Final Results

Carphone Warehouse Group PLC 6 June 2002 STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 0700 HOURS THURSDAY 6 JUNE 2002 The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC Full Year Results to 30 March 2002 PERFORMANCE IN LINE WITH EXPECTATIONS STRONG CURRENT TRADING • Strong operating performance • Headline profit after tax* to £36.5m (£36.3m last year) • EBITDA pre exceptionals growth of over 10% to £72.8m (£66.0m last year) • Telecoms services recurring revenues tripled to £89.3m • Continental European contribution increased by over 40% • Improving quality on earnings • Recurring revenues generated 45% of Group contribution (34% last year) • Telecoms services base up to 1,019,000 (214,000 last year) • Insurance base up to 939,000 (795,000 last year) • Sharp increase in Group market share • UK market share over 20% (12% last year) • Strong shift in subscription connections up 13% to 1.8m • Total connections of 3.6m (last year 3.6m** ) despite substantial fall in handset market in Western Europe • Exceptional charges as previously announced • Post balance sheet event: £36.6m sale and lease back of London offices; exceptional profit of £16.5m • £36.4m restructuring charges and £18.7m wireless investment write down • Net cash impact of the above is inflow of over £10m Current Trading Nine-week period to 1 June 2002 • Connections (including Sim Free) up 10% to 564,000 (513,000 last year). Like for like retail revenue and gross margin of + 0.5% and + 3% respectively Four weeks of May 2002 (From 1 May 2002 year on year comparable trading environment existed) • Connections (including Sim Free) up 25% to 260,000 (208,000 last year). Like for like retail revenue and gross margin of +12% and +16% respectively * Before exceptionals and amortisation ** Ex-Tandy Hans Roger Snook, Chairman said: 'In a market place that showed such a sharp drop in handset sales, The Carphone Warehouse's performance demonstrated its quality as a retailer and the growing impact of its telecoms services strategy. Increasingly, The Carphone Warehouse is serving its customers throughout their mobile lifetimes - after the point of sale as well as at the point of sale. This is building the average lifetime value of our growing customer base. 'As a natural and impartial interface, The Carphone Warehouse is ideally placed to introduce customers to the growing diversity of wirefree devices and applications that will come with 2.5G and 3G services. This positions the Group extremely well in the changing mobile market. The actions we put in place last year are also strengthening the Group's retail business and its pan-European support functions, as well as addressing the two weakest performing countries in our retail operation. All this gives us confidence for the Group's performance this year and beyond.' Charles Dunstone, Chief Executive Officer said: 'In a challenging year, we have outperformed a European handset market that is down by up to 40%. Our market share has increased substantially. We have also delivered the strategy we outlined 12 months ago, with strong growth in subscription sales, and the generation of significant recurring revenue streams beyond the point of sale. We acted quickly to realign our business following the operators' reduced appetite for pre-pay customers, and are restructuring our operational functions accordingly. 'Looking ahead I believe we are perfectly positioned to benefit from both the continued development of our core advice led proposition as well as the launch of new technologies and mobile content services. It is now over a year since the market's shift in focus, consequently comparisons are once again relevant. Our current trading figures leave us feeling increasingly optimistic for the current year ahead. We are delivering increased sales without the benefit of picture messaging and the first 3G services which are still to come. All this forms a stable platform from which we can deliver growth during the next 12 months and beyond.' SUMMARY OF RESULTS 52 Weeks 53 Weeks 30 March 31 March 2002 2001 £m £m Turnover 1,152.7 1,110.7 EBITDA* 72.8 66.0 Headline* - Profit Before Tax 46.8 49.6 - Profit After Tax 36.5 36.3 - Earnings per Share 4.41p 5.00p Amortisation of goodwill (14.7) (8.8) Exceptional items (55.1) 6.6 Post exceptionals and amortisation - Profit Before Tax (23.0) 47.4 - Profit After Tax (29.2) 35.4 - Earnings per Share (3.39)p 4.57p * Before exceptionals and amortisation The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC ('The Carphone Warehouse') today announces its full year results for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2002. Group turnover and headline post tax earnings increased to £1,152.7m and £36.5m respectively. Headline basic earnings per share for the year was 4.41p against 5.00p in the previous year. Exceptional items announced in March 2002 gave rise to a charge in the year of £55.1m. An exceptional profit of £16.5m has been recognised after the year-end following the sale and lease back for £36.6m of the Group's London offices in London in May 2002. The total net cash impact of this and the above exceptional items is a net cash inflow of over £10m. Distribution The revenue streams for distribution are divided into retail, online, insurance and wholesale. The distribution business generated total revenues of £1,061.6m against £1,079.1m last year and contribution of £95.4m (2001 £101.2m). Excluding wholesale activities, which generated £8.6m less profit year on year, the distribution contribution improved from £86.7m to £89.5m. This has been achieved against a Western European market estimated to be down by up to 40% against the prior year. The core retail and online businesses generated 3.6m connections in the twelve-month period to 30 March 2002, compared to 3.6m last year (ex-Tandy). This reflected a significant increase in market share across Europe. In the UK, we have grown our market share from 12% in March 2001 to over 20% by the end of March 2002. This is an impressive performance. We aim to build on this success and increase our European market share further. The Group connected 1.8m high value subscription customers, compared to 1.6m last year, an increase of over 13.5%. Retail like for like sales for the year were -8%; but like for like gross margin was stronger at -1%. Our UK market produced like for like revenue and gross margin of -3% and +5% respectively. A significant focus has also been made in the year on the reorganisation of our continental European retail operations. We have identified the need to restructure and centralise certain functions with the aim of rolling out best practice, reducing duplication and driving cost efficiencies. As a result the experience that we have gained from our more mature markets, and especially the UK, is now being more rapidly adopted within our mainland European operations. This is already showing encouraging signs in terms of our in-store proposition and after sales offerings to customers including the rapid rollout of repairs services, which are increasingly important in a highly penetrated mobile market. We have also embarked on the withdrawal from non-key markets and the closure of a significant number of under performing stores. As a result of this our mainland European retail operations are in much better stead, generating contribution of £32.2m, up more than 40% against the previous year. Continued improvement is foreseen across these operations in the next twelve months. At the year-end, our store portfolio was 1,104 following the opening of around 150 new stores during the year. It is the Group's intention to open a further 100 stores in the forthcoming year. In the UK we now have 461 stores, opening 69 new stores during the year, and considerably increasing our retailing presence and our market share of new connections and upgrades. In France, our store portfolio is 151 compared to 140 last year and we have also increased the number of express repair centres available. Our business in France continues to benefit from the good relationship that it enjoys with the French network operators, which has also been reinforced by the telecoms services operation acquired during the year. Our Spanish business is evidence of our ability to manage a turnaround in difficult market conditions. With a change of management, the strength of relationship with our key network partners and a reengineering of a number of business processes, we have transformed this country's performance. Our businesses in Portugal and Ireland also performed well in a rapidly changing market place, reflecting the strength of the management in place. Our operations in Sweden and The Netherlands experienced a difficult year of trading, particularly in the earlier part of the year, but following intensive management focus both are showing signs of good recovery to the levels of profitability we would expect from these fundamentally good operations. Germany and Belgium have however proved to be very challenging and losses increased to £14.5m from £7.0m for the previous year in these markets. Following a change of management and specific store closures, we are confident that we have taken steps to significantly reduce the rate of these losses, although further action and time is required before we can enjoy a full turnaround. We reiterate losses will not be permitted on an ongoing basis beyond this current financial year. As announced prior to the year-end we have re-negotiated the terms of trade with two network operators which in turn has resulted in an additional share of customer spend. The impact of this in 2002/3 will be in the order of £3m-£4m however this will be more than compensated for in the following years. The online business continues to perform well and connected over 196,000 customers. This division contributed revenue of £36.7m (2001 £32.6m) to the Group's turnover. Our insurance products are now available in eleven of our twelve markets and this business generated £60.4m revenue and the customer base increased by 18% to over 939,000. Our growth rate in mainland Europe was over 40%. Our wholesale division's performance reflects the decline in the handset market. Whilst revenue remained reasonably constant at £343.0m, compared to £348.0m last year, low margin voucher wholesaling activities significantly contributed to this and as such the net contribution for this division fell significantly from £14.5m last year to £5.9m. Telecoms services The telecoms services division generated revenue of £89.3m (2001 £30.5m) and contribution of £35.9m (2001 £18.1m) representing growth of 193% and 98% respectively. This division now plays an increasingly important role in the Group's strategy. As set out last year we have continued to invest in our strategy of generating revenue beyond the point of sale and the telecoms services business now manages over one million customers across five different networks in both the UK and France. The telecoms services business encompasses our facilities management operations on behalf of network operators, with 864,000 customers, as well as management of 155,000 of our own customers in both the UK and France. During the year we acquired and integrated CMC, the French telecoms services business; established a 250 strong call centre in Le Mans, France on behalf of SFR; secured facilities management contracts with Vodafone in the UK as well as O2 and are looking at similar arrangements with additional European networks. Altogether this is a significant change in activity from where we were only twelve months ago. Data services The data services division generated revenues of £1.8m against £1.1m in 2001, with losses of £2.4m against £5.3m in 2001. Following the re-organisation the business has been profitable. We currently have 683,000 registered MViva customers and continue our close partnership with AOL. Balance Sheet and Cash Generation The Group has a strong balance sheet, and has net funds including short-term investments of £53.0m. The Group generated operating cash of £29.4m, and invested £42.8m on acquisitions and £41.4m on capital expenditure for new stores and operational infrastructure. Net assets at the end of the year were £408.0m and the Group enjoys a liquidity ratio of 1.4 reflecting the strength of the Group's financial position. Post Balance Sheet Event After the year end the Group exchanged contracts on the sale and lease back of the its London offices for a cash consideration of £36.6m. This generated an exceptional profit of £16.5m. Exceptional Items As announced in March, an exceptional charge of £31.2m has been made in the year in relation to the reorganisation of our operations across Europe; a further charge of £18.7m has been made to reflect the diminution in the value of the Group's investment in Wireless Frontiers, an independently managed investment fund; and exceptional costs of £5.2m have been recognised in relation to the fundamental reorganisation of the Group's data services division. Earnings per Share and Dividend Policy Headline basic EPS for the year ending 30 March 2002 was 4.41p against 5.00p last year. As in previous years the Board has decided to retain its shareholders funds for continued investment in the development of the Group and the future enhancement of shareholder value. The Board is therefore not proposing a dividend for the year. Current Trading Trading for the nine-week period to 1 June 2002 reflects connections (including Sim Free) increased by 10% to 564,000. Group like for like sales and gross margin are +0.5% and +3% respectively. For the period from 1 May 2002, when a year on year comparable trading environment existed, actual connections increased by 25% to 260,000 and like for like sales and gross margin are +12% and +16% respectively. Our insurance base has risen to 960,000 and Telecoms services base to 1,055,000. ENDS For further information The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC 07771 868 601 Charles Dunstone 07947 000 021 Roger Taylor Tristia Clarke For analyst and institutional inquiries 07801 580 090 Roger Taylor Hugh Roberts Citigate Dewe Rogerson 07973 611 888 Anthony Carlisle 020 7638 9571 www.carphonewarehouse.com FINANCIAL REVIEW Consolidated profit and loss account for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2002 Before exceptional Exceptional items After exceptional Restated items and and amortisation items and amortisation amortisation 52 weeks ended 52 weeks ended 52 weeks ended 53 weeks ended 30 March 2002 30 March 2002 30 March 2002 31 March 2001 £000 £000 £000 £000 Turnover Existing operations 1,106,353 1,106,353 991,690 Acquisitions 46,364 46,364 118,988 1,152,717 1,152,717 1,110,678 Cost of sales (834,413) (834,413) (830,126) Gross profit 318,304 318,304 280,552 Operating expenses (excluding (245,500) (24,863) (270,363) (214,536) amortisation and depreciation) EBITDA 72,804 47,941 66,016 Depreciation (26,335) (26,335) (18,788) Amortisation of goodwill (14,736) (14,736) (8,771) Operating profit 46,469 6,870 38,457 Existing operations 40,886 3,340 37,700 Acquisitions 5,583 3,530 757 Amounts written off fixed asset (18,681) (18,681) - investments Profit on disposal of subsidiary - 16,514 undertakings Loss on disposal of fixed assets (6,336) (6,336) (5,429) Cost of fundamental reorganisation (5,210) (5,210) (4,530) Profit (loss) before interest and 46,469 (23,357) 45,012 taxation Net interest receivable 342 342 2,385 Profit (loss) on ordinary activities 46,811 (23,015) 47,397 before taxation Tax on profit (loss) on ordinary (10,307) 4,145 (6,162) (11,998) activities Profit (loss) on ordinary activities 36,504 (29,177) 35,399 after taxation Equity minority interests 262 653 915 (563) Profit (loss) for the financial period 36,766 (28,262) 34,836 Earnings (loss) per share Basic 4.41p (3.39)p 4.57p Diluted 4.39p (3.39)p 4.43p Headline earnings per share Basic 4.41p 5.00p Diluted 4.39p 4.86p Consolidated statement of total recognised gains and losses for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2002 Restated 52 weeks ended 53 weeks ended 30 March 2002 31 March 2001 £000 £000 (Loss) profit for the financial period (28,262) 34,836 Loss on foreign currency translation (302) (383) Total recognised gains and losses relating to the period (28,564) 34,453 Prior period adjustments (3,941) - Total gains and losses recognised since last financial statements (32,505) 34,453 Consolidated balance sheet at 30 March 2002 Restated 30 March 2002 31 March 2001 £000 £000 Fixed assets Intangible assets Goodwill 274,798 231,471 Tangible assets 111,654 120,278 Investments 30,130 44,426 Total fixed assets 416,582 396,175 Current assets Stock 50,088 52,437 Debtors due within one year 139,238 149,200 Short-term investments 67,637 46,374 Cash at bank and in hand 20,684 67,517 Total current assets 277,647 315,528 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (199,669) (225,348) Net current assets 77,978 90,180 Total assets less current liabilities 494,560 486,355 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (39,050) (15,434) Provisions for liabilities and charges (47,483) (36,417) Net assets 408,027 434,504 Capital and reserves Called-up share capital 835 833 Share premium 359,305 356,235 Capital redemption reserve 30 30 Profit and loss account 47,085 75,719 Equity shareholders' funds 407,255 432,817 Minority interests 772 1,687 Total capital employed 408,027 434,504 Consolidated cash flow statement for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2002 52 weeks ended 53 weeks ended 30 March 2002 31 March 2001 £000 £000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 29,352 43,663 Net cash inflow from returns on investments and servicing of 342 2,385 finance Net cash outflow from taxation (9,398) (6,991) Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial (48,742) (141,687) investment Net cash outflow from acquisitions and disposals (42,846) (18,818) Net cash outflow before management of liquid resources (71,292) (121,448) and financing Net cash inflow from management of liquid resources - 196 Net cash inflow from financing 34,669 168,608 (Decrease) increase in cash in the period (36,623) 47,356 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities 52 weeks ended 53 weeks ended 30 March 2002 31 March 2001 £000 £000 Operating profit excluding exceptional items 31,733 38,457 Operating exceptional items (24,863) - Operating profit 6,870 38,457 Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 26,335 18,788 Amortisation of goodwill 14,736 8,771 EBITDA 47,941 66,016 (Profit) loss on disposal of fixed assets (646) 31 Increase (decrease) in provisions 9,533 (11,256) Decrease in stock 2,700 5,187 Decrease (increase) in debtors 26,422 (54,248) (Decrease) increase in creditors (56,598) 37,933 Net cash inflow from operating activities 29,352 43,663 Notes to the financial statements For the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2002 Accounting policies The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable accounting standards under the historical cost convention. The principal accounting policies have been applied consistently throughout the period and the preceding period with the exception of the change in accounting policy resulting from the adoption of Financial Reporting Standard 19 'Deferred Tax'. Segmental analysis Divisional results are analysed as follows: 2002 2001 Turnover Profit (loss) Net assets Turnover Profit before Restated Net before tax tax assets £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 £000 Distribution 1,061,646 95,460 351,223 1,079,143 101,160 360,029 Telecoms services 89,321 35,872 28,875 30,481 18,125 21,802 Data services 1,750 (2,398) 27,929 1,054 (5,265) 52,673 Common costs - (56,130) - - (48,004) - 1,152,717 72,804 408,027 1,110,678 66,016 434,504 Depreciation (26,335) (18,788) 46,469 47,228 Exceptional items (55,090) 6,555 Amortisation (14,736) (8,771) Net interest receivable 342 2,385 (Loss) profit before tax (23,015) 47,397 Results by geographical location are analysed by origin as follows: 2002 2001 Turnover Profit (loss) Net assets Turnover Profit before Restated Net before tax tax assets £000 £000 £'000 £000 £000 £000 United Kingdom 777,872 96,700 329,639 749,160 91,118 387,279 Rest of Europe 374,845 32,234 78,388 361,518 22,902 47,225 Common costs - (56,130) - - (48,004) - 1,152,717 72,804 408,027 1,110,678 66,016 434,504 Depreciation (26,335) (18,788) 46,469 47,228 Exceptional items (55,090) 6,555 Amortisation (14,736) (8,771) Net interest receivable 342 2,385 (Loss) profit before tax (23,015) 47,397 There is no material difference between turnover by destination and turnover by origin. Acquisitions during the period generated the following turnover and profit before tax by segment. Turnover Profit Net assets before tax £000 £000 £000 Distribution 2,799 (51) (109) Telecoms services 43,565 8,096 12,604 Common costs - (3,891) - 46,364 4,154 12,495 Rest of Europe 46,364 8,045 12,495 Common costs - (3,891) - 46,364 4,154 12,495 Tax on profit on ordinary activities The tax charge for the period comprises: Restated 2002 2001 £000 £000 Current tax UK corporation tax 6,930 7,662 Overseas tax 2,778 473 9,708 8,135 Adjustments in respect of prior periods UK corporation tax (2,538) (1,888) Total current tax 7,170 6,247 Deferred tax Origination and reversal of timing differences (1,008) 5,751 Total deferred tax (1,008) 5,751 Total tax on profit on ordinary activities 6,162 11,998 Earnings per share The calculations of earnings per share are based on the following profits or losses and numbers of shares: Basic and diluted Restated 2002 2001 £000 £000 (Loss) profit for the financial period (28,262) 34,836 Amortisation of goodwill 14,736 8,771 Operating exceptional items (net of tax and minority 21,573 - interests) Non-operating exceptional items (net of tax and minority 28,719 (5,429) interests) Earnings before amortisation of goodwill and exceptional 36,766 38,178 items 2002 2001 Number of shares Number of shares 000's 000's Weighted average number of shares: For basic earnings per share 833,382 763,002 Dilutive effect of share options 3,759 23,122 For diluted earnings per share* 837,141 786,124 Basic pence per share Diluted pence per share Restated Restated 2002 2001 2002 2001 (Loss) earnings per share (3.39) 4.57 (3.39) 4.43 Headline earnings per share 4.41 5.00 4.39 4.86 *In accordance with FRS 14 'Earnings per Share', the dilutive effect of share options has not been applied where doing so would decrease the loss per share. Headline earnings per share calculations are provided since the Directors consider that earnings before amortisation of goodwill and exceptional items gives a better indication of underlying performance than standard earnings per share. Exceptional items 2002 2001 £'000 £'000 Costs of operational reorganisation Store closures (a) (11,956) - Business closures and reorganisation (a) (12,907) - Exceptional operating items (24,863) - Loss on disposal of fixed assets (b) (6,336) (5,429) Amounts written off fixed asset investments (c) (18,681) - Cost of fundamental reorganisation (d) (5,210) (4,530) Profit on disposal of subsidiary undertakings (e) - 16,514 (55,090) 6,555 a) Costs of operational organisation As anticipated in the financial statements for the period ended 31 March 2001, the Group has incurred costs in reorganising its operations across Europe. This reorganisation comprises: • the withdrawal from certain non-key territories; • the closure of a significant number of under-performing retail outlets; • the reorganisation of back office operations across the Group including the establishment of shared service centres in the UK and Portugal. b) Loss on disposal of fixed assets Fixed assets with a net book value of £6.3m have been written down in the period principally as a result of the withdrawal from non-key territories and the store closures noted in (a). A provision of £2.9m was made in the period ended 31 March 2001 in anticipation of the withdrawal from non-key territories; this provision has been utilised to offset the charge in the current period. c. Amounts written off fixed asset investments A provision of £18.7m has been made against the Group's holding in Wireless Frontiers, an independently managed internet fund, to reflect the diminution in the value of the fund at 30 March 2002. d. Cost of fundamental reorganisation A charge of £5.2m, reflecting the write-down of fixed assets and other restructuring costs, has been made during the period principally in respect of the fundamental reorganisation of the Group's Data services division, involving a significant downscaling of wireless internet portal activities. Costs arising in the period ended 31 March 2001 relate to the integration of the support function and retail operations of Tandy into those of other UK operations. e. Profit on disposal of subsidiary undertakings During the period ended 31 March 2001, the Group entered into a strategic partnership agreement with AOL Europe SA to provide funding, functionality and services to the Group's subsidiary, MViva Limited, whereby AOL Europe paid $25m for a 15% interest, giving rise to a profit of £16.5m. Effect of exceptional items on taxation and minority interests The effect of exceptional items on the amounts charged to the profit and loss account for taxation and minority interests was: Tax on profit on ordinary Minority interests activities 2002 £'000 2001 £'000 2002 £'000 2001 £'000 Costs of operational reorganisation (3,290) - - - Cost of fundamental reorganisation (855) (1,350) (653) - Profit on disposal of subsidiary undertakings - - - 2,475 (Decrease) increase in charge to profit and loss account (4,145) (1,350) (653) 2,475 Reserves Profit and loss Share Premium Capital redemption Total account account reserve £000 £000 £000 £000 Group At 31 March 2001 as previously stated 79,660 356,235 30 435,925 Prior period adjustment (3,941) - - (3,941) At 31 March 2001 as restated 75,719 356,235 30 431,984 Loss for the financial period (28,262) - - (28,262) Currency translation (302) - - (302) Issue of share capital (70) 3,070 - 3,000 At 30 March 2002 47,085 359,305 30 406,420 Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds Restated 2002 2001 £000 £000 (Loss) profit for the financial period (28,262) 34,836 Currency translation (302) (383) Issue of share capital 3,002 356,468 Other movements - (1,676) Net movements in shareholders' funds (25,562) 389,245 Opening shareholders' funds 432,817 43,572 Closing shareholders' funds 407,255 432,817 Preliminary Financial Information This financial information is prepared on the basis of accounting policies set out in the Group's statutory accounts for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2002. The Directors of The Carphone Warehouse Group PLC are responsible, in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority and applicable United Kingdom accounting standards, for preparing and issuing this preliminary announcement, which was approved on 5 June 2002. The financial information is extracted from the Group's full financial statements for the period ended 30 March 2002 which were approved by the Directors on 5 June 2002 and which received an unqualified audit report. This financial information is abridged and does not constitute statutory accounts for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2002 and 53 weeks ended 31 March 2001. Full financial statements for the 52 weeks ended 30 March 2002 will be filed with the Registrar of Companies in due course. The 2001 Annual Report and Financial Statements on which the auditors gave an unqualified report have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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