Interim Results

Worthington Group PLC 26 November 2001 WORTHINGTON GROUP CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT The Group made an operating profit of approximately £90,000 but after allowing for redundancies at Keighley and additional costs at Macclesfield caused primarily by the return back to Fence Avenue, and the opening of the newly built factory, the final outcome was a small loss of £77,000. Our corporate strategy has obviously been deflected somewhat by the need to address the funding problems caused by the demise of the Independent Insurance Company. Non-performing assets, downsizing and the persistent search for cost reduction has been the driving force behind much of our corporate decisions. The Board consider that a totally ungeared Group with some cash generation has to be the eventual outcome in order to achieve the ultimate objectives of a new corporate profile. To this end we are pleased to confirm that the sale of our Shipley site in September generated the £3.5million as expected. The business of Gardiner of Selkirk, which has always been somewhat precarious, has now been sold for a nominal amount, leaving us to wind up the assets and liabilities. This realisation programme is currently being completed and is expected to give a cash generation in the region of £900,000. The losses at Gardiners in the half year amount to some £124,000. Although this has been a seasonal business with profits coming through only in the latter half of the financial year, the prognosis was never going to be comfortable and the decision to close became inevitable. There has been no significant change in the trading position of the other subsidiaries since I reported to you last in the recent Annual Statement. It is too early to say whether there will be any trading impact on our subsidiaries following the horrific incidents in America on 11 September. There is much talk of doom and gloom and suggestions of a forthcoming recession, but the Group currently is not finding a problem with trading and this may possibly be due to our niche markets and our strong position therein. However, your Directors have to continue the work of restructuring this Group and to this extent the unaudited results should be seen in that context alone. The corporate profile of the Group has to change dramatically through diversification but in the meantime we have to get the remaining assets to perform. Joe Dwek CBE Chairman 26 November 2001 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the six months ended 30 September 2001 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 30 30 31 September September March . 2001 2000 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover: continuing operations 9,895 9,097 18,268 discontinued operations 611 2,017 3,103 10,506 11,114 21,371 Trading (loss)/profit Existing operations (before exceptionals) (77) 419 969 Exceptional items - - (1,059) Discontinued operations (124) (64) (1,350) Operating (loss)/profit (201) 355 (1,440) Share of profits of associated undertaking 77 91 201 Profit on disposal of fixed assets 55 - 3,796 Losses on disposal of discontinued operations (247) (697) (245) (Loss)/profit before interest (316) (251) 2,312 Net interest payable and similar items (229) (240) 746) (Loss)/profit before taxation (545) (491) 1,566 Taxation - - (66) (Loss)/profit on ordinary activities after (545) (491) 1,500 taxation Dividends paid and proposed - - (59) Retained (loss) /profit (545) (491) 1,441 (Loss)/earnings per share -before exceptional items and disposals (0.3p) 0.2p (0.2p) -after exceptional items (0.5p) (0.4p) 1.3p Recognised gains and losses There are no recognised gains or losses in half year ended 30 September 2001, other than those shown in the above profit and loss account. Notes to the Interim Statement 1. The interim accounts have been prepared on the basis of accounting policies set out in the Group's financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2001. The interim Accounts were approved by the Board on 26 November 2001 and are unaudited. Comparative figures for the half year ended 30 September 2000 are extracts from the interim accounts For that period and are also unaudited. Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2001 have been extracted from the financial statements, which have been filed with the Registrar of Companies. These were audited and reported Upon without qualification by KPMG Audit Plc and did not contain any statement under section 237 of the Companies Act 1985. 2. The taxation charge is calculated by applying the director's best estimate of the annual tax rate to the profit for the period. 3. Earnings/(loss) per share is calculated by reference to the average number of shares in issue in the Period, amounting to 118,070,163 shares (six months to 30 September 2000: 118,070,163 shares) and on a loss after taxation of £ 545,000 (six months to 30 September 2000: loss of £491,000). 4. Copies of this report and the last annual report and accounts are available from The Secretary, Worthington Group plc, Chatsworth Works, Dalton Lane, Keighley, BD21 4HR. Consolidated Balance Sheet at 30 September 2001 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 30 31 March September September 2001 2000 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Negative goodwill (64) (72) (64) Tangible assets 9,588 9,738 7,934 Unlisted investments 27 27 27 Interest in associated undertaking 639 589 563 10,190 10,282 8,460 Current assets Stock 2,397 2,902 2,637 Debtors: amounts falling due after more than 812 1,061 850 one year Debtors: amounts falling due within one year 5,498 7,445 9,932 Cash 6 6 6 8,713 11,414 13,425 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (10,832) (14,906) (13,239) Net current liabilities (2,119) (3,492) 186 Total assets less current liabilities 8,071 6,790 8,646 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than (220) (452) (250) one year Net assets 7,851 6,338 8,396 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 11,807 11,807 11,807 Share premium account 9,836 9,836 9,836 Capital reserves 128 128 128 Revaluation reserve 737 737 737 Merger reserve - (713) - Profit and loss account (14,657) (15,457) (14,112) Shareholders' funds 7,851 6,338 8,396 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the six months ended 30 September 2001 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months 6 months Year ended ended ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2001 2000 2001 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash inflow from operating activities 571 2,449 1,463 Returns on investments and servicing of (229) (240) (671) finance Taxation - - - Capital expenditure and financial 2,582 207 803 investment Acquisitions and disposals 72 - 988 Equity dividends paid - - (118) Net cash inflow before financing 2,996 2,416 2,465 Financing (587) (3,609) (3,611) Increase/(decrease) in cash in the period 2,409 (1,193) (1,146) Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt Increase/(decrease) in cash in the period 2,409 (1,193) (1,146) Cash inflow from debt and finance leases 587 3,609 3,611 Change in net debt resulting from cash 2,996 2,416 2,465 flows Movement in net debt 2,996 2,416 2,449 Net debt 1 April (8,100) (10,549) (10,549) Net debt 30 Sept/31 March (5,104) (8,133) (8,100) Reconciliation of operating (loss)/profit to net cash flow from operating activities Operating (loss)/profit (201) 355 (1,440) Closure costs on termination of trading (247) (697) - activities Depreciation and amortisation 375 456 869 Decrease in stocks 240 1,966 2,171 (Increase)/decrease in debtors (451) 2,906 4,182 Increase/(decrease) in creditors 855 (2,537) (4,319) Net cash inflow from operating activities 571 2,449 1,463
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