Interim Results

Electrocomponents PLC 06 November 2002 Embargoed to 7.00am 6 November 2002 INTERIM STATEMENT Electrocomponents plc, the international high-service distributor of electronic, electrical and industrial supplies, today announces its results for the half-year ended 30 September 2002. The highlights compared to the first half of last year are as follows: Sales Â£365.3m Down 4.2% Operating profit* Â£46.8m Down 9.3% Profit before tax* Â£46.3m Down 6.7% Earnings per share* 7.6p Down 6.2% Dividend per share 5.25p Up 7.1% Net debt Â£67.2m Lower by Â£24.1m from 30 Sept 2001 * Before amortisation of goodwill. Bob Lawson, the Chairman commented: Trading conditions have remained tough in each of our major markets throughout the half year. Sales declined in the UK, reflecting the continued difficulties in manufacturing, but grew in other markets. Our e-Commerce sales grew by 55% over the first half of last year. We have improved gross margins and managed costs tightly, but our strategic investments and other one-off costs constrained profits. Cash flow was again strong. Though we see no signs of market recovery in the short term, neither do we see signs of further deterioration. Our confidence in the future is reflected in our decision to increase the interim dividend by 7.1%. Bob Lawson 6 November 2002 Enquiries: Bob Lawson, Chairman Electrocomponents plc 0207 567 8000* Ian Mason, Chief Executive Electrocomponents plc 0207 567 8000* Jeff Hewitt, Deputy Chairman / Finance Director Electrocomponents plc 0207 567 8000* Diana Soltmann / Andy Berry Flagship Consulting Ltd 0207 886 8440 * Available to 15:00 on 6 November, thereafter 01865 204000. The results and analyst presentation are published on the Corporate website at http://www.electrocomponents.com. CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT First Half Results Trading conditions have remained very tough in each of our major markets throughout the half year. In particular our sales to customers in the telecommunications and related manufacturing sectors have continued to drop sharply, offsetting gains made elsewhere. Consequently, Group sales have declined by 4.8% (against the first half of last year, adjusted for trading days and exchange rates) to Â£365.3m from Â£381.3m. Profit before tax and amortisation of goodwill fell 6.7% to Â£46.3m from Â£49.6m. The largest fall in sales was in our UK business, which continued to suffer from the loss of long-standing end users as manufacturing companies restructured and downsized. However, our North American business, Allied, recovered to year on year growth as the half year progressed. Our businesses in continental Europe achieved sales growth over the prior year even in weakening markets. Japan substantially increased its growth rate following successful investment in e-Commerce. We have continued our strategic investment programmes, although as past investments are now generating benefits the impact on current profits is reduced. In this half year the net cost of strategic investments has reduced to Â£4.7m against Â£7.4m in the first half of last year. The large e-Commerce investments in Europe made last year have been successful and are now generating incremental sales and profits. Losses in Japan are reducing and losses in China are now small. However, operating profit includes about Â£2.8m of one-off costs and provisions relating to a withdrawal from specialised activities in the United Kingdom directed to the telecommunications and related sectors. Capital expenditure of Â£15.4m was Â£9.5m lower than the first half of last year as the peak of our spending on information systems and additional warehouse capacity in Europe has now passed. Gross margins continued to improve as we had anticipated and were 52.6% in the half year, up 2.5 percentage points on the same period last year. We have also managed our costs tightly, but not by lowering customer service. Customer service is always critical, but is even more important when the market is difficult and our service has remained at very high levels. The impact of the Â£16.0m sales decline on gross profit was partly offset by our actions on gross margin and costs so that operating profit (before amortisation of goodwill) declined Â£4.8m to Â£46.8m from Â£51.6m. Operating profit benefited from exchange rate movements by Â£0.3m. Lower average net debt and lower interest rates reduced the interest charge to Â£0.5m from Â£2.0m. The tax rate of 29.0% (based on profit before tax and goodwill amortisation) is the anticipated rate for this financial year and compares to 29.5% in the first half of last year. Before amortisation of goodwill, earnings per share declined 6.2% to 7.6p from 8.1p. After amortisation of goodwill the decline was 7.5% to 6.2p from 6.7p. Working capital has again been kept under firm control and cash flow has been strong. Stocks were Â£19.9m lower than at the end of the first half of last year with the same stock turn, whilst service levels have been maintained. Since the year end, the cash outflow on stocks has been Â£4.2m in anticipation of the warehouse moves and systems implementation, but the overall working capital cash flow in this period was an inflow of Â£2.7m. The conversion of operating profit (before amortisation of goodwill) into operating cash flow remained high at 126%. After lower capital expenditure, free cash flow (from continuing operations) increased by Â£10.3m from the first half of last year to Â£28.6m. Net debt declined Â£24.1m to Â£67.2m from Â£91.3m at the end of the first half of last year, though was up from Â£53.0m at the year end due to the timing of dividend and tax payments. Though we have not adopted the FRS 17 standard on Retirement Benefits, we did note that on 31 March 2002 our UK defined benefit pension scheme would have had an after tax surplus of Â£13.6m under FRS 17 rules. Following the decline in equity values and increase in bond yields this surplus would have become a deficit of Â£16.0m at 30 September 2002. There is no profit impact. Ian Mason's report provides a more detailed review of the Group's trading. Interim Dividend The Board has decided to increase the interim dividend by 7.1% to 5.25p from 4.90p. Although the reported earnings cover for our dividends has been depressed by the trading conditions and the implementation of our investment programmes, the Group's liquidity position and cash generation remain strong. The Board's dividend decisions are based on all these factors together with its assessment of the Group's growth opportunities. Current Trading Sales per day across our major markets improved in September and October and are now at similar levels to those at the beginning of the financial year. Japan has shown a distinct increase in sales per day over this period. Year on year monthly sales declines in September and October have been lower than in previous months, but the comparison is influenced by the disruption after the 11 September tragedy last year. Management continues to be focused on achieving sales improvements driven by our own actions, enhancing gross margins and controlling costs. We are targeting sectors outside our traditional manufacturing heartland in all our major markets and the results are encouraging. These sectors provide considerable long term growth opportunities. Incremental benefits from the e-Commerce investments are now being achieved and are being driven harder. Our warehouse moves and the start of major systems implementations are positive developments to improve future efficiencies which will incur one-off costs of around Â£2m over the coming months. Recent leading indicators such as the Purchasing Managers Indices suggest continued weak markets. We do not anticipate improvement in trading conditions in the short term, but nor do we anticipate further deterioration. Our businesses remain well positioned to respond rapidly when the recovery happens and I remain very confident about the medium and long term growth prospects of the Group. Bob Lawson Chairman 6 November 2002 CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S STATEMENT The very difficult trading conditions previously reported have continued through the first half of this year. Our businesses are resilient, but not immune to the economic cycle, and sales in all our major markets have been impacted to some degree. Good year on year growth was achieved in the half year in Japan, mainly due to the successful launch of an upgraded e-Commerce capability. Continental Europe had modest growth, whilst Asia was flat and our businesses in North America and the United Kingdom had lower sales. Overall Group sales declined by 4.8% (against the first half of last year, adjusted for trading days and exchange rates) to Â£365.3m. A higher gross margin and effective cost control helped offset the profit impact of the sales shortfall. When and how quickly the major economies will recover from the current downturn is unknown. We will continue to manage the businesses tightly until recovery is evident, but will not do anything that would prejudice their future growth prospects. Investments to support future growth have continued in this half year, including e-Commerce, Japan, information systems and the new German warehouse. Our views on the worldwide growth potential of our businesses remain unchanged. UK Sales declined by 9.5% (adjusted for trading days) to Â£182.1m, which is disappointing though it reflects lower sales in some areas offsetting growth in others. Customers in the manufacturing sectors continue to be under severe pressure as reflected by the depressed manufacturing output levels, whilst their lack of confidence is illustrated by the continued weakness of the Purchasing Managers Index. The decline in sales to customers in the telecommunications and related sectors continued to be particularly sharp. Our sales have been constrained by continuing and widespread rationalisation programmes in our customers' businesses and by corporate actions to impose strict limits on all spending. These sectors now account for a much smaller part of our sales. We anticipate that the telecommunications and related sectors will face longer term difficulties in the United Kingdom, as production is likely to migrate to other parts of the world even if there is a general recovery. In this half year we have therefore closed some specialised support activities and withdrawn product offers specifically related to these sectors. The one-off costs of these withdrawals amounted to about Â£2.8m and have been borne as an operational expense: Â£1.0m has been charged against UK contribution, and Â£1.8m to Process costs related to stock, property and systems. The withdrawals are expected to be substantially complete by the year end. There have been positive results from our efforts to grow sales in other areas. Sales to small customers (such as independent contractors) have grown year on year as a result of increased selling, advertising and marketing coverage including, for example, the distribution of 30,000 additional catalogues in September 2002. An intensive outbound telephone selling initiative has been directed through a 'nursery' programme to grow the number of new customers acquired each month and, more importantly, to increase the frequency of ordering from these new customers. However, the average order frequency has declined slightly reflecting the loss of customers in manufacturing that have ordered very frequently. Overall customer numbers have been stable through the half year. Two intensive sales pilots are being conducted on parts of the market where we have lower penetration, but where long term growth prospects are good. The results have been very encouraging with higher than expected customer acquisition rates, though substantive customer development will take time. These activities have made effective use of our expanded sales force, which has also benefited from significant re-training. Such trials will shape future larger scale programmes. The value of our service and product offer is relevant to maintenance and development engineers across all sectors of the economy: our challenge is to get our message across more widely and more quickly. e-Commerce plays an important role and through this period the percentage of sales from e-Commerce increased to 12% from 7%, with year on year sales growth of 45%. We believe that there is now good evidence, from our much larger sales base, that part of this growth is incremental. Despite the sales decline, the profit contribution margin was maintained at the same level as in the first half of last year at 31.4%. The increase in gross margin was an important contributor to this result and was achieved through careful management of all elements of the relationships with our customers and suppliers, including reducing error rates. Our UK business is highly profitable and attractive. We remain confident that it will return to significant growth as we penetrate growing sectors and as the negative impact of customer losses in declining sectors reduces. Rest of Europe Rest of Europe sales grew by 1.5% (adjusted for trading days and at constant exchange rates) to Â£106.0m. The larger businesses of France, Germany and Italy had flat sales against the first half of last year reflecting similar market pressures to those in the United Kingdom. Spain continued to grow very strongly across a diverse customer base whilst Scandinavia and Austria also achieved growth. Ireland and Benelux had sales declines reflecting the importance of customers in the technology sectors in their markets. In August the German business suffered as customers contended with the extensive flooding whilst also in the same month the French and Italian businesses had weaker than normal sales as customers took extended holidays: in September business activity returned to more normal levels. The high investment in e-Commerce last year has benefited our sales across Europe. e-Commerce sales in this region have almost tripled from a year ago and in some businesses e-Commerce sales in the half year were well over 10% of total sales. A significant part of this sales increase is incremental. We are managing the businesses in the Rest of Europe on a regional basis to accelerate the transfer of sales and marketing best practices. Creating time for the sales and marketing managers of each business to meet and share experience has proved to be a most effective way to share learning and best practice. This region has now taken the lead in evolving a broader marketing strategy for the Group. Each of the businesses in the Rest of Europe improved gross margins significantly on last year by following actions similar to those in the United Kingdom. This is another example of where we are deploying best practice quickly across businesses. Our Europe-wide systems development programme has continued and has required significant managerial resources. France will be the first business to implement the system early in the next financial year and preparations have been intensifying through this period and will continue into the second half. Capital expenditure of about Â£8m was incurred on this project in the half year. In Germany, preparation for the warehouse relocation to Bad Hersfeld remains on schedule for completion over the Christmas 2002 break and all key staff in the new location have been recruited. Growth in Spain necessitates a new warehouse and preparations for a move are well advanced. One-off expensed costs of these moves, and of the system implementation readiness programme, are likely to be around Â£2m in the second half. Despite the difficult sales conditions, and the costs associated with the investments in the business, higher gross margins and tight cost control have improved the contribution margin by 0.7 percentage points to 18.3% from 17.6% in the first half of last year. North America Allied's sales in North America declined by 4.7% (adjusted) to Â£52.7m. This contrasts with a decline of 28.7% in the second half of last year and reflects the unwinding of the electronics cycle. During August Allied returned to year on year sales growth and this has continued. Gross margins improved slightly over the previous year. The combined economic and electronics downturns in North America have made trading conditions very tough as reflected in a further decline in Allied's average order value through the period. Consequently we have continued to manage tightly in the short term, whilst generating sales growth and also investing in the business for the future. For example, the supplier portfolio has been extended with the addition of 15 important suppliers. The first Allied colour catalogue was also successfully launched in April, including improved indexing, buyer's guide and a clearer product layout. The development of field sales to support the local sales branches has been extended. Each of these initiatives has been enthusiastically received by the customer base, which has remained stable over the period. The contribution margin improved 0.3 percentage points to 15.0% from 14.7%. Japan Sales have grown by 26.9% (adjusted) to Â£5.0m. This reflects a sharp acceleration from the 8.1% reported in the second half of last year. A major driver has been the success of the new e-Commerce functionality launched in April 2002, which has grown to provide over 33% of sales in September. Trading through e-Procurement systems with large companies is beginning to demonstrate the potential for driving significant growth and additional initiatives will enhance these opportunities. Initiatives to improve customer loyalty have been implemented, including the deployment of the new customer 'nursery' programme that was developed in the United Kingdom. Since the launch of the programmes, the loyalty of new customers as measured by order frequency has been significantly improved. The product range in Japan was expanded to 43,000 in March 2002, a 23% increase on a year ago, as we continue to build our position as a broad range industrial supplier to the market, widening the offer from electronic / electrical to maintenance related mechanical products. The new technologies will be sold to existing customers and used to attract new customers. In anticipation of the growth of the business, the warehouse was relocated in August to a site whose size and location will provide improved customer service. Losses in the half year reduced to Â£2.1m from Â£2.8m in the first half of last year despite the e-Commerce launch costs. The business plans to breakeven at the end of the next financial year. Rest of World Sales in the Rest of the World grew by 4.7% (adjusted) to Â£19.5m. The main businesses in the Rest of the World segment are in Asia. Asia had flat sales compared to the first half of last year, though the individual businesses had varying growth rates. Sales in China were flat following several years of high growth. They were impacted by the Chinese government putting in place new product compliance requirements on many categories of imports following their membership of the World Trade Organisation. The disruption resulted in delays in importing products, which affected our ability to meet demand. We believe that these difficulties are temporary. Sales in South Asia were stronger in Singapore, but weak in Malaysia. Australasia returned to good growth, with the deployment of a successful sales effectiveness programme. A major systems programme is underway across the Asia region with implementation commencing in Spring 2003. Elsewhere, South Africa achieved strong sales and profit growth. As in the rest of the Group, gross margins were higher than last year across the region and consequently the contribution margin improved to 6.2%. e-Commerce Development e-Commerce has now become a substantial part of the Group's business and a critical means of addressing our customers in each of our businesses. For the Group as a whole, e-Commerce sales in the half year were Â£35m, up 55% on the first half of last year and representing about 10% of sales. Over the past year significant investments have been made in Europe and, in this half year, in Japan. Development costs amounted to Â£2.6m in the first half. Incremental sales and profits are now providing a payback on this investment. We continue to develop our e-Commerce offer to improve our services to customers and generate more value. Our PurchasingManagerTM functionality is now live in Europe with more than 100 customers and driving significant growth in these accounts. PurchasingManagerTM is a simple to install, yet powerful, e-Procurement package that reduces customers' transaction costs of trading with RS. In addition, trials of electronic invoicing are underway in the UK and Germany, so that the full transaction can now be concluded over the internet, generating further savings for customers. Processes Supply Chain management continued to manage effectively the difficult balance between stock turn and customer service level. Stocks have increased slightly since the year end, to cover the second half warehouse moves and systems implementations, but were Â£19.9m lower than at the same time last year. Service levels have been at least maintained. Product Management has continued to improve the sales effectiveness of the product offer whilst much work has been put into the future direction of our catalogue and other marketing vehicles. Process costs in total have increased 6.7% to Â£36.7m from Â£34.4m due to higher costs of e-Commerce development and the systems projects as well as the costs of the withdrawal from specialist telecommunication support activities in the United Kingdom. Summary In a half year that has been difficult, some notable successes have been achieved, not least in e-Commerce. In the short term we are not assuming any improvement in market conditions, but I remain confident in the opportunities for growth available to the Group. Ian Mason Group Chief Executive 6 November 2002 GROUP RESULTS 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Note Â£m Â£m Â£m Turnover 1 365.3 381.3 759.6 Operating profit - before amortisation of 46.8 51.6 108.7 goodwill - amortisation of goodwill (5.8) (6.0) (12.0) 1 41.0 45.6 96.7 Net interest payable (0.5) (2.0) (3.2) Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 40.5 43.6 93.5 Profit before taxation and amortisation of goodwill 46.3 49.6 105.5 Taxation on profit on ordinary activities 2 (13.4) (14.6) (30.6) Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 27.1 29.0 62.9 Interim dividend (22.8) (21.3) (21.3) Final dividend - - (47.9) Retained profit (loss) for the period 4.3 7.7 (6.3) Recognised gains and losses Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 27.1 29.0 62.9 Translation differences (18.7) (7.4) 0.5 Total recognised gains and losses 8.4 21.6 63.4 Per share information Basic earnings per share Before amortisation of 3 7.6p 8.1p 17.3p goodwill After amortisation of 3 6.2p 6.7p 14.5p goodwill Dividend per share Interim 4 5.25p 4.90p 4.90p Final 11.00p GROUP BALANCE SHEET 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) (as restated) Note Â£m Â£m Â£m Fixed assets Intangible fixed assets - goodwill 183.2 207.3 208.5 Tangible fixed assets 160.8 145.2 155.9 Investments 1.8 0.3 1.3 345.8 352.8 365.7 Current assets Stocks 137.2 157.1 135.1 Debtors 138.3 149.8 145.4 Investments 7.0 - 16.3 Cash at bank and in hand 2.3 8.4 5.1 284.8 315.3 301.9 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (138.3) (163.8) (184.5) Net current assets 146.5 151.5 117.4 Total assets less current liabilities 492.3 504.3 483.1 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (84.9) (78.3) (60.8) Provisions for liabilities and charges 6 (9.3) (8.8) (10.2) 398.1 417.2 412.1 Capital and reserves Called-up share capital 43.5 43.4 43.5 Share premium account 38.2 36.9 37.8 Profit and loss account 316.4 336.9 330.8 Equity shareholders' funds 5 398.1 417.2 412.1 GROUP CASH FLOW STATEMENT 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) Note Â£m Â£m Â£m Net cash inflow from operating activities of continuing 59.2 55.7 156.7 operations Returns on investments and servicing of finance (0.5) (2.2) (3.7) Taxation (14.7) (13.8) (35.2) Capital expenditure and financial investment Additions to fixed assets (15.4) (24.9) (47.2) Purchase of own shares / capital grants / other - 3.5 5.7 Free cash flow of continuing operations 28.6 18.3 76.3 Free cash flow of discontinued operations - 4.5 5.3 Total free cash flow 28.6 22.8 81.6 Acquisitions - (0.8) (0.8) Equity dividends paid (47.8) (41.4) (62.7) Cash (outflow) inflow before use of liquid resources and (19.2) (19.4) 18.1 financing Management of liquid resources 9.7 6.7 (9.6) Financing Shares 0.4 2.0 3.0 Loans 7.2 7.7 (18.4) Decrease in cash 7 (1.9) (3.0) (6.9) Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities of continuing operations Operating profit of continuing operations 41.0 45.6 96.7 Amortisation of goodwill 5.8 6.0 12.0 Depreciation and other amortisation 9.7 10.2 19.5 (Increase) decrease in stocks (4.2) 5.4 29.0 Decrease in debtors 6.3 14.7 18.5 Increase (decrease) in creditors 0.6 (26.2) (19.0) Net cash inflow from operating activities of continuing 59.2 55.7 156.7 operations NOTES TO THE INTERIM STATEMENT 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) 1 Segmental analysis Â£m Â£m Â£m By geographical destination Turnover: United Kingdom 175.3 192.8 379.7 Rest of Europe 107.7 102.6 214.4 North America 52.4 57.6 110.0 Japan 5.0 4.2 9.0 Rest of World 24.9 24.1 46.5 365.3 381.3 759.6 By geographical origin Turnover: United Kingdom 182.1 199.7 393.0 Rest of Europe 106.0 100.5 210.7 North America 52.7 57.9 110.5 Japan 5.0 4.2 9.0 Rest of World 19.5 19.0 36.4 365.3 381.3 759.6 Operating profit: United Kingdom 57.1 62.8 126.2 Rest of Europe 19.4 17.7 40.4 North America 7.9 8.5 15.9 Japan (2.1) (2.8) (4.7) Rest of World 1.2 (0.2) 0.2 Contribution - before amortisation 83.5 86.0 178.0 of goodwill Groupwide process costs (36.7) (34.4) (69.3) Amortisation of goodwill - Allied (North America) (5.7) (6.0) (11.9) - RS Norway (Rest of Europe) (0.1) - (0.1) 41.0 45.6 96.7 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) (as restated) 1 Segmental analysis continued Note Â£m Â£m Â£m By geographical location Net Assets: United Kingdom 210.6 229.6 210.6 Rest of Europe 68.4 66.4 67.0 North America 28.8 32.6 29.5 Japan 3.9 4.0 3.5 Rest of World 24.7 27.5 27.1 Net operating assets 336.4 360.1 337.7 Net debt (67.2) (91.3) (53.0) Unallocated net assets 128.9 148.4 127.4 398.1 417.2 412.1 Unallocated net assets comprise: Intangible fixed assets: Goodwill - Allied (North 182.4 206.5 207.7 America) Goodwill - RS Norway (Rest 0.8 0.8 0.8 of Europe) Corporate tax (22.2) (28.8) (23.0) Proposed dividend (22.8) (21.3) (47.9) Provisions for liabilities 6 (9.3) (8.8) (10.2) and charges 128.9 148.4 127.4 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) 2 Taxation on the profit of the Group Â£m Â£m Â£m United Kingdom taxation 9.6 13.7 23.8 Overseas taxation 3.8 0.9 6.8 13.4 14.6 30.6 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) 3 Earnings per share Â£m Â£m Â£m Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 27.1 29.0 62.9 Amortisation of goodwill (excluding tax effect) 5.8 6.0 12.0 Profit on ordinary activities after taxation and before 32.9 35.0 74.9 amortisation of goodwill Weighted average number of shares 434.7m 433.8m 434.1m Basic earnings per share Before amortisation of goodwill 7.6p 8.1p 17.3p After amortisation of goodwill 6.2p 6.7p 14.5p 4 Interim dividend The timetable for the payment of the interim dividend is: Ex-dividend date 18 December 2002 Dividend record date 20 December 2002 Dividend payment date 22 January 2003 6 months to 6 months to Year to 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) (as restated) 5 Reconciliation of movements in shareholders' funds Note Â£m Â£m Â£m Profit for the period 27.1 29.0 62.9 Dividends (22.8) (21.3) (69.2) Retained profit (loss) for the period 4.3 7.7 (6.3) Translation differences (18.7) (7.4) 0.5 New share capital subscribed 0.4 2.0 3.0 Net (reduction) addition to equity (14.0) 2.3 (2.8) Equity shareholders' funds at the beginning of the 6 412.1 414.9 414.9 period Equity shareholders' funds at the end of the period 398.1 417.2 412.1 6 Restatement: implementation of FRS 19 prior year adjustment For the 6 months to 30 September 2001 the provision for liabilities and charges has been increased and opening shareholders' funds decreased by Â£0.5m from the amounts originally reported in the Interim statement for the period. This represents, as included in the accounts for the year to 31 March 2002, the effect of a change in accounting policy for deferred tax as a result of the adoption of FRS 19 Deferred tax. 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 (unaudited) (unaudited) (audited) 7 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Â£m Â£m Â£m Decrease in cash (1.9) (3.0) (6.9) Management of liquid resources (9.7) (6.7) 9.6 Financing - loans (7.2) (7.7) 18.4 Change in net debt relating to cash flows (18.8) (17.4) 21.1 Translation differences 4.6 1.6 1.4 Movement in net debt for the period (14.2) (15.8) 22.5 Net debt at the beginning of the period (53.0) (75.5) (75.5) Net debt at the end of the period (67.2) (91.3) (53.0) Net debt at the end of the period comprises: Cash at bank and in hand 2.3 8.4 5.1 Overdrafts (1.0) (1.0) (1.9) Current instalments of loans (25.0) (28.6) (19.7) Loans repayable after more than one year (50.5) (70.1) (52.8) Current asset investments 7.0 - 16.3 (67.2) (91.3) (53.0) 6 months to 6 months to Year to 8 Principal exchange rates 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 Average for the period United States Dollar 1.51 1.43 1.43 Euro 1.59 1.63 1.63 Japanese Yen 186 175 180 30.9.2002 30.9.2001 31.3.2002 Period end United States Dollar 1.57 1.47 1.42 Euro 1.59 1.61 1.63 Japanese Yen 191 175 189 9 Basis of preparation The financial information has been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with applicable accounting standards, using the accounting policies set out in the Annual Report for the year ended 31 March 2002. The financial information included in this document does not comprise statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 240 of Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year to 31 March 2002 have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. The report of the auditors was unqualified and did not contain a statement under Section 237 (2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The interim financial information is unaudited but has been subject to a limited review by KPMG Audit Plc. Independent review report by KPMG Audit Plc to Electrocomponents plc Introduction We have been instructed by the Company to review the financial information which comprises the Group results, Group balance sheet, Group cash flow statement and Notes 1 to 9 and we have read the other information contained in the Interim Report and considered whether it contains any apparent misstatements or material inconsistencies with the financial information. Directors' responsibilities The Interim Report, including the financial information contained therein, is the responsibility of, and has been approved by, the Directors. The Directors are responsible for preparing the Interim Report in accordance with the Listing Rules of the Financial Services Authority which require that the accounting policies and presentation applied to the interim figures should be consistent with those applied in preparing the preceding annual accounts except where they are to be changed in the next annual accounts in which case any changes, and the reasons for them, are to be disclosed. Review work performed We conducted our review in accordance with guidance contained in Bulletin 1999/ 4: Review of interim financial information issued by the Auditing Practices Board for use in the United Kingdom. A review consists principally of making enquiries of Group management and applying analytical procedures to the financial information and underlying financial data and, based thereon, assessing whether the accounting policies and presentation have been consistently applied unless otherwise disclosed. A review is substantially less in scope than an audit performed in accordance with Auditing Standards and therefore provides a lower level of assurance than an audit. Accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion on the financial information. Review conclusion On the basis of our review we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to the financial information as presented for the six months ended 30 September 2002. KPMG Audit Plc Chartered Accountants London 6 November 2002 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

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