Preliminary Announcement

Ross Group PLC 26 April 2002 ROSS GROUP PLC Preliminary announcement by Ross Group PLC ('the Company') of the Audited Results for the Six Months ended 31 December 2001. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT ACCOUNTING PERIODS As stated in the announcement dated 22 March 2002 the Company has changed its accounting reference date from 30 June to 31 December. Accordingly the Company is now making a preliminary announcement of the audited results for the six month period ended 31st December 2001. RESULTS The result of the group before tax for the six months ended 31 December 2001 was a loss of £372,000 (six months ended 31 December 2000: loss £628,000 and twelve months ended 30 June 2001: loss £1,095,000). The loss for this period was largely incurred as a result of head office overhead and interest charges not covered by the trading divisions' profits. The group's total turnover for the six months was £1,936,000 (six months ended 31 December 2000 £3,451,000 and twelve months ended 30 June 2001: £5,531,000) which shows a decline when compared to the turnover for the previous periods. This further decline was as a result of the completion of planned changes in the group activities, which were commenced in the previous periods, details of which are given in the full financial statements. Because of the Balance Sheet position, the board is unable to recommend the payment of a dividend. The board will continue to endeavour to return the company to a dividend paying position as soon as is practicable. DIVISIONS OF THE GROUP Technical services A new managing director has been appointed to implement the board approved business plan and to build on the blue chip customer base in order to obtain high value return on long term contracts with particular emphasis on margin and cash flow. Resources will be strengthened and matched to individual contracts in order to achieve these objectives. The board remains open to a possible disposal of GEL Engineering Limited but only if a suitable purchaser and offer were to be found. Power The board approved business plan is being implemented and monitored to achieve the objectives of a larger customer base throughout Europe and maximise the potential of its brands, whilst utilising third party supply from China. Automotive electronics Action is continuing on the recovery of old outstanding debts. Where necessary legal action is being pursued where the net amount recoverable covers these costs. STRATEGY The board has approved an annual business plan to build and strengthen the Power business concentrating on increasing sales to targeted major customers, particularly in continental Europe, through the competitive sourcing of third party and compatible products. The Technical Services Division continues to maximise high margin business contracts while rebuilding turnover to more satisfactory and profitable levels. A new managing director has joined the division and resources are being targeted at new business. Although the restructuring of the business has been nearly completed the board continues to reserve its decision to consider any suitable change in direction. The board will continue to support and build on the group's core business and has negotiated adequate working capital finance to do so. At the same time the directors remain open minded about new business ventures and directions which may present themselves and which may provide suitable synergy with future plans. CURRENT TRADING AND PROSPECTS The group's two main operating businesses continue to trade more efficiently and the directors believe that this improvement will continue through the implementation of the approved business plans. Management attention has been re-focussed on longer term objectives to ensure the future expansion of the group. The group has reduced and eliminated all unnecessary head office overheads. Its prospects are dependent on the future decisions as to its direction but the directors are optimistic about the future potential of the group. STAFF I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Employees, Shareholders, Bankers, Advisers, Suppliers and Customers for their continuing support. A C C Ma Chairman 26 April 2002 Consolidated Profit and loss Account for the Six Months ended 31 December 2001 Audited Unaudited Audited Dec 2001 Dec 2000 June 2001 6 Months 6 Months 12 Months £000's £000's £000's Turnover Continuing Operations 1,936 2,747 4,827 Discontinued Operations 0 704 704 Total Turnover 1,936 3,451 5,531 Operating (loss)/profit Continuing Operations (187) 243 (87) Discontinued Operations 0 (233) (225) Total Operating (loss)/profit (187) 10 (312) Reorganisation costs and losses 0 0 0 Losses on sale of discontinued operations (40) (548) (465) Net Interest (payable) (145) (90) (318) (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities before taxation (372) (628) (1,095) Taxation 0 0 0 (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after taxation (372) (628) (1,095) Finance costs in respect of non equity interests 0 0 0 Retained (loss) in the period (372) (628) (1,095) (Loss)/earnings per share - basic and diluted (0.55)p (0.93)p (1.63)p Adjusted (Loss)/earnings per share - basic and diluted (0.50)p (0.12)p (0.94)p Consolidated Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2001 Audited Unaudited Audited As At 31 As At 31 As At 30 Dec 2001 Dec 2000 June 2001 £000's £000's £000's Tangible Fixed Assets 80 1,028 46 Stock 630 518 385 Debtors 1,069 1,977 1,575 Creditors (2,112) (3,158) (1,892) Net bank borrowings (2,605) (2,492) (2,708) Deferred Taxation 0 0 0 Net (liabilities)/assets (2,938) (2,127) (2,594) Shareholders funds (2,938) (2,127) (2,594) Reconciliation in Movements in Shareholders Funds Audited Unaudited Audited As At 31 As At 31 As At 30 Dec 2001 Dec 2000 June 2001 £000's £000's £000's Loss for the financial period (372) (628) (1,095) Other recognised gains 28 0 0 Net movement (344) (628) (1,095) Opening shareholders funds (2,594) (1,499) (1,499) Closing shareholders funds (2,938) (2,127) (2,594) Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the Six Months ended 31 December 2001 Audited Unaudited Audited Dec 2001 Dec 2000 June 2001 6 Months 6 Months 12 Months £000's £000's £000's Operating Loss from Continuing Activities (187) 243 (87) Depreciation and loss on revaluation 10 108 49 (Increase)/Decrease in Stocks (245) 275 408 Decrease in Debtors 506 174 576 Increase/(Decrease) in Creditors 220 (1,314) (2,580) Net Cash Inflow/(Outflow)from Continuing Operating Activities 304 (514) (1,634) Net Cash Outflow from Discontinued Activities (40) (695) (690) Net Cash Inflow/(Outflow) from Operating Activities 264 (1,209) (2,324) Net Cash Outflow from Returns on Investments and Servicing of Finance (145) (90) (318) Taxation 0 0 0 Purchases of Tangible Fixed Assets (21) 0 (16) Sales of Tangible Fixed Assets 5 0 1,143 Net Cash Inflow from Capital Expenditure and Financial Investment (16) 0 1,127 Capital Element of Finance Lease Rentals 0 (4) (4) Net Cash Inflow/(Outflow) from Financing 0 (4) (4) Increase in Cash 103 (1,303) (1,519) Cash Outflow from Finance Leases 0 4 4 Movement in Net Debt 103 (1,299) (1,515) Net Debt at beginning of period (2,708) (1,193) (1,193) Net Debt at end of period (2,605) (2,492) (2,708) Notes 1. The financial information set out above does not constitute the company's statutory accounts for the six months ended 31 December 2001 nor for either of the comparative periods, but is derived from those accounts. Statutory accounts for the year to 30 June 2001 have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies and those for the six months to December 2001 will be delivered following the company's annual general meeting. The auditors have reported on those accounts; their reports were unqualified and did not contain statements under s273(2) or (3) Companies Act 1985. 2. The total number of shares in issue at the end of the period was 67,052,306 after taking account of the rights issue, capital re-organisation and purchase of preference shares as agreed at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 27 March 2000. 3. An adjusted loss per share calculation is shown to highlight the effect of excluding exceptional items (the effects of the group re-structuring and business closures) from the earnings per share calculation. 4. No ordinary interim or final dividend is proposed. 5. The company changed it's accounting reference date to 31 December from 30 June and in consequence is reporting audited results for the six months from 30 June 2001 to 31 December 2001. 6. The comparative figures for the six months ended 31 December 2000 have been prepared from the management accounts and are unaudited. 7. The comparative figures for the year to 30 June 2001 have been extracted from the Audited accounts. Ross Group PLC Registered office: Unit 5, Wallbrook Business Centre, Green Lane, Hounslow, Middlesex TW4 6NW Telephone : 020 8538 2450 Fax : 020 8538 2490 Contact : Alain Eman (Deputy Managing Director) This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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