Interim Results

Worthington Group PLC 28 November 2002 WORTHINGTON GROUP PLC INTERIM RESULTS - 6 MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2002 Chairman's Statement As explained in the Annual Report, the Group now derives its income from two trading subsidiaries, rents from the Keighley site and dividends from our shareholding in Trimmings by Design. All these spheres of activity traded according to our expectations and would have produced a small trading profit had it not been for the pension scheme costs referred to below. The exceptional loss of £189,000 relates to the closure of our manufacturing operations at Keighley, to which I referred in my Annual Report. The group has two final salary pension schemes. The S Jerome & Sons scheme was discontinued on 1 April 2001 and a provision of £193,000 is still carried in the balance sheet against any eventual shortfall in the funding of the scheme. The Jerome Retirement Benefit scheme continues to operate and this statement includes a cost of £96,000 paid in respect of the estimated under-funding of the scheme. A minimum funding requirement valuation is currently being completed in respect of both schemes when the future levels of contributions will be reviewed. The Worthington group head office is now located at Macclesfield. The group operations have been rationalised and considerable savings made both in the number of staff and other costs. We are pleased to announce that Mr Tim Roberts FCA has been appointed Financial Director on 21 November 2002. Worthington Manufacturing in Macclesfield is now the largest single contributor to Group profits and despite difficult trading conditions has maintained a successful profit contribution. Notwithstanding the continuing migration of customers to low cost countries, they have continued to maintain their customer base and increase market share. Direct exports now account for 50% of all sales and the expectation is that these are likely to increase steadily going forward. The investment in colour, lamination etc., with a wide sales catchment area, accompanied by new products for both lingerie and menswear markets has resulted in promoting excellent supplier customer relationships. Recognising the importance of this subsidiary we are pleased to announce the appointment of John Smith, the Managing Director, to the Board of Worthington Group on 21 November 2002. We have made significant progress in the first half of the year and expect further progress in the second half providing trade is maintained at the current levels. This will give a good operating base for the following year to advance the corporate policy. J C DWEK, CBE Chairman 27 November, 2002 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the six months ended 30 September 2002 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2002 2001 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover: continuing operations 6,501 7,887 17,988 discontinued operations 1,168 2,619 2,607 7,669 10,506 20,595 Trading Loss Existing operations (before exceptionals) (87) (81) 75 Exceptional items - - - Discontinued operations (189) (120) (1,326) Operating loss (276) (201) (1,251) Share of profits of associated undertaking 66 77 237 Profit/(loss) on disposal of fixed assets - 55 (39) Diminution in value of fixed assets - - (400) Losses on disposal of discontinued operations (79) (247) - Loss before interest (289) (316) (1,453) Net interest receivable/(payable) and similar 57 (229) (385) items Loss before taxation (232) (545) (1,838) Taxation - - 865 Loss on ordinary activities after taxation (232) (545) (973) Dividends paid and proposed - - - Retained loss (232) (545) (973) (Loss)/earnings per share - before exceptional items and disposals (0.1p) (0.3p) 0.3p - after exceptional items (0.2p) (0.5p) (0.8p) Recognised gains and losses There are no recognised gains or losses in the half year ended 30 September 2002, other than those shown in the above profit and loss account. Consolidated Balance Sheet at 30 September 2002 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2002 2001 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Negative goodwill (52) (64) (56) Tangible assets 7,322 9,588 7,912 Unlisted investments 27 27 27 Interest in associated undertaking 720 639 698 8,017 10,190 8,581 Current assets Stock 1,423 2,397 1,812 Debtors: amounts falling due after more than one 893 812 833 year Debtors: amounts falling due within one year 2,959 5,498 4,132 Cash at bank and in hand 1 6 743 5,276 8,713 7,520 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (6,102) (10,832) (8,544) Net current liabilities (826) (2,119) (1,024) Total assets less current liabilities 7,191 8,071 7,557 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one - (220) (134) year Net assets 7,191 7,851 7,423 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 285 737 285 Profit and loss account (14,865) (14,657) (14,633) Shareholders' funds 7,191 7,851 7,423 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the six months ended 30 September 2002 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2002 2001 2002 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating (902) 571 6,835 activities Returns on investments and servicing of finance 57 (229) (328) Taxation 199 - 46 Capital expenditure and financial investment (286) 2,582 (1,593) Acquisitions and disposals 560 72 - Equity dividends received/(paid) 44 - (59) Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing (328) 2,996 4,901 Financing (151) (587) (195) (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (479) 2,409 4,706 Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net debt (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (479) 2,409 4,706 Cash inflow from debt and finance leases 151 587 195 Change in net debt resulting from cash flows (328) 2,996 4,901 New finance leases - - (111) Movement in net debt (328) 2,996 4,790 Net debt 1 April (3,310) (8,100) (8,100) Net debt 30 September/3l March (3,638) (5,104) (3,310) Reconciliation of operating loss to net cash flow from operating activities Operating loss (276) (201) (1,251) Closure costs on termination of trading activities (79) (247) - Depreciation and amortisation 312 375 1,435 Diminution in value of fixed assets - - (400) Decrease in stocks 389 240 825 Decrease/(increase) in debtors 914 (451) 5,972 (Decrease)/increase in creditors (2,162) 855 254 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating (902) 571 6,835 activities 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 2002. The interim accounts were approved by the Board on 27 November 2002 and are unaudited. Comparative figures for the half year ended 30 September 2001 are extracts from the interim accounts for that period, are also unaudited and have been restated to reflect discontinued activities in the current period. Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2002 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.(Loss)/earnings 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 2001: 118,070,163 shares) and on a loss after taxation of £232,000 (six months to 30 September 2001: loss of £545,000). 4. Copies of this report and the last annual report and accounts are available from The Secretary, Worthington Group plc, Fence Avenue, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK10 1LW. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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