2001 Results

Christie Group PLC 11 April 2002 Christie Group plc Preliminary Results for the year to 31 December 2001 Highlights • Turnover up 9% • Trading Profit up 29% • Both Divisions improve Trading results • Start-up operations virtually double turnover to £4.3 million • First full year's profit contribution from Venners Retail stocktaking • Colombus retail software achieves IBM 'Storeproven' status • First cinema Internet ticketing system installed Overview I am pleased to report an increase in both turnover to £43.8 million (2000 : £40.1 million) and trading profit to £2.3 million (2000 : £1.8 million). We propose to maintain our dividend for the year at 2.5p per share. These results were achieved despite the significant effects on our marketplace of Foot and Mouth disease and 11 September. Start-up losses for new business areas (launched in the last three years) fell to a level of £1.2 million (2000 : £1.8 million) while turnover from these activities virtually doubled to £4.3 million (2000 : £2.3 million). We consider the results justify our continuing support for these new ventures. The three European offices of Christie & Co which are included in our start-up activities have been engaged in both domestic and cross-border business. Christie & Co is establishing itself as a pan-European force and we are applying valuable working knowledge of these and other international markets on a daily basis, each of which has its own characteristics. Our hospitality computer business is witnessing an improvement in the cinema industry to which its fortunes have been closely aligned, whilst in our retail software business we have invested heavily in its Colombus software in order to ensure full functionality and localisation for European countries, building on its successful Latin roots. Venners, our stock auditing business, enjoyed its first full year profit contribution from its new retail stocktaking activity. The Board has been strengthened by the appointments of Michael Likierman as a non-executive director who has specific European and Retail experience, and Yves Doukhan, Managing Director of VcsTimeless France, to represent our European Retail Software business. As reported in my interim statement, Stephen Mansfield resigned in August last year. This year we intend to introduce a Save As You Earn Share Scheme in response to positive feedback from senior members of staff. This scheme, together with other initiatives, is designed to give our colleagues a financial interest in the continued success of our business. I would like to finish by thanking all our staff (some 700 in five countries) who during the past year have helped move the Group forward. Enquiries: Christie Group 020 7227 0707 Philip Gwyn, Chairman David Rugg, Chief Executive Robert Zenker, Finance Director Brunswick 020 7404 5959 Charlotte Elston or Michael Webster Web site www.christiegroup.com PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF AUDITED RESULTS AUDITED CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2001 Notes 2001 2000 Restated* £000 £000 Turnover 1 43,833 40,104 Staff costs (20,771) (19,457) Other operating charges (20,744) (18,845) Trading profit 2,318 1,802 Exceptional item 2 (262) 500 Goodwill amortisation (566) (460) Operating profit 1 1,490 1,842 Net interest (244) (146) Profit on ordinary activities before tax 1,246 1,696 Tax on profit on ordinary activities 3 (891) (332) Profit on ordinary activities after tax 355 1,364 Dividends 4 (637) (646) Retained (deficit)/profit for the year (282) 718 Earnings per share 5 - basic 1.39p 5.41p - adjusted basic before goodwill and exceptional items (net of tax) 4.34p 5.85p - adjusted basic before goodwill and exceptional items (net of tax) pre FRS19 4.34p 4.55p Earnings per share - diluted 1.39p 5.31p All amounts derive from continuing activities. * The results for 2000 have been restated in accordance with the introduction of FRS19 (Accounting for Deferred Taxation). AUDITED STATEMENT OF TOTAL RECOGNISED GAINS AND LOSSES FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2001 2001 2000 Restated £000 £000 Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 355 1,364 Gain on foreign currency translation 13 - Total recognised gains and losses relating to the year 368 1,364 Prior year adjustment 326 Total recognised gains and losses since last year's report and financial statements 694 AUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AS AT 31 DECEMBER 2001 2001 2000 Restated £000 £000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 2,568 2,992 Intangible assets 4,954 5,553 7,522 8,545 Current assets Stock 347 448 Debtors - due within one year 11,623 9,876 - due after one year 324 326 Cash at bank and in hand 2,226 2,687 14,520 13,337 Creditors - amounts falling due within one year (9,670) (9,713) Net current assets 4,850 3,624 Total assets less current liabilities 12,372 12,169 Creditors - amounts falling due after more than one year (3,736) (3,274) Net assets 8,636 8,895 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 510 509 Share premium 3,705 3,696 Merger reserve 1,896 1,896 Profit and loss account 2,525 2,794 Shareholders' funds - equity interests 8,636 8,895 AUDITED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2001 2001 2000 £000 £000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 2,692 3,491 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (254) (146) Taxation paid (1,164) (1,010) Capital expenditure (827) (1,039) Acquisition (229) (4,923) Equity dividends paid (637) (629) Cash outflow before financing (419) (4,256) Financing 9 3,419 Decrease in cash in the year (410) (837) Notes to the preliminary statement of audited results: 1. Segmental Information 2001 2001 2001 2000 2000 2000 Turnover Operating Net assets Turnover Operating Net assets Profit/(loss) £000 Profit/(loss) Restated £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Professional Business 25,182 2,104 3,461 22,919 2,430* 4,495 Services Information Systems and 18,651 (614)** 3,131 17,185 (588) 1,152 Services Total 43,833 1,490 6,592 40,104 1,842 5,647 Cash 2,226 2,687 Dividends proposed (382) (378) Other 200 939 Net assets 8,636 8,895 * Includes an exceptional gain of £500,000 ** Includes an exceptional cost of £262,000 2. Exceptional item 2001 2000 £000 £000 Reorganisation costs 262 - Amounts accrued in prior years no longer required - (500) Total exceptional item 262 (500) 3. Tax on profit on ordinary activities 2001 2000 Restated £000 £000 UK and foreign tax 755 836 Adjustments in respect of prior years 134 (178) Total current tax 889 658 Deferred tax 2 (326) Total tax on profit on ordinary activities 891 332 Comparatives have been restated to comply with FRS19. The full benefit of the deferred tax asset on the introduction of this standard has been credited in the restated figures for 2000. 4. Dividend A final dividend of 1.5p (2000 - 1.5p) per Ordinary Share has been proposed, which is in addition to the interim dividend of 1.0p (2000 - 1.0p). The ex-dividend date is 22 May, the record date 24 May and the date payable 21 June 2002. 5. Earnings per Share 2001 2000 Restated Earnings per share basic Profit attributable to shareholders - £000 355 1,364 Average number of ordinary shares of 2p each in issue during the year 25,471,510 25,209,226 Earnings per share - adjusted basic before goodwill and exceptional items (net of tax) Profit attributable to shareholders before goodwill and exceptional items (net of tax) - £000 1,104 1,474 Average number of ordinary shares of 2p each in issue during the year 25,471,510 25,209,226 Earnings per share - adjusted basic before goodwill and exceptional items (net of tax) pre FRS19 Profit attributable to shareholders before goodwill and exceptional items (net of tax) pre FRS 19 - £000 1,106 1,148 Average number of ordinary shares of 2p each in issue during the year 25,471,510 25,209,226 Earnings per share basic- fully diluted Profit attributable to shareholders - £000 355 1,364 Average number of ordinary shares of 2p each in issue during the year after allowing for the exercise of outstanding share options 25,471,510 25,693,929 6. The financial information set out above does not comprise the Company's statutory accounts. The Company's auditors have given an unqualified opinion on the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2001 which will be delivered to the Registrar of Companies following the Annual General Meeting. The results for the period ended 31 December 2000 have been abridged from the published group accounts for which an unqualified audit report was issued and did not contain any statements under Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985 and which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. 7. The Report and Accounts are scheduled to be posted to shareholders in early May. The Annual General Meeting of the Company is scheduled to take place at 10.00 am on Thursday 13 June 2002 at: 50 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0NW Christie Group plc Professional Business Services Business sales and valuations, quality assurance and improvements, financial services. Christie & Co The leading firm of independent surveyors, valuers and agents specialising in the leisure, care and retail sectors. International operations based in London, Paris, Frankfurt and Barcelona. Offices throughout the UK with valuation and agency teams focused on its key sectors. Christie First The market leader in finance and insurance for the leisure, care and retail sectors. Services include finance for business purchase or re-financing arranged in conjunction with major financial institutions, and tailored insurance schemes. Pinders The UK's leading independent specialist business appraisal company, undertaking valuations, consultancy and professional services for a broad range of clients in the leisure, care and retail sectors. Quest for Quality Specialises in providing a full range of consultancy services for the long-term care industry. Quest for Quality has contracts with clients in both the private and 'not-for-profit' sectors. Information Systems and Services EPoS and head office systems, stock and inventory control. Venners Leading supplier of stocktaking and inventory services to the hospitality and retail sectors. Proprietary software and up-to-date technology enables on-site problem investigation and direct provision of data to clients' management information systems. VcsTimeless Specialists in enterprise (ERP) management and EPoS systems in retail (including fashion, sports and speciality sectors) and leisure and hospitality (including cinemas, hotels and restaurants) with particular emphasis on touchscreen and kiosk solutions on a national and international basis. Designers of web-based management solutions. ****** This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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