Interim Results

Caldwell Investments PLC 25 September 2000 CHAIRMAN'S HALF YEAR STATEMENT The first half trading showed a further loss. Although our underwear businesses in Germany and the U.K. historically trade at a loss in the first half, we had hoped that our ninaclip business would have contributed to our profits. This was not to be for reasons stated below. In addition we had residual losses from the discontinued Lawtex business. Adverse currency movements and redundancy payments contributed substantially to the losses on continuing business. UNDERWEAR BUSINESS Germany: The business always trades at a loss in the first half. However, despite the slowness of the German economy and the substantial effective devaluation of the Euro, which is our sales currency, against the US Dollar, our purchasing currency, we expect the final outcome for the year to be a profit. U.K.: Since the re-organisation and consolidation last year, this business has settled down well, and will contribute to second half group profits. It has sound competent management and we look forward to future growth in profitability. NINACLIP The sales of ninaclip brand parasols showed a material increase over the previous comparative half year in spite of one of the wettest European Spring/Summer's on record. Unfortunately, we had production and quality problems with our Far Eastern manufacturers of plastic components. These proved very costly to rectify and made a large contribution to the first half operating loss on continuing operations. Because of these problems, we decided to relocate production back to the U.K. for the year 2001. In addition we had invested further substantial sums of money into our ongoing ninaclip development programme and maintained an establishment designed to support our long term aspirations for the Company, associated with a proposed floatation. This has now been put on hold following the problems alluded to above. These events led us to a total review of our ninaclip strategy and we decided to reduce our short term ambitions for the Company, so as to stop the continuing losses and negative cash flow. Accordingly the ninaclip establishment overheads, personnel and development programme have been drastically cut. Nevertheless, we expect the international and U.K. ninaclip parasol business, which has been built at great expense over the last few years, to continue to increase. The effect of these changes means that next year, for the first time, ninaclip should be a net contributor to Group profit. RE-ORGANISATION AND BOARD CHANGES Action taken in the half year under review, has led to extensive cuts in the current level of Group establishment and personnel overhead, and the benefits should show through in the second half. As part of a re-organisation, two main Board Directors are leaving the Company, having resigned as Directors on 22 September 2000. They are Matthew Wootliff, who did a splendid job establishing ninaclip sales in over 17 countries, and Simon Cuffin-Munday, Caldwell's Group Finance Director. We thank them both for their past contributions and wish them well for the future. SALE OF PROPERTY On 1 September 2000, we exchanged contracts for the sale of our freehold property in Oldham for £725,000. This will pay off a mortgage of approximately £500,000 and the balance, after costs, will be used to reduce Group borrowings. SHARE OPTIONS The Company has agreed, subject to approval by shareholders, to grant options to subscribe for an aggregate of 425,000 Ordinary Shares in the Company at an option price equal to the middle market value of the Company Shares at the close of business on 25 September 2000, subject to a minimum subscription price equal to the par value of such shares. Of these share options, 200,000 have been granted to me, and the remainder to three other members of the senior management team. It is intended that an appropriate resolution confirming the grant of such options will be put to shareholders as Special Business at the next Annual General Meeting of the Company. Subject to such confirmation, I have agreed to waive my existing options over 500,000 shares. PROSPECTS Although earnings have tumbled over the last two and a half years, I believe that the painful actions taken in the first half, leave the Group with a healthier balance sheet and with good prospects of being profitable in the future. S.J. Wootliff Chairman 25 September 2000 CALDWELL INVESTMENTS P.L.C. RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2000 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 31 December 30 June 30 June 1999 2000 1999 £ £ £ Turnover Continuing Operations 2,916,666 2,702,176 7,210,786 Discontinued Operations 26,857 1,848,679 2,659,430 2,943,523 4,550,855 9,870,216 Operating (loss)/profit Continuing Operations (396,232) (81,299) 389,677 Discontinued Operations (210,420) (181,693) (707,393) (606,652) (100,394) (317,716) Share of associates' (9,183) 4,855 (1,765) (loss)/profit Loss on disposal of - - (113,425) fixed assets Net interest payable (102,752) (82,737) (202,717) Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (718,587) (178,276) (635,623) Tax on loss on (6,900) 18,000 (40,133) ordinary activities Loss on ordinary activities after taxation (725,487) (160,276) (675,756) Equity minority interest (3,279) (1,927) 4,877 Loss for the period (728,766) (162,203) (670,879) Equity dividends paid and proposed - (46,878) (46,878) Retained loss for the period (728,766) (209,081) (717,757) Earnings per share Basic and diluted (5.29)p (1.41)p (5.53)p Dividend per share - 0.425p 0.425p CALDWELL INVESTMENTS P.L.C. RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2000 Consolidated Balance Sheet Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 June 30 June 31 December 2000 1999 1999 £ £ £ Fixed assets Intangible fixed 361,849 312,396 344,327 assets Tangible fixed 1,232,075 1,327,019 1,286,407 assets Investments - 6,516 - 1,593,924 1,645,931 1,630,734 Current assets Stocks 2,197,129 3,416,542 2,137,232 Debtors falling due 1,224,659 2,184,478 1,425,675 within one year Cash at bank and in 758,176 402,290 1,169,128 hand 4,179,964 6,003,310 4,732,035 Creditors: amounts falling due within one Year (3,194,160) (4,243,935) (2,921,405) Net current assets 985,804 1,759,375 1,810,630 Total assets less current liabilities 2,579,728 3,405,306 3,441,364 Creditors: amounts falling due after one year (699,559) (863,175) (843,402) Provisions for Liabilities and (16,949) (16,902) (7,765) charges Net assets 1,863,220 2,525,229 2,590,197 Capital and reserves Called up share 1,378,750 1,103,000 1,378,750 capital Share premium 1,620,302 1,272,871 1,620,302 account Revaluation reserve 189,677 193,791 191,734 Capital redemption 27,000 27,000 27,000 reserve Profit and loss (1,394,080) (126,529) (675,881) account Equity shareholders' 1,821,649 2,470,133 2,541,905 funds Equity minority 41,571 55,096 48,292 interest Total capital and 1,863,220 2,525,229 2,590,197 Reserves CALDWELL INVESTMENTS P.L.C. RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2000 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 31 30 June 30 June December 2000 1999 1999 £ £ £ Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities (745,967) (754,845) 526,074 Returns on investments and servicing of finance Interest received 10,316 11,390 15,386 Interest paid (113,068) (94,127) (218,102) Net cash outflow (102,752) (82,737) (202,716) Taxation Tax paid (22,647) (22,100) (39,775) Net cash outflow (22,647) (22,100) (39,775) Capital expenditure and financial investment Purchase of (37,989) (27,875) (86,042) intangible fixed assets Purchase of tangible (24,706) (51,145) (127,363) fixed assets Sale of tangible fixed assets 21,000 - - Net cash outflow (41,695) (79,020) (213,405) Equity dividends paid - - (135,118) Net cash outflow (913,061) (938,702) (64,940) before financing Financing Issue of shares - - 623,181 Repayment of loans (144,581) (143,321) (172,564) Capital element of finance lease (6,992) (7,450) (12,803) payments Net cash (outflow)/inflow (151,573) (150,771) 437,814 (Decrease)/Increase in cash in the year (1,064,634) (1,089,473) 372,874 CALDWELL INVESTMENTS P.L.C. RESULTS FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED 30 JUNE 2000 Notes to the Interim Report 1. The accounts for the six months ended 30 June 2000 and 30 June 1999 are unaudited but have been prepared on the basis of accounting policies consistent with those set out in the audited accounts for the year ended 31 December 1999. Those accounts were audited, carried an unqualified Auditors Report and have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The information set out in this interim report does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of the Companies Act. 2. The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per shared is based On the loss for the period of £ 728,766 (1999: £162,203) and a weighted average number of ordinary shares of 13,787,500 (1999: 11,471,200). 3. Reconciliation of operating loss to operating cash flows Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 31 December 30 June 30 June 1999 2000 1999 £ £ £ Operating loss (606,652) (100,394) (317,716) Depreciation 58,038 78,005 157,030 Amortisation of goodwill and Intangible fixed assets 20,467 17,552 36,983 (Increase)/decrease in stocks (59,897) (445,174) 834,136 Decrease/(increase) in debtors 201,016 (118,966) 615,451 Decrease in creditor (358,939) (185,868) (799,810) Net cash (Outflow)/inflow from Operating activities (745,967) (754,845) 526,074 4. No interim dividend will be paid. 5. Copies of these interim results are being despatched to shareholders. Further copies can be obtained from: The Company Secretary. Caldwell Investments P.L.C., Princes House, 635, Roundhay Road, Leeds. LS8 4BA.
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