Trading Statement

Fuller,Smith&Turner PLC 20 July 2000 Extract from the Chairman's statement made at the Annual General Meeting held today, 20 July 2000. 'Since the beginning of our financial year in April, we have purchased a former office building at 130-135 Minories, EC3, in the City of London. Fuller's will be investing £9.8 million in this property to create an exciting 64-bedroom hotel with a large branded Ale and Pie pub situated on the ground floor. The hotel and pub are scheduled to open in September 2001. This forms part of a £20 million investment over the next two years in the proven formula of the English Inns hotel brand. All the investments will be freehold and the funding will be provided by the £8.05 million cash raised from the sale of the Fuller's wine shops and stock, the sale of various wine shop freeholds for a total of £5.2 million and the sale of the Master Robert Hotel for £6.7 million. This is part of the Company's strategy to invest further into its existing and successful hotel estate. It will take place in parallel with the existing investment programme in the traditional pubs and bars along with the ongoing investment in the Beer Company. This acquisition forms part of the company's strategy to focus our management and cash resources on those areas of the business that offer a promising future. Our English Inns hotels target a niche market catering to an affluent client base offering good value, atmosphere and comfort with an extensive food and beverage operation. We have recently opened our fifth Broadwalk bar in Swindon in May and we are due to open the sixth in Sevenoaks this Autumn. We have also opened two traditional managed houses in Barnet and Chesham and acquired a tenanted pub near Oxford and another in Chippenham. The poor weather since April has been a mixed blessing for the group. In Fuller's Beer Company, own beer volumes are up 5% and total beer volumes up 4%. For Fullers Inns the effect has been that like for like takings are level, but cost pressures remain. In summary, we anticipate that the out-turn for the full year will be in line with our expectations.' For further information please contact: A G F Fuller CBE Chairman Michael Turner Managing Director Paul Clarke Finance Director 020 8996 2000
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