Interim Results

Creightons PLC 27 December 2002 CREIGHTONS plc Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2002 Chairman's statement I am pleased to be able to report to you that the Company has recorded a small operating profit for the half-year to 30 September 2002 of £5,000 (2001: loss of £34,000). As a consequence of lowered borrowings interest costs of just £34,000 also means that the overall loss of £29,000 for the period is the lowest loss reported for the Company in over six years. The last six months has been a very challenging period for all companies and industries, in the unfavourable economic climate we have experienced. Many major customers have undertaken de-stocking and rationalisation programmes, which have significantly reduced our sales. However, new cutting edge products resulting from investment in R & D has brought in new higher margin customers and created new opportunities for developing product ranges with healthcare and lifestyle businesses. Reduced overheads, improved quality systems and higher gross margins have increased the Company's future potential to make a profit at much lower sales levels William McIlroy Executive Chairman 27 December 2002 Consolidated Balance Sheet As at 30 September 2002 30 September 30 September 31 March 2002 2001 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 1,779 1,991 1,895 Current assets Stocks 513 727 645 Debtors 738 952 892 Cash 16 1,251 1,679 1,553 Creditors Amounts falling due within one year (1,566) (2,160) (1,953) Net current liabilities (315) (481) (400) Total assets less current liabilities 1,464 1,510 1,495 Creditors Amounts falling due after more than one (2) (15) (4) year Net assets 1,462 1,495 1,491 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 543 517 543 Share premium account 1,229 1,185 1,229 Other reserves 38 38 38 Profit and loss account (348) (245) (319) 1,462 1,495 1,491 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement For the six months ended 30 September 2002 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2002 2002 2001 2001 2002 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Cash flow from operating activities 29 (103) (294) Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received - - 1 Interest paid (34) (38) (60) Interest element of hire purchase payments - (2) (11) (34) (40) (70) Taxation (paid)/received - - - Capital expenditure Purchase of tangible (9) (22) (53) fixed assets Sale of tangible fixed assets 15 1,243 1,243 6 1,221 1,190 Cash outflow before financing 1 1,078 826 Financing Repayments of amounts borrowed - (410) (410) Capital element of hire purchase payments (6) (8) (15) Issue of share capital 70 (6) (418) (355) Increase/(decrease) in cash (5) 660 471 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account For the six months ended 30 September 2002 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2002 2001 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 1,983 2,172 4,421 Cost of sales (1,252) (1,363) (2,892) Gross profit 731 809 1,529 Operating expenses (747) (880) (1,682) Other operating income 21 37 75 Operating profit/(loss) 5 (34) (78) Net interest payable (34) (40) (70) Profit/(Loss) on ordinary activities and loss sustained for the period (29) (74) (148) Loss per share (.053)p (0.14)p (0.29)p Fully diluted loss per share (.053)p (0.14)p (0.29)p Independent Review Report to Creightons plc Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information set out the attached P&L, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow, 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 any changes, and the reasons for them, are disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/4 issued by the Auditing Practices Board. A review consists principally of making enquires of 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 excludes audit procedures, such as tests of controls and verification of assets, liabilities and transactions. It 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 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 six months ended 30 September 2002. Chantrey Vellacott DFK Chartered Accountants 27 December 2002 Notes to the interim report 1. The interim report has been prepared using the same accounting policies as were used for the annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2002. The interim financial statements do not constitute statutory accounts and they are unaudited. They have, however, been reviewed by the auditors, whose report is included. Full year figures for the year ended 31 March 2002 have been extracted from the annual report and financial statements for that year which received an unqualified audit opinion and have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. 2. The interim financial information has been prepared on a going concern basis. The Group has been meeting its day to day working capital requirements through an overdraft facility which was due for renewal on 31 May 2002. The facility previously in place was not formally renewed, but the directors have agreed with their bankers that this is an appropriate time to restructure the core overdraft facilities into longer-term debt and a reduced overdraft or comparable trading facility. This action is considered necessary by the directors in order to improve the financial and commercial stability of the company. It coincides with the fact that a further 12,000 sq ft of freehold warehousing space has been released for letting by continuing rationalisation of the warehousing and manufacturing processes. It is anticipated that the rental income from a long-term lease of this excess space would more than cover the projected interest costs of a commercial mortgage which would be used to make a significant contribution towards repaying the existing overdraft. The directors are confident that adequate re-financing arrangements will be successfully negotiated with their bankers and on this basis they consider it appropriate to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis. 3. Loss per share for the six months ended 30 September 2002 has been calculated on 54,275,876 shares being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. The loss per share for the year ended 31 March 2002 was calculated on 52,158,719 being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period, and for the six months ended 30 September 2001 it was calculated on 51,691,387. Fully diluted earnings per share is calculated by including dilutive share options. Since the remaining share option has an exercise price that is considerably higher than the market prices during the period, the fully diluted loss per share is the same as that calculated on an undiluted basis. 4. No taxation charge has been included in view of the loss sustained and the significant accumulated losses available from previous periods. 5. The interim report is being sent to shareholders. Further copies can be obtained from the Company's registered office, Unit 1, Water Lane Industrial Estate, Storrington, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 3DP. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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Creightons (CRL)
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