Interim Results - Turnover Up 27%

Oriental Restaurant Group PLC 25 November 1999 Oriental Restaurant Group plc Interim Results to 30 September 1999 Oriental Restaurant Group plc, the Oriental restaurant operator, today announces interim results for the six months ended 30 September 1999. * Turnover increased by 27% to £5.7m (1998: £4.5m) * Pre tax profits were £227,000 (1998: £612,000), after including the impact of development costs of Yellow River, start up costs of the Central Kitchen and a reduction in interest income * Like for like sales reduced by 1%, but like for like operating profits rose by 6% * First Yellow River Cafe opened in November - a minimum of eight to be operational by the end of the next financial year. * Central Kitchen is supplying eight of the Group's operations and should enhance Restaurant margin Alan Jackson, Chairman of Oriental Restaurant Group plc, commented: 'We are encouraged by the early success of our new concept, Yellow River, which will provide the platform for future growth. Much effort has been focused on creating the base from which we can rapidly roll out Yellow River in order to enhance shareholder value.' 25 November 1999 Enquiries: Oriental Restaurant Group plc Tel: 0171 929 6868 Alan Jackson, Chairman Hock Ann Chua, Managing Director Michael Paterson, Finance Director College Hill Tel: 0171 457 2020 Matthew Smallwood Justine Warren ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 Chairman's Statement Introduction This is my first report as Chairman, which is made at a time of great change and opportunity for the Oriental Restaurant Group. I am delighted to report on significant advances to establish the Group in its next stage of developing our new concept - the Yellow River Cafe. The first half result is dominated by development costs relating to this new concept and start up costs of the Central Production Kitchen, both of which will benefit the Group in the future. The Board's decision to invest at an early stage in this infrastructure, to support the development of the Yellow River Cafe concept, means the benefit of these efforts are not fully reflected in these results. Results Group turnover rose by 27% to £5.7 million (1998: £4.5m) reflecting the inclusion for the first time of the contribution for the full six months of Pacific Oriental and Moorgate Oriental. Operating profits of £206,000 (1998: £499,000) have been impacted by development and start up costs: * £51,000 related to the pre opening expenses of the Central Kitchen * £77,000 related to the direct operational cost incurred by the Central Kitchen prior to the openings of Yellow River in Canary Wharf and the Yellow River Cafe in Chiswick, neither of which traded during a period * £68,000 related to development costs associated with the Yellow River concept Additionally, £90,000 in respect of a reduction in interest income as a result of our extensive capital expenditure programme. The benefit of the Central Production Kitchen investment will flow through in future periods by enhancing gross food margin contributions at unit level. Pre tax profits fell to £227,000 (1998: £612,000). Earnings per share were 1.7p (1999: 4.6p) and the Board is recommending a maintained interim dividend of 1.2p (1998: 1.2p). This will be payable on 19 January 2000 to all shareholders on register at 10 December 1999. Overall operations remain significantly cash generative and with the new banking facilities that have been put in place we are confident that the programmed roll out of 'Yellow River Cafe' can be met from our own resources. ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 Chairman's Statement (cont'd) Operating Review for the Period Restaurants Our established restaurants traded in line with the comparative period last year despite increased competition and a changing City environment. Like for like sales were down 1% but like for like operating profits rose by 6%. As a well established City dining venue, Imperial City has suffered from recent new openings in its immediate vicinity and therefore in order to bolster sales to previous levels we have embarked upon a new marketing drive and some interior design changes have been initiated. Shimla Pinks, under its management contract, has increased turnover and, although not yet profitable, is producing a positive cash flow. Pacific Oriental has been a disappointment and, although producing a positive cash flow, has not yet made a contribution to profits. Management is focused on finding ways to increase the food margin, which is currently the lowest across the Group and a new manager was appointed at the end of September. Wholesaling Chuanglee has continued to perform well. As the number of our own restaurants increases we expect the proportion of intra company sales to rise from the current 32%. Board In October 1999 Richard Miller, Operations Director, resigned from the Board in order to pursue other commercial opportunities. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Richard for his contribution to the Group over the last four years and wish him every success in the future. Central Production Kitchen The Group's Central Production Kitchen facility commenced operation in July. This operation currently supplies eight of the Group's restaurant operations and should show a positive impact on groupwide food margins in due course. With the capacity to service at least 50 restaurants, this facility is already supplying the Yellow River Cafe in Chiswick and is fundamental to the roll out of this new concept. ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 Chairman's Statement (cont'd) Canary Wharf This site at the Canary Wharf location was seen as a unique opportunity for the Group. It is not intended that large dual operational restaurants of this type will be replicated, as our strategy remains to concentrate on the roll out of the Yellow River Cafe. It will operate as a Yellow River Cafe on the ground floor and a formal Oriental restaurant on the Mezzanine level. The Canary Wharf site will open on time and to budget in late November to take advantage of the busy Christmas season. It will have capacity of 250 covers and an extensive bar area. Both restaurants will be serviced from one kitchen which will be supported by the Central Kitchen. Yellow River Cafes The restaurant in Chiswick opened on 3 November 1999 and is the first of our roll out concept. Although it has not been trading for long, all early signs are that this concept has been widely acclaimed and accepted. Yellow River Cafes' association with Ken Hom, the celebrity chef, has allowed this brand to be marketed extensively and to achieve a significant amount of publicity in the press. This concept offers attractive opportunities for seven-day trading and will form the focus of the Group's growth. Our strategy is that this concept will be suitable for mid spend locations and to date, we have agreed terms on two further sites in Islington and Twickenham and are in negotiations for several more properties. Twickenham will open in the first quarter of the New Year and Islington in the Spring of 2000. We now have the management expertise and infrastructure in place to initiate an accelerated expansion programme and expect to be operating a minimum of four further Yellow River Cafes, in addition to those already announced, by the end of the next financial year. Prospects This is a transitional year with a change of focus to the Yellow River Cafe concept. The investment necessary to achieve our goal of building a new national restaurant brand will impact overall profitability in the current year, but will have positioned the Group to enhance earnings next year and beyond. Alan Jackson Chairman 25 November 1999 ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 Profit and Loss Account Half year Half year Year ended ended ended 30.09.99 30.09.98 31.03.99 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) Notes £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 5,683 4,486 10,680 Operating profit 206 499 1,280 Net interest receivable and income from other investments 21 113 172 Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 227 612 1,452 Taxation 2 (61) (170) (403) Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 166 442 1,049 Minority interest Earnings 3 166 442 1,049 Dividends payable 5 (115) (115) (364) Retained profit 51 327 685 Basic Earnings per share 1.7p 4.6p 11.0p Diluted Earnings per share 1.7p 4.6p 10.8p Dividends payable per share 1.2p 1.2p 3.8p ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 Summarised Balance Sheet 30.09.99 30.09.98 31.03.99 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Tangible fixed assets 6,967 4,631 5,636 Current assets Non-cash current assets 1,509 1,395 1,391 Cash at bank 375 2,158 1,418 1,884 3,553 2,809 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (1,551) (1,568) (1,201) Net current assets 333 1,985 1,608 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (125) (103) (125) Provision for liabilities and charges (412) (168) (412) Net assets 6,763 6,345 6,707 Represented by: Shareholders funds and minority interests 6,763 6,345 6,707 ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 Summarised Cash Flow Statement 30.09.99 30.09.98 31.03.99 (Unaudited) (Unaudited) (Audited) £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operations 504 686 1,649 Returns on investments and servicing of finance 21 122 186 Capital expenditure and financial investment (1,636) (2,519) (3,759) Taxation (29) 0 (417) Acquisitions and disposals 0 0 0 Equity dividend paid (249) (229) (344) Cash outflow before use of liquid resources and financing (1,389) (1,940) (2,685) Management of liquid resources Utilisation of Short Term Deposits 750 1,272 3,022 Financing Issue of ordinary share capital 4 4 8 Increase/(decrease) in cash (635) (664) 345 ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 Notes to the interim report 1. The results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 together with comparatives for 1998 were shown by the following tables: 1999 Total Restaurants Wholesale Central Kitchen £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 5,683 4,661 1,022 - Trading 325 300 102 (77) profit/(loss) Development and infrastructure (119) (68) - (51) costs Operating 206 232 102 (128) profit/(loss) 1998 Total Restaurants Wholesale Central Kitchen £'000 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover 4,486 3,519 967 - Trading profit 499 388 111 - Development and infrastructure - - - - costs Operating 499 388 111 - profit 2. Taxation has been provided at the estimated effective rate for the year ending 31 March 2000. 3. Earnings per ordinary share have been calculated using the weighted average number of shares in issue during the relevant financial periods. The weighted average number of equity shares in issue is 9,588,470 (1998: 9,568,470). ORIENTAL RESTAURANT GROUP PLC Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 1999 Notes to the interim report (Cont'd) 4. The weighted average number of equity shares used for calculation of the diluted earnings per share is 9,688,470 (1998: 9,668,470). The weighted average number of equity shares is calculated using a dilution of 100,000 (1998: 100,000) ordinary shares in respect of dilutary share options in issue. 5. The dividend of 1.2 pence per share will be paid on 19 January 2000 to shareholders on the register on 10 December 1999. 6. The accounts for the financial year ended 31st March 1999 are abridged. Full accounts on which the Company's auditors made an unqualified report have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. 7. Further copies of the Interim Report may be obtained from the Company Secretary at Oriental Restaurant Group plc, No. 1 Bishopsgate, London EC2N 3AB.
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