Final Results

John Lewis Of Hungerford PLC 11 December 2000 JOHN LEWIS OF HUNGERFORD PLC Preliminary Results for the year ended 31 August 2000 COMPANY PROFILE John Lewis of Hungerford plc ('The Company') designs, manufactures, and retails kitchens, home office and free standing furniture direct to the public from its own showrooms and Company managed concessions throughout the United Kingdom. The Company also operates a United Kingdom mail order business for replacement kitchen cabinet doors and supplies selected non-branded products to the Netherlands through a distributorship. Manufacturing and administration is carried out from a purpose built factory at Wantage, Oxfordshire constructed in 1998. The Company has recently made a major investment in advanced automated manufacturing equipment. Founded in 1972, the Company has achieved significant United Kingdom brand recognition through long-term sustained advertising in quality magazines. The Company's principal product line is the 'Artisan'(R) range of kitchens and furniture. The Company recently expanded its line of branded products to include a more contemporary 'Shaker' style kitchen range, launched a direct mail business for replacement kitchen cabinet doors ('Just Doors'(R)) and has made a number of other important product enhancements. The Company's growth strategy is focused on improving the visibility and availability of its products in the United Kingdom by increasing the number of Company owned retail showrooms and selected concession sites, and by developing its mail order business. For more information about the Company and its products visit our web sites: @www.john-lewis.co.uk @www.the-home-office.co.uk @www.justdoors.co.uk HIGH LIGHTS 1. Profitability restored. Profits before taxation £151,780 (1999 - £102,840 loss) 2. Strong positive cash generation. Net cash inflows before financing £325,325 (1999 - £106,251 outflows) 3. Dividend restored. Final dividend of 0.034p per share (1999 - nil) 4. New products introduced. 'Shaker' style kitchen range offered in 'Fired Earth' paint colours. 5. New division launched. 'Just Doors'(R) replacement kitchen cabinet doors by mail order. 6. European sales. Restructuring completed. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT Results Sales for the year ended 31 August 2000 increased 11% to £2,913,870 compared to £2,633,152 for the previous year. Profits before tax for the same period were £151,780 compared to a loss of £102,840 for the previous year. Gross margins were 57.4% compared to 55.3% for the previous year. Unit volumes of kitchens sold decreased 3% whilst furniture and home office products increased 17%. The profit on ordinary activities after taxation amounted to £152,043 compared to a loss after taxation of £53,349. Net cash inflows before financing were £325,325 compared to an outflow of £ 106,251 in the previous year. Basic earnings per share were 0.10p compared to a loss per share in the previous period of 0.04p. In view of the strong trading results a dividend of 0.034p per share is being proposed by the Board (1999 - nil). Subject to shareholders approval the dividend will be payable to holders of ordinary shares in the register at 3 January 2001 and will be paid on 31 January 2001. The Company will be distributing profit- related pay in respect of the year's results to eligible staff amounting to £17,486. Trading Review The Company has had a very successful year. During the year the Company launched two important new product lines. A 'Shaker' style range of kitchen cabinets which offer a more contemporary look but with the same quality and affordability as the existing 'Artisan'(R) range. The line, which is offered in a range of 'Fired Earth' paint colours, has broadened the Company's customer base appealing, in particular, to younger consumers. A new direct mail business under the name 'Just Doors' (R). Just Doors offers quality replacement kitchen cabinet doors through mail order into an expanding niche market. Consumer response to both these new lines has been very encouraging. The Company has recently made a substantial investment in new automated manufacturing equipment. This investment will reduce manufacturing costs and increase production capacity. It will also enable the Company to respond more rapidly to increases in demand and to offer customers shorter delivery times. During the year the Company was successful in registering a number of new trademarks, which it is believed, will prove valuable to planned marketing initiatives. United Kingdom No new outlets were opened in the year under review although one new concession in Winchester, Hampshire was opened shortly after the end of the financial year. The Company currently has two showrooms and six managed concessions. Following the success of the showroom in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, which was opened last year, the Company is looking to expand the number of showroom sites. In this respect a new showroom is expected to open shortly in Harrogate and a number of other potential showroom sites are under negotiation. Following the re-focussing of the Liberty Department store in London, the Company will be relocating its central London concession site to Jerry's Home Store in the Fulham Road. Whilst the Company continues to look selectively at new concession sites, the focus for future outlets will be on Company owned showrooms. Europe As previously reported, the high value of sterling relative to the Euro and increased local competition meant that the direct operation of concession sites by the Company in the Netherlands and Belgium was no longer viable. The Company completed the closure of its three European concession sites in October 2000. Costs associated with the closure were fully provided for in the previous year. The Company has now entered into a distributor agreement with its previous concession partner under which the Company will supply 'own label' kitchens and furniture ex works into the Netherlands. These products (which will not carry the John Lewis of Hungerford name or any of the Company's trademarks) will be offered through the same concession outlets that were operated by the Company. This will enable the Company to benefit from the goodwill established in the Netherlands market with its concession partner without the costs of managing the business. The former staff member of the Company located in the Netherlands has been recruited by the new business. Financial Review The Company continues to have a very cash generative business model. During the year Net Cash Inflows amounted to £325,325 and all bank borrowings were repaid. The Company's Balance Sheet is now materially debt free (other than trade related). In these circumstances the Directors are proposing to reinstate the payment of a dividend at a level, which is covered three times by earnings. Shortly after the year end the Company committed to a significant investment in new automated manufacturing equipment. The total cost of this investment is approximately £120,000. Outlook Trading in the UK during the first quarter of the financial year to August 31st 2001 has been encouraging and in line with expectations. In particular the demand for Just Doors(R) products has been growing consistently and we continue to build resources to support this growth. Your Board is confident that the improvement in results seen this year will be maintained. John Lewis Chairman December 11, 2000 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT For the year ended 31 August 2000 2000 1999 Notes £ £ Turnover 2 2,913,870 2,633,152 Cost of sales (1,241,910) (1,175,898) _________ _________ Gross Profit 1,671,960 1,457,254 Distribution costs (529,353) (528,583) Administrative expenses - 983,482 970,682 normal Administrative expenses - 3 3,364 42,390 exceptional item ________ _________ Total administrative expenses (986,846) (1,013,072) _________ _________ Operating profit/(loss) 4 155,761 (84,401) Other income 7 3,071 3,512 Interest payable and similar 8 (7,052) (21,951) charges _________ _________ Profit/(loss) on ordinary 151,780 (102,840) activities before taxation Tax on profit/(loss) on 9 263 49,491 ordinary activities _________ _________ Profit/(loss) on ordinary 152,043 (53,349) activities after taxation Dividends 10 (50,000) - _________ _________ Retained profit/(net deficit) 102,043 (53,349) for the financial year ======== ======== Earnings per share 11 Basic 0.10p (0.04)p Fully diluted 0.10p (0.04)p STATEMENT OF RESERVES Retained profit brought 421,751 475,100 forward Retained profit/(net deficit) 102,043 (53,349) for the financial year _________ _________ Retained profit carried 523,794 421,751 forward ======= ======== BALANCE SHEET As at 31 August 2000 2000 1999 Notes £ £ £ £ Fixed Assets Intangible assets 12 25,780 17,002 Tangible assets 13 1,713,397 1,745,493 ________ _________ 1,739,177 1,762,495 Current assets Stocks 14 195,876 152,101 Debtors 15 67,766 172,692 Cash at bank and in hand 153,840 76,303 ________ _________ 417,482 401,096 Creditors: amounts falling due 16 (657,928) (766,903) within one year ________ __________ Net current liabilities (240,446) (365,807) _________ _________ Total assets less current 1,498,731 1,396,688 liabilities ======== ======== Capital and reserves Called up share capital 19 148,745 148,745 Share premium account 824,771 824,771 Other reserves 1,421 1,421 Profit and loss account 523,794 421,751 _________ _________ Shareholders' funds - all 20 1,498,731 1,396,688 equity interests ======== ======== Cash Flow Statement For The Year Ended 31 August 2000 2000 1999 Notes £ £ Net cash inflow from operating 21 304,983 90,466 activities Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 3,071 3,512 Interest paid (7,052) (21,951) ________ _________ Net cash outflow from returns (3,981) (18,439) on investments and servicing of finance Corporation tax 89,228 (31,224) Capital expenditure Payments to acquire intangible (8,778) (4,439) fixed assets Payments to acquire tangible (65,059) (96,229) fixed assets Receipts from sales of 8,932 2,450 tangible fixed assets _________ __________ Net cash outflow from capital (64,905) (98,218) expenditure Equity dividends paid - (48,836) _________ _________ Net cash inflow/(outflow) 325,325 (106,251) before financing Financing Issue of ordinary share - 17,000 capital Cost of share issue - (6,436) ________ __________ Net cash inflow from financing - 10,564 _________ _________ Increase/ 22 325,325 (95,687) (decrease) in cash ======== ======== NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 1. Preliminary Results The preliminary results have been extracted from the Company's audited accounts which have been approved and signed by the directors and auditors, but have not yet been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. The audited accounts have been prepared under the historical cost convention using the accounting policies set out in the admission document. 2. Reconciliation of Movements in Shareholders' funds 2000 1999 £ £ Profit/(loss) for the financial year 152,043 (53,349) Dividends (50,000) - _________ __________ 102,043 (53,349) New share capital subscribed - 10,564 _________ _________ Net addition to/(depletion in) shareholders' 102,043 (42,785) funds Opening shareholders' funds 1,396,688 1,439,473 _________ _________ Closing shareholders' funds 1,498,731 1,396,688 ======== ======= 3. Earnings per Share 2000 1999 Earnings per ordinary share is calculated as follows: Basic Profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary £152,043 (£53,349) shareholders Weighted average number of ordinary shares in 148,745,519 140,937,903 issue Earnings per ordinary share 0.10p (0.04)p ========= ========= Fully diluted Profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary £152,043 (£53,349) shareholders Weighted average number of ordinary shares in 148,745,519 148,179,900 issue Earnings per ordinary share 0.10p (0.04)p ========= ========= Weighted average number of ordinary shares in 148,745,519 140,937,903 issue - basic calculation Number of shares deemed to have been issued - 7,241,997 for no consideration in respect of share options _________ __________ Weighted average number of ordinary shares in 148,745,519 148,179,900 issue - fully diluted calculation ========= ========= 4. 2000 Report and Accounts Copies of the 2000 report and accounts will be sent to shareholders in due course. Further copies will be available from the Company's nominated adviser: Smith & Williamson, No 1 Riding House Street, London, W1A 3AS. 5. Copy of Announcement A copy of this announcement will be available from the nominated adviser: Smith & Williamson, No 1 Riding House Street, London, W1A 3AS, for 14 days from the date of this announcement.
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