amortisation excluding exceptional items and goodwill amortisation. Andrews Sykes Group plc Consolidated Balance Sheet As at 1 July 2000 1 July 26 June 1 January 2000 1999 2000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Intangible assets 4,201 7,635 7,418 Tangible assets 32,252 39,057 35,164 Investments 773 578 622 37,226 47,270 43,204 Current assets Stocks 6,950 8,165 7,829 Debtors 22,960 24,374 24,920 Cash at bank and in hand 6,848 5,543 3,764 36,758 38,082 36,513 Creditors falling due within one year Loans and overdrafts (6,700) (7,500) (7,673) Other creditors and provisions (11,742) (19,192) (14,963) Deferred consideration 0 (600) 0 Corporation and overseas tax (2,382) (2,728) (1,518) Net current assets 15,934 8,062 12,359 Total assets less current liabilities 53,160 55,332 55,563 Creditors falling due after more than one year Loans (22,300) (29,453) (24,750) Other creditors and provisions (1,446) (1,203) (1,555) Corporation tax (515) (80) 0 Net assets 28,899 24,596 29,258 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 18,129 19,737 18,443 Share premium account 10,399 8,168 10,394 Revaluation reserve 770 776 773 Other reserves 601 284 280 Profit and loss account (1,010) (4,379) (642) 28,889 24,586 29,248 Shareholders' funds Equity 28,889 21,402 29,248 Non equity 0 3,184 0 28,889 24,586 29,248 Minority Interests (equity) 10 10 10 28,899 24,596 29,258 Analysis of net debt Cash at bank and in hand 6,848 5,543 3,764 Deferred consideration 0 (600) 0 Total loans, overdrafts and finance lease (29,126) (37,179) (32,612) obligations Net debt (22,278) (32,236) (28,848) Net debt as a percentage of a 77.1% 131.1% 98.6% shareholders' funds Andrews Sykes Group plc Consolidated cash flow statement For the 26 weeks ended 1 July 2000 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 53 weeks to 1 July 2000 26 June 1999 1 January 2000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 11,607 8,112 19,469 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Net interest paid (1,108) (1,975) (3,213) Preference dividends paid 0 (223) (257) Interest element of finance lease (4) (15) (9) payments Net cash outflow for returns on (1,112) (2,213) (3,479) investments and servicing of finance Cash outflow for taxation (442) (1,095) (4,408) Capital expenditure Purchase of tangible fixed assets (3,413) (1,853) (4,677) Purchase of shares held in ESOP (151) (70) (458) Sale of tangible fixed assets 884 871 1,175 Net cash outflow for capital expenditure (2,680) (1,052) (3,960) Acquisitions Payment of deferred consideration on 0 (6,500) (6,500) previous acquisitions Net cash outflow for acquisitions 0 (6,500) (6,500) Equity dividends paid 0 (1,987) (3,297) Cash inflow/(outflow) before the use of liquid resources and financing 7,373 (4,735) (2,175) Management of liquid resources Movement in bank deposits 189 (313) 575 Financing Issue of ordinary share capital net of 6 0 932 issue costs New loan draw downs and factoring 0 3,900 4,400 advances Loan repayments (3,423) (3,673) (9,303) Net capital element of finance lease (63) (91) (140) payments Purchase of own shares (876) (17) (16) Net cash (outflow) / inflow from (4,356) 119 (4,127) financing Increase/(decrease) in cash in the period 3,206 (4,929) (5,727) Andrews Sykes Group plc Notes to the accounts For the 26 weeks ended 1 July 2000 1. The interim report for the 26 weeks ended 1 July 2000 was approved by the board on 29 September 2000. The financial information contained in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts for the Group for the relevant periods. The interim report is unaudited but has been reviewed by the auditors. The results for the 53 weeks ended 1 January 2000 have been extracted from the audited financial statements that have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified and did not contain a statement under section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. 2. Segmental analysis The Group's turnover may be analysed between the following principal products and activities: 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 53 weeks to 1 July 2000 26 June 1999 1 January 2000 Total Total Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Product group: Pumps 9,896 12,085 22,375 Heating and ventilation 5,266 4,700 9,130 Air-conditioning 9,153 7,952 21,578 General plant 14,799 14,640 31,306 Other 4,750 4,861 10,284 Total 43,864 44,238 94,673 Activity: Hire 29,956 28,076 59,766 Sales 7,877 10,792 19,825 Installation 6,031 5,370 15,082 Total 43,864 44,238 94,673 The geographical analysis of the Group's turnover was as follows: 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 53 weeks to 1 July 2000 26 June 1999 1 January 2000 Total Total Total £'000 £'000 £'000 United Kingdom 41,590 39,826 86,907 Rest of Europe 851 1,206 2,678 Middle East and Africa 1,283 1,938 3,490 The Americas 0 436 639 Rest of the World 140 832 959 43,864 44,238 94,673 The results can be further analysed by class of business: Turnover Profit Exceptionals Group Net before & goodwill operating assets exceptionals profit & goodwill £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 26 weeks ended 1 July 2000: Pumps, heating, 29,065 5,700 (7) 5,693 20,619 ventilation, air- conditioning & other General plant 14,799 874 (3,210) (2,336) 8,280 43,864 6,574 (3,217) 3,357 28,899 26 weeks ended 26 June 1999: Pumps, heating, 29,598 4,368 (1,823) 2,545 12,721 ventilation, air- conditioning & other General plant 14,640 1,443 (210) 1,233 11,875 44,238 5,811 (2,033) 3,778 24,596 53 weeks ended 1 January 2000: Pumps, heating, 63,367 12,018 (3,604) 8,414 17,472 ventilation, air- conditioning & other General plant 31,306 2,861 (420) 2,441 11,786 94,673 14,879 (4,024) 10,855 29,258 3. Exceptional items 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 53 weeks to 1 July 26 June 1 January 2000 1999 2000 Total Total Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Sterling contractual 0 (1,432) (1,440) settlement costs Redundancy and 0 (217) (1,014) reorganisation Abortive costs 0 (167) (181) 0 (1,816) (2,635) Loss on the termination of 0 0 (955) overseas operations 0 (1,816) (3,590) Under agreements entered into in 1989, Sterling Fluid Products Limited ('SFP') manufactured Sykes Pumps for the group. The agreements, which contained a minimum annual purchase obligation, were terminated in 1995 and SFP claimed £4.9 million in settlement plus additional interest and costs. The dispute was settled out of court last year with a total payment to SFP of £3 million and has re-established the exclusive rights which had been granted to SFP by Andrews Sykes' previous management to use the Sykes Pumps name in the USA, Iran, Iraq, and the sole right to market Sykes Pumps in those territories. The settlement gave rise to the above exceptional charge last year after provisions made in prior years and is inclusive of costs. 4. Amortisation of goodwill 26 weeks 26 weeks 53 weeks to to 1 July to 26 June 1 January 2000 1999 2000 Total Total Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Ordinary goodwill (217) (217) (434) amortisation charge Charge arising from (3,000) 0 0 impairment review (3,217) (217) (434) During the period and in accordance with FRS 11 the directors have performed an impairment review of the carrying value of goodwill attributable to Cox Plant Limited at 1 July 2000. The above £3 million charge arises from this review. Amortisation of goodwill is not an allowable item when computing the Company's taxable profits. Therefore this has resulted in a high effective tax rate for the 26 weeks to 1 July 2000. 5. Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 53 weeks to 1 July 26 June 1 January 2000 1999 2000 Total Total Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Operating profit 3,357 3,778 11,675 Amortisation of goodwill as set 3,217 217 434 out in note 4 Depreciation 5,797 6,156 12,660 Profit on sale of fixed (428) (21) (166) assets Decrease in stocks 879 1,227 1,563 Decrease/(increase) in 1,993 (952) (1,625) debtors Decrease in creditors and (3,208) (2,293) (5,072) provisions Net cash inflow from 11,607 8,112 19,469 operating activities 6. Earnings per share The basic figures have been calculated by reference to the weighted average number of 20p ordinary shares in issue during the period of 91,449,890 (26 weeks ended 26 June 1999: 82,766,023) after adjusting for the bonus element of the open offer. The earnings are the Group's profit after taxation and preference dividends. The calculation of the diluted earnings per ordinary share is based on diluted earnings of £413,000 (26 weeks ended 26 June 1999: £1,266,000) and on 92,231,636 (26 weeks ended 26 June 1999: 86,118,661) ordinary shares calculated as follows: 26 weeks to 1 July 2000 26 weeks to 26 June 1999 Earnings No. of Earnings No. of £'000 shares £'000 shares Basic earnings/weighted average number 413 91,449,890 1,266 82,766,023 of shares Weighted average number of 1,245,000 5,311,518 shares under option Number of shares that (463,254) (1,958,880) would have been issued have been issued at fair value Dividend saving/weighted 0 0 0 0 average number of ordinary shares arising on the conversion of the preference shares Diluted earnings/weighted 413 92,231,636 1,266 86,118,661 average number of shares Diluted earnings per ordinary share 0.45p 1.47p No account has been taken on the conversion of the preference shares in the six months ended 26 June 1999 as the conversion was not dilutive. The adjusted earnings per share excluding goodwill amortisation and exceptional items is based upon the weighted average number of ordinary shares as set out in the table above. The earnings can be reconciled to the diluted earnings as follows: 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 1 July 2000 26 June 1999 Total Total £'000 £'000 Diluted earnings 413 1,266 Goodwill amortisation 3,217 217 Net exceptional charge 0 1,816 Adjusted diluted earnings 3,630 3,299 Adjusted diluted earnings per ordinary share 3.94p 3.83p (pence) 7.Consolidated statement of total recognised gains and losses 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 53 weeks to 1 July 2000 26 June 1999 1 January 2000 Total Total Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Profit for the financial period 413 1,452 5,324 Currency translation differences on 98 14 (97) foreign currency net investments Total gains and losses in the period 511 1,466 5,227 8. Reconciliation of movements in group shareholders' funds 26 weeks to 26 weeks to 53 weeks to 1 July 2000 26 June 1999 1 January 2000 Total Total Total £'000 £'000 £'000 Profit for the financial period 413 1,452 5,324 Dividends 0 (1,514) (1,546) Other recognised gains and losses 98 14 (97) Proceeds from ordinary shares issued 6 0 932 Consideration for the purchase (876) (17) (16) of own shares Net (decrease)/increase in (359) (65) 4,597 shareholders' funds Shareholders' funds at the 29,248 24,651 24,651 beginning of the period Shareholders' funds at the 28,889 24,586 29,248 end of the period 9. A copy of this statement will be posted to all shareholders and is available from the Company's registered office at Premier House, Darlington Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4JJ. KPMG Audit Plc 2 Cornwall Street Birmingham B3 2DL INDEPENDENT REVIEW BY KPMG AUDIT PLC TO ANDREWS SYKES GROUP PLC Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the interim financial information and we have read the other information contained in the interim report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. Directors' responsibilities The interim report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the directors. The Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where they are to be changed in the next annual accounts in which case any changes, and the reasons for them, are to be disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4: Review of interim financial information issued by the Auditing Practices Board. A review consists principally of making enquiries of group management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and, based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with Auditing Standards and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for the 26 weeks ended 1 July 2000. KPMG Audit Plc 29 September 2000 Chartered Accountants Registered Auditor
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