Trading Statement

Redrow PLC 04 July 2003 REDROW PLC PRE-CLOSE TRADING UPDATE As part of its normal investor relations activity, Redrow plc is issuing this pre-close trading update in advance of the preliminary results announcement on 16 September 2003 for the twelve months ended 30 June 2003. ANALYST PRESENTATION Redrow plc hosted a presentation for analysts after close of trading on the London Stock Exchange on Thursday 3 July 2003. The presentation included information on the new Redrow housing range and the Group's approach towards land and planning in addition to a pre-close trading update. NEW HOUSING RANGE Redrow is launching a new housing range in response to changes in customer expectations and the Group's objective of increased standardisation within the build process. The new range, comprising three distinctive specifications, will be phased in on new developments in 2004 and will be consistently marketed under the Redrow brand to replace the previously successful Heritage and Harwood products. The range has been developed after detailed evaluation of the existing portfolio, with a focus upon improving ease of build and reducing maintenance, whilst at the same time enhancing internal specification and the aesthetics created by the built environment. The new range incorporates greater internal standardisation through the use of common floor plans and has been designed to be constructed using both steel frame and more traditional methods. It also embraces increased off-site manufactured elements. The three specifications in the new housing range retain the distinctiveness and quality that has been synonymous with Redrow and will maintain the broad product offering and differentiation previously provided by the Heritage and Harwood products. LEGAL COMPLETIONS IN YEAR TO JUNE 2003 Redrow achieved approximately 4,025 legal completions in the year ended June 2003 which compares with 3,908 legal completions in the previous twelve months. The previous financial year included six months' trading from the acquisition of Tay Homes, and the volumes delivered to the end of June this year reflect the scaling back of output from the Tay land bank to achieve the sustainable position envisaged at the time of the acquisition. AVERAGE SELLING PRICES AND PRODUCT MIX The average sales value of legal completions for the last six months was approximately £149,000 (H2 2002: £141,500) and for the year as a whole, approximately £147,500 (2002: £139,000). The average selling price in the second half was only marginally ahead of the £146,500 achieved in the first six months because of the second half product mix, which had fewer completions from the higher value In the City schemes. SALES PERFORMANCE The increase in sales outlets projected at the time of our interim results in March duly came on stream. Unit reservations for the last six months totalled some 2,680 (H2 2002: 2,464), approximately 9% ahead of the same period last year, which was itself an exceptionally strong market. Approximately half of this increase can be attributed to the very successful launch of Altolusso, Redrow's In the City scheme in Cardiff, with the remainder attributable to the Group's planned strategy of new sites being brought on stream in the first part of the calendar year. For the year as a whole, the Group recorded reservations of approximately 4,560 (2002: 4,168), again some 9% ahead of the previous twelve months. Forward sales of some 2,060 units (2002:1,526) were 35% ahead of the position as at June 2002 with a value of over £303m (2002: £218m), an increase of 39%. Forward sales include approximately 350 units on In the City schemes, which will deliver legal completions in the financial year ended June 2005. SALES APPROACH As highlighted in the interim results, the Group recognised in the autumn of 2002 the importance of adopting a strategy to counter the possible impact of a slowing market. The principal element of this strategy was to ensure that new sites were launched during the spring and early summer, when the market was anticipated to be at its most receptive. Redrow's sales performance in these more normal market conditions is attributed to the timing of these sales launches and to the broad range of homes offered to its customers, with a focus on a price bracket consistent with the average selling price for a new home in the UK. As a result of delaying some sales launches from the latter part of 2002 into early 2003, the Group's legal completion profile for the financial year ended June 2004 may be slightly more weighted towards the second half than has historically been the case. FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE The Group continues to remain very focused upon delivering a combination of margins and return on capital employed at the top end of sector performance. Operating margins within Redrow Homes for the full year are expected to be marginally ahead of the 18.4% delivered in the first six months. As stated at the time of the interim results, it is anticipated that the operating margins will gradually return to levels previously identified as sustainable if house price inflation returns to its historical relationship with increases in average earnings. Such margins are supported by the quality of the Group's land bank. Gearing at the year-end was approximately 32% (June 2002: 39%) and the Group is expected to deliver a return on capital employed for the year to June 2003 of over 30% (2002: 30%). LAND Over the last twelve months the Group has continued to grow its current land bank, which has risen from 15,600 plots at June 2002 to 16,000 plots at the end of June 2003. Land with planning increased from 13,400 plots to 14,000 plots. The Group is in a very strong position as regards the effectiveness of its land holdings and owns with planning all the land it requires for its anticipated legal completions in the year to June 2004. Furthermore, 85% of land is owned with planning to meet anticipated volumes for the following year and indeed all is either owned or controlled. Redrow is in a strong position to continue to build on its land bank to deliver continued growth over the medium term. COSTS The Group has witnessed no significant change to the prices of materials, with increases overall in line with inflation. However, the shortage of skilled trades remains a serious issue for the industry and there are no obvious signs of easing in the annual rate of increases of between 8% and 10%. FRAMING SOLUTIONS Framing Solutions was launched towards the end of 2002 to manufacture light steel frames for use in house building. The business continues to trade as anticipated with the new roll forming machine currently being commissioned. This new machine will enable increased production levels of steel frames and improve efficiency. Redrow has now used light steel frames on four sites and it is anticipated that a further five sites will be in production by December 2003. REDROW COMMERCIAL The pre-sold, pre-let 51,000 sq ft distribution warehouse at Western Approach Bristol completed, as expected, in April 2003. In addition, disposals were completed of approximately five acres of land and of a warehouse unit of some 20,000 sq ft at Buckshaw Village in Lancashire. These transactions mean that Redrow Commercial's operating profits will be slightly ahead of the £2.3m anticipated at the time of the interim results. Contracts have also been exchanged for the sale of Evolution, nursery office units of some 13,000 sq ft constructed at St David's Park, near Chester, and, subject to planning, for the sale of 31 acres of land at Buckshaw Village to Aldi for a major new 650,000 sq ft distribution centre. These transactions represent a solid start to generating the appropriate level of profitability in the new financial year for the Group's commercial activities. PEOPLE Redrow places significant importance on developing its staff. The Group has long recognised the need for training, for example, through its Henley Management Programme and Graduate scheme and now Redrow has committed to invest £500,000 into a new training facility, which is currently being constructed next to the offices of Redrow Homes Midlands at Tamworth. From the autumn, these facilities will be used to deliver focused inductions to all management and site staff within Redrow and to ensure the effective training across all disciplines, most particularly to site managers, sales and surveying staff. The annual costs of this facility will be approximately £400,000 with the centre capable of providing some 400 courses annually to its employees. The Group considers this to be an initiative of key importance in the years ahead in promoting Redrow as an employer of choice within the industry. CURRENT MARKET AND PROSPECTS The housing market of Spring 2002 was extremely strong and was not sustainable. As indicated in both the preliminary results last September and the interim results this March, Redrow positioned itself for more normal market conditions and indeed this has been the Group's experience to date in 2003. As regards selling prices, increases have continued but to a lesser degree than last year, which bodes well for a sustainable housing market for the future. Paul Pedley, Chief Executive, said 'The Group has a broad product range, a wide geographic spread and a strong land bank, and these factors, together with a record forward sales position, leave Redrow well placed to deliver a further year of growth.' -ends- Enquiries Redrow plc On the day: 020 7404 5959 Thereafter: 01244 520 044 Paul Pedley, Chief Executive Neil Fitzsimmons, Finance Director Brunswick 020 7404 5959 Patrick Handley Nina Richmond This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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