Preliminary Announcement

Slingsby(H.C.)Plc 19 April 2002 H C SLINGSBY PLC 19 April 2002 R G Hudson Immediate Release Preliminary announcement for the year to 31 December 2001 Statement by the Chairman I am pleased to present your Company's results this year which show a 3% increase on last year's record pre-tax profit of £1.1 million. We have continued to improve on infrastructure introduced last year by both refining our customer database and improving the targeting of our mailings which has given us a more cost effective marketing strategy. We have adopted a more reconciled and integrated approach to our marketing communications programme and have strengthened our personnel in order to develop our strategies even further. Our main line catalogue has been completely re-vamped with extensive product range rationalisation, innovative new product development, clearer product grouping and more complementary sales prompts giving us a far more user friendly publication. Our software upgrade was substantially completed during the year and our Customer Relationship Management System has now been implemented. We have also continued to focus on improving the systems and working practices within our telemarketing function to enhance our service levels. We are continuing to develop our internet strategy and it is our intention to launch our electronic catalogue later this year. In my opinion, the effects of the slow down in the UK economy reflect a combination of the impact of the world-wide downturn, the global fall in share prices and the short term impact of the foot and mouth crisis. The tragic events of 11 September provided a further shock to the economy which resulted in a particularly disappointing fourth quarter of 2001 and a slow start to this year with our current order book being marginally behind last year's exceptional first quarter. As in previous years, I would like to thank all employees for their efforts in what has been a challenging year. Your Board is pleased to recommend a final dividend of 25.0p per share (2000 : 25.0p per share). The total dividend for the year is 30.0p per share (2000 : 30.0p per share). The record date will be 31 May 2002 and payment date for final dividend 1 July 2002. J F Slingsby Chairman 19 April 2002 Registered Office Preston Street Bradford West Yorkshire BD7 1JF The following extracts are not full financial statements for the Company. Full financial statements will be issued to the shareholders on 24 May 2002 and will be available to members of the public at the registered office of the Company from that date. The announcement has been agreed with the Company's auditors for release. The information for the year ended 31 December 2000 is an extract from the statutory accounts to that date which have been delivered to the Registrar of Companies. Those accounts included an audit report which was unqualified and which did not contain a statement under Section 237(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. The statutory accounts for the year ended 31 December 2001, upon which the auditors have still to report, will be delivered to the Registrar following the Company's Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting will be held on 20 June 2002. H C Slingsby plc Profit and Loss Account for the year ended 31 December 2001 Unaudited Audited 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 Turnover - continuing operations 18,023 17,755 ====== ====== Operating profit - Continuing Operations 1,014 994 Interest receivable 122 108 ________ ________ Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 1,136 1,102 Taxation (341) (327) ________ ________ Profit attributable to shareholders 795 775 ====== ====== Dividends : Interim Paid 50 50 Proposed Final 250 250 ________ ________ Earnings per share 79.5p 77.5p ====== ====== The company does not have any recognised gains or losses than those recorded above within the profit and loss account, and therefore no separate statement of total recognised gains and losses has been presented. Earnings per share Basic earnings per share is based upon earnings of £795,000 (2000: £775,000) and on 1,000,000 (2000: 1,000,000) ordinary shares in issue during the year. There is no difference between basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for both years stated. H C Slingsby plc Balance Sheet as at 31 December 2001 Unaudited Audited 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets: Tangible assets 1,762 1,798 Investments 300 300 ________ ________ 2,062 2,098 ________ ________ Current assets: Stock 1,409 1,476 Debtors 2,871 3,265 Cash at bank and in hand 3,398 2,578 ________ ________ 7,678 7,319 Creditors: Amounts falling due within one year (4,210) (4,358) ________ ________ Net current assets 3,468 2,961 ________ ________ Total assets less current liabilities 5,530 5,059 Provisions for liabilities and charges: Deferred taxation (12) (35) ________ ________ Net assets 5,518 5,024 Capital and reserves: ====== ====== Called up share capital 250 250 Profit and loss account 5,268 4,774 ________ ________ Equity shareholders' funds 5,518 5,024 ====== ====== H C Slingsby plc Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 31 December 2001 Unaudited Audited 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 Operating activities: Net cash inflow from operating activities 1,286 1,734 Returns on investments and servicing of finance: Interest received 121 108 Taxation: UK Corporation tax paid (324) (188) Capital expenditure and financial investment: Purchase of tangible fixed assets (354) (406) Sales of tangible fixed assets 62 45 ________ ________ Net cash outflow from capital expenditure and financial investment (292) (361) Equity dividends paid (300) (240) ________ ________ Net cash inflow before use of liquid resources 491 1,053 Management of liquid resources: Increase in short term deposits with banks (1,200) (1,000) ________ ________ (Decrease) / Increase in cash in the period (709) 53 ====== ====== H C Slingsby plc Cash Flow Statement Notes for the year ended 31 December 2001 1. Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities Unaudited Audited 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities: Operating Profit 1,014 994 Depreciation charges 303 267 Profit on sale of tangible fixed assets (6) (8) Decrease / (Increase) in stocks 66 (98) Decrease / (Increase) in trade debtors 284 (468) Decrease / (Increase) in prepayments 125 (150) (Decrease) / Increase in trade creditors (443) 697 (Decrease) / Increase in other taxation and social security (12) 84 (Decrease) / Increase in other creditors and accrual (45) 416 ________ ________ Net cash inflow from operating activities 1,286 1,734 ====== ====== 2. Reconciliation to net cash Unaudited Audited 2001 2000 £'000 £'000 Changes during the year Cash at bank in hand at 1 January 2,578 1,525 (Decrease) / Increase in net cash (709) 53 Movement in short-term deposits 1,200 1,000 ________ _______ Cash at bank and in hand at 31 December 3,069 2,578 ====== ===== This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100

Latest directors dealings