Final Results

Creightons PLC 26 July 2001 Creightons plc ('Creightons' or 'the Company') Preliminary results for the year ended 31 March 2001 Chairman's Statement Review of the year The year ended 31st March 2001 was one of hard work and consolidation, seeing further major change for Creightons. Following the failure of the management's proposals to buy-out the toiletries business, Mr Hamilton resigned from the Board and left the Company. The Board has continued with the services of Mr Bernard Johnson to manage the business on a day-to-day basis. The Company faced a number of challenges, including the need to reduce operating costs to be more in line with sales volumes which are lower than in the past few years, and serious consequential overcapacity and under utilisation of the Company's manufacturing facilities at Storrington. The Company's cost base has been successfully reduced to the point where it is sustainable on the existing sales level. The Company is exploring new markets and developing new products to increase sales levels. This includes exploiting the Company's existing 'Natural' and haircare brands, and developing unique new products for sale both under the Company's own brand names and with our major customers under their name. In addition, the Company has already secured exports to Australia, and is seeking further export markets for its branded products. Our sales force has also been focusing on expanding the Company's branded presence on the High Street, with successful extensions and new listings in many key chains. The under utilisation of the Company's site at Storrington has been resolved by the recent disposal of part of that site, as agreed by shareholders at the EGM in February, which raised £1.24 million. The Company's production staff have undertaken a successful reorganisation of the Company's production and logistics operations. The Company had been for some time involved in a passing off action taken out by John Frieda, which has been settled. With the successful completion of the land disposal and legal case mentioned above, Roger Lane-Smith, who served as non-executive Chairman since December 1999, resigned from the Board to concentrate on his other business activities. The Board now comprises myself as executive Chairman, with Ms Carney and Mr O'Shea as non-executive directors. Both Ms Carney and myself were appointed to the Board in November 1999, and Mr O'Shea was appointed to the Board following the resignation of Mr Lane-Smith in May this year. Your Board's strategy remains as stated in the open offer prospectus dated 15 February 2000. This strategy had been intended to involve entry into e-commerce. However, as shareholders will be aware, this sector has proved to be unattractive, and the Board decided to seek alternative opportunities which will benefit all Creightons' shareholders, whilst using every endeavour to secure the broad objective within an acceptable timeframe. Consequently, although this process is taking longer than was originally intended, the Board believes that the best shareholder value can be obtained in the short term by developing the Toiletries business along the above lines. Financial results Sales in the financial year were £4,404,000 (2000: £5,214,000). Operating loss this year was significantly reduced at £217,000 (2000: £1,666,000), a reduction of £1.45 million and losses before tax were improved at £99,000 (2000: £1,825,000), a reduction of £1.73 million. Loss per share was 0.19 p (2000: 8.5p) The group's net asset position did not change significantly during the course of the financial year, despite the disposal of part of the Company's land holding. Net assets at 31st March 2001 were £1,569,000 compared to net assets at 31st March 2000 of £1,668,000. Current year developments During the current financial year the manufacturing business has been managed on a day to day basis by Mr Johnson, who is working for the Company under contract. The Group continues to operate within its bank facilities, having applied the proceeds of the land disposal to reduce total bank borrowing. The Board believes that the volatility in our markets of the recent years is now past its worst and we look forward to more stable financial prospects over the next few months. The Board would like to thank all its employees for their hard work and dedication. William McIlroy Chairman 25 July 2001 Consolidated profit and loss account For the year to 31 March 2001 2001 2000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Turnover 4,404 5,214 Cost of sales (3,092) (4,134) Exceptional cost of sales - (273) Total cost of sales (3,092) (4,407) Gross profit 1,312 807 Operating expenses (1,390) (2,146) Other operating income 15 - Exceptional operating costs (154) (327) Total operating expenses (1,529) (2,473) Operating (loss) (217) (1,666) Exceptional Income 263 - Net interest payable (145) (159) Loss on ordinary activities (99) (1,825) before taxation Tax on loss on ordinary - - activities Retained loss for the year (99) (1,825) Loss per share (0.19p) (8.5p) Loss per share before (0.40p) (5.7p) exceptional items Profit/(loss) per share on 0.21p (2.8p) exceptional items Diluted loss per share (0.19p) (8.5p) The turnover and operating loss arose from continuing operations. The group has no recognised gains or losses other than the above results. Note on historical cost profits For the year ended 31 March 2001 2001 2000 £000 £000 Reported loss on ordinary activities before taxation (99) (1,825) Difference between the historical cost depreciation - - charge and the actual depreciation charge on the revalued amount Historical cost loss on ordinary activities before (99) (1,825) taxation Historical cost loss retained for the year (99) (1,825) Consolidated balance sheet At 31 March 2001 2001 2000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 2,091 3,329 Current assets Stocks 579 806 Debtors 2,036 943 2,615 1,749 Creditors: amounts falling due (3,117) (2,959) within one year Net current liabilities (502) (1,210) Total assets less current 1,589 2,119 liabilities Creditors: amounts falling due (20) (451) after more than one year Net assets 1,569 1,668 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 517 4,294 Share premium account 1,185 1,185 Capital redemption reserve 18 18 Capital reserve 7 7 Special reserve 13 13 Profit and loss account (171) (3,849) Equity shareholders' funds 1,569 1,668 Exceptional items 2001 2000 £000 £000 Exceptional income Profit on disposal of land and buildings net of 263 - shareholder circular costs and costs of moving production facilities Exceptional costs Cost of sales Compensation for loss of office/redundancy - (88) Obsolete product range provision - (185) - (273) Operating costs Compensation for loss of office/redundancy - (327) Legal fees in respect of passing-off action (154) - (154) (327) The preliminary statement of results has been agreed with the Company's auditors, Chantrey Vellacott DFK, who have indicated that they will be giving an unqualified opinion in their report on the statutory financial statements, which will be dispatched to shareholders in due course. Statement of Cash Flows For the year ended 31 March 2001 2001 2000 £000 £000 Cash flow from operating activities 41 (845) Returns on investments and servicing of finance (145) (159) Taxation - - Capital expenditure and financial investments 62 (135) Cash outflow before management of liquid resources and (42) (1,139) financing Financing (190) 1,091 Decrease in cash in the year (232) (48) Enquiries William McIlroy 01903 745 611

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Creightons (CRL)
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