Interim Results

Creightons PLC 15 December 2003 CREIGHTONS plc ('the Group' or 'the Company') Interim results for the six months ended 30 September 2003 Chairman's statement I am pleased to be able to report to you that the Group has recorded significantly increased operating profits for the half-year to 30 September 2003 of £284,000 (2002: £5,000). As a consequence, after interest costs of £101,000 (2002: £34,000), the Group can report an overall profit before tax of £183,000 (2002: loss of £29,000). This is the first time the Group has been able to report either a pre-tax or post-tax profit in more than seven years, and reflects the continuing improvements being made by the Group since the present board was put into place some three years ago. Both of the Group's operating companies (Creightons plc and Potter & Moore Innovations Limited) contributed to this profit. Due to the highly seasonal nature of the business and fulfilment of significant Christmas orders during the first half, sales in the second half are unlikely to be as high as in the first half. The economic climate has continued to be challenging, however the new opportunities that the acquisition of the Potter & Moore business has opened up for us demonstrate the strength of this operation, and this business has contributed significantly to the Group's sales and overall profitability. Now that the acquisition of Potter & Moore has been completed, the board is seeking to maximise the new opportunities for synergies referred to in my statements in July and September. I am also pleased to be able to report that we have managed to maintain and at times improve upon the high standards of customer service and product quality we set as a goal following the acquisition. William McIlroy Executive Chairman 15 December 2003 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account For the six months ended 30 September 2003 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2003 2002 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 5,902 1,983 3,846 Cost of sales (3,673) (1,252) (2,203) ------- ------- ------- Gross profit 2,229 731 1,643 Operating expenses (1,946) (747) (1,686) Other operating income 1 21 20 ------- ------- ------- Operating profit/(loss) 284 5 (23) Net interest payable (101) (34) (59) ------- ------- ------- Profit/(Loss) on ordinary activities and loss sustained for the period 183 (29) (82) ======= ======= ======= Profit/(Loss) per share 0.34p (0.053)p (0.15)p Fully diluted profit/(loss) 0.32p (0.053)p (0.14)p per share Consolidated Balance Sheet As at 30 September 2003 As at As at As at 30 September 30 September 31 March 2003 2002 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Tangible assets 1,771 1,779 1,813 Goodwill & Intangibles 358 - 358 ------- ------- ------ 2,129 1,779 2,171 ------- ------- ------ Current assets Stocks 1,856 513 647 Debtors 2,317 738 1,167 Cash 1 - 9 ------- ------- ------ Creditors 4,174 1,251 1,823 Amounts falling due within one (4,650) (1,566) (2,585) year ------- ------- ------ Net current liabilities (476) (315) (762) ------- ------- ------ Total assets less current 1,653 1,464 1,409 liabilities Creditors Amounts falling due after more (61) (2) 0 than one year ------- ------- ------ Net assets 1,592 1,462 1,409 ======= ======= ====== Capital and reserves Called up share capital 543 543 543 Share premium account 1,229 1,229 1,229 Other reserves 38 38 38 Profit and loss account (218) (348) (401) ------- ------- ------ 1,592 1,462 1,409 ======= ======= ====== Consolidated Cash Flow Statement For the six months ended 30 September 2003 6 months to 6 months to Year ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2003 2003 2002 2002 2003 2003 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Cash flow from (1,273) 29 (207) operating activities Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest paid (101) (34) (59) Capital expenditure Purchase of tangible (67) (9) (150) fixed assets Purchase of Goodwill (19) - (360) Sale of tangible fixed 5 15 14 assets ---- ---- ---- (81) 6 (496) ----- ----- ---- Cash outflow before (1,455) 1 (762) financing Financing Shareholder Loan 317 - - Director Loan (150) - 742 New HP 100 - - Capital element of hire (3) (6) (16) purchase payments ---- ---- ---- 264 (6) 726 ----- ----- Increase/(decrease) in (1,191) (5) (36) cash ===== ===== ==== CREIGHTONS plc Independent Review Report to Creightons plc Introduction We have been instructed by the company to review the financial information set out in the attached consolidated Profit and Loss Account, consolidated Balance Sheet, consolidated Cash Flow Statement, and the related notes. 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. This report, including the conclusion, has been prepared for and only for the company for the purpose of the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority and for no other purpose. We do not, in producing this report, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing. 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 2003. Chantrey Vellacott DFK Chartered Accountants 15 December 2003 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 2003. 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 2003 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 30 May 2003. The facility previously in place was not formally renewed, and 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 Group. The directors are currently in the final stages of completing re-financing arrangements involving replacement of the overdraft facility with debtor-book financing and taking out a commercial mortgage on the parent Company's freehold property at Storrington, and on this basis they consider it appropriate to prepare the accounts on a going concern basis. 3. Profit/(loss) per share for the six months ended 30 September 2003 and 2002, and for the year ended 31 March 2003 have all been calculated on 54,275,876 shares being the weighted average number of shares in issue during the period. The calculation of the diluted profit/(loss) per share is based on the basic profit/(loss) per share, adjusted for the issue of shares on the assumed exercise of all dilutive options. 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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