Final Results

Creightons PLC 29 September 2000 Creightons plc Preliminary Results Announcement for the year ended 31 March 2000 Chairman's Statement Review of the year The year ended 31 March 2000 was one of major change for Creightons. The Group's performance and financial position were both under significant pressure during the financial year. Following the departure from the Board of Mr. Barry Dale on 23 December 1999, the Board carried out an urgent review of the financial position of the Group and concluded that an immediate fundraising was necessary to avoid insolvency. Accordingly, to stabilise the Company's manufacturing operation, the Board launched an open offer in February 2000 and raised approximately £1.5m of additional equity from shareholders. The Board also took the view that there was little realistic prospect of being able to grow and develop the Company's manufacturing business on a basis that it could realistically generate attractive returns for shareholders in the foreseeable future. The Board announced in the open offer prospectus that the Creightons management team, led by Mr. Hamilton (the Company's former Chief Executive Officer), had made an indicative proposal to the Board to acquire the manufacturing business, but stated that the terms of management's proposal were not at that time acceptable. The subsequent failure of management's proposals culminated in the recent resignation from the Board of Mr. Hamilton. The Board now comprises myself as Non-executive Chairman, Mr. McIlroy as Executive Vice-Chairman, and Ms. Carney as Non- executive Director. Both Mr McIlroy and Ms. Carney were appointed to the Board in November 1999. Much effort has been put into restructuring the stability of the Company's customer base, and in August 2000 we were rewarded by increased sales at a satisfactory level. Order levels are encouraging and the outlook up to Christmas is in line with our expectations. Your Board's strategy remains as stated in the open offer prospectus of February 2000; to dispose of the Group's remaining net assets and to find a suitable company to reverse into the quoted shell. Your Board will use every endeavour to secure this objective within an acceptable timeframe, for the benefit of all Creightons shareholders. At the date of publication of this announcement the Board is in negotiations with respect to the possible disposal of part of the freehold land owned by the Company at Storrington. If negotiations are successfully concluded, the sale would enable the Company to repay a significant portion of its bank borrowings. A further announcement will be made as soon as practicable. Financial Results Sales in the financial year were £5,214,000 (1999: £5,589,000). Operating losses and losses before tax were £1,666,000 and £1,825,000 respectively (1999 operating loss £1,923,000; loss before tax £1,979,000). Loss per share was 8.5 p (1999: 9.8p) The Group's net asset position deteriorated significantly during the course of the financial year but was restored by the fundraising of £1.3 million net of expenses in March 2000. Net assets at 31 March 2000 were £1,668,000 compared to net assets at 31 March 1999 of £2,185,000. Debt levels rose to unacceptable levels during the year along with trade creditors. As soon as the proceeds of the open offer were received, both bank debt and trade creditors were brought down to acceptable levels. As at 31 March 2000, net indebtedness totalled £1,876,000, representing gearing of approximately 112 per cent. Current year developments During the current financial year the manufacturing business has been managed on a day to day basis by Bernard Johnson, who is working for the Company under contract. Mr Johnson, together with Mr McIlroy, have done an excellent job in stabilising the downturn in sales and reducing overheads. With the improved figures for August and a satisfactory order book, the Board hopes and believes that the manufacturing business now has the platform on which to move forward. Creditors levels have remained normalised since the March fundraising and the Group continues to operate within its bank facilities. The Group is currently operating with an informal facility from its bankers pending the outcome of the negotiations to dispose of part of the freehold land at Storrington, as referred to above. If this transaction is not concluded, the Group's bankers have confirmed that the existing facilities will be renewed in the ordinary course of business. The Board would like to thank all its employees for their hard work and dedication. Roger Lane-Smith, Chairman 29 September 2000 For further information, please contact William McIlroy Executive Vice-Chairman 01903 745611 CONSOLIDATED PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT For the year ended 31 March 2000 2000 2000 1999 1999 £000 £000 £000 £000 Turnover 5,214 5,589 Cost of sales (4,134) (4,737) Exceptional cost of sales (273) (235) ______ ____ Total cost of sales (4,407) (4,972) 807 617 Gross profit Operating expenses (2,146) (2,185) Exceptional operating expenses (327) (355) ____ ____ Total operating expenses (2,473) (2,540) ______ _______ Operating loss (1,666) (1,923) Net interest payable (159) (56) ______ _______ Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (1,825) (1,979) Tax on loss on ordinary activities - 41 ______ _______ Retained loss for the year (1,825) (1,938) ======= ======= Loss per share (8.5)p (9.8)p Loss per share before (5.7)p (6.8)p exceptional items Loss per share on (2.8)p (3.0)p exceptional items Diluted loss per share (8.5)p (8.9)p The turnover and operating loss arose from continuing operations. The Group had no gains or losses other than the above results. CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET As at 31 March 2000 2000 2000 1999 1999 £000 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 3,329 3,522 Current assets Stocks 806 1,046 Debtors 943 913 ____ ____ 1,749 1,959 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (2,959) (2,746) _____ _____ Net current liabilities (1210) (787) Total assets less 2,119 2,735 current liabilities Creditors: amounts (451) (550) falling due after more than one year ______ _____ Net assets 1,668 2,185 ====== ===== Capital and reserves Called up share capital 4,294 3,975 Share premium account 1,185 196 Capital redemption reserve 18 18 Capital reserve 7 7 Special reserve 13 13 Profit and loss account (3,849) (2,024) _____ _____ Equity shareholders' funds 1,668 2,185 ===== ===== CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT For the year ended 31 March 2000 2000 1999 £000 £000 Net cash outflow from operating activities (845) (1,194) Returns on investments and servicing of finance (159) (56) Taxation - 41 Capital expenditure and financial investment (135) (172) _______ ______ Cash outflow before management of (1,139) (1,381) liquid resources and financing Financing 1,091 (110) _______ ______ Decrease in cash in the period (48) (1,491) _______ ______ Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Decrease in cash in the period (48) (1,491) Cash outflow from repayment of debt 217 110 ___ _____ 169 (1,381) New finance leases (54) (43) ____ ______ Movement in net debt in the period 115 (1,424) ==== ======= Net debt at the start of the period (1,991) (567) Net debt at the end of the period (1,876) (1,991) NOTES 1. The comparative financial information in this preliminary statement is for the 52 weeks ended 31 March 1999. The accounting policies for both periods are in accordance with those set out in the accounts of Creightons plc for the 52 weeks ended 31 March 2000. 2. Basic and diluted earnings per share for the 52 weeks ended 31 March 2000 have been calculated using the weighted average number of shares in issue in the relevant financial period. The weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue for the basic eps is 21,441,184 (1999: 19,876,523) and for the diluted eps 21,441,184 (1999: 21,829,023). The calculations are based on a loss of £1,825,000 (1999: £1,938,000). 3. A copy of the annual report and accounts is expected to be posted to shareholders on Tuesday 3 October 2000 and will be filed with the Registrar of Companies following their adoption at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. 4. These preliminary statements do not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of section 240 of the Companies Act 1985. They have however, been extracted from the Creightons plc statutory accounts (apart from these notes) for the 52 weeks ended 31 March 2000 on which an unqualified Auditors' Report was signed on 29 September 2000.

Companies

Creightons (CRL)
UK 100

Latest directors dealings