Interim Results

Worthington Group PLC 30 November 2004 WORTHINGTON GROUP PLC Interim Report for the half year ended 30 September 2004 Chairman's Statement The Group made an operating loss pre-exceptional items of £324,000 which includes pension costs of £150,000 in the period. In addition there were losses arising from the closure of the factory at Fence Avenue and the simultaneous relocation to Lyme Green, Macclesfield, which totalled £672,000 as detailed below. Interest payable amounted to £53,000 and after crediting £125,000, being our share of the results of our associated undertakings, the overall loss before taxation was £924,000. We reported to you in August at the Annual General Meeting, that further rationalisation was necessary at our remaining trading subsidiary, Worthington Manufacturing in Macclesfield, which was still experiencing losses due to market contraction. Accordingly the business was moved to smaller premises at Lyme Green accompanied by reduced staffing levels, a smaller cost base and higher levels of operating efficiency. The reduced sales throughput is now compatible with current market conditions and the first two months' trading in the new premises has shown good profits. Sales are in line with budget and we are now more optimistic as to its future viability and prospects. The rationalisation however incurred exceptional redundancy costs of £152,000 and a plant write down of £520,000 for equipment that was not transferable, all totalling £672,000. A necessary price to pay given the better performance now. The Fence Avenue site in Macclesfield is now being marketed. We are also in advanced discussions for the sale of our site at Eccleshill, Bradford. We intend to put in for planning permission for residential use of our substantial Keighley site, but this may take some time, if we are to maximise its potential. The Board remain conscious of the need to generate increased shareholder value, and opportunities are continually being explored to achieve that objective. In the meantime we are keeping a tight control on costs and hoping that the current trading pattern at Worthington Manufacturing will continue. J C DWEK, CBE Chairman 30th November 2004 Consolidated Profit and Loss Account for the six months ended 30 September 2004 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Turnover: continuing operations 2,516 4,752 8,656 discontinued operations - 541 541 2,516 5,293 9,197 Continuing operations (before exceptionals) (324) (315) (933) Exceptional items (672) - (422) Discontinued operations (before exceptionals) - (79) (211) Exceptional items - (76) (516) Operating Loss (996) (470) (2,082) Share of profits of associated undertakings 125 100 137 Profit/(loss) on disposal of fixed assets - - (58) Loss before interest (871) (370) (2,003) Net interest payable and similar items (53) (59) (119) Loss before taxation (924) (429) (2,122) Taxation (37) 4 (7) Loss on ordinary activities after taxation (961) (425) (2,129) Dividends paid and proposed - - - Retained loss (961) (425) (2,129) Loss per share - before exceptional items and disposals (2.4p) (3.0p) (9.6p) - after exceptional items and disposals (8.1p) (3.6p) (18.0p) Recognised gains and losses There are no recognised gains or losses in the half year ended 30 September 2004, 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 2004. The interim accounts were approved by the Board on 30 November 2004 and are unaudited. Comparative figures for the half year ended 30 September 2003 are extracts from the interim accounts for that period and are also unaudited. Comparative figures for the year ended 31 March 2004 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(2) or (3) of the Companies Act 1985. 2. Continuing operations for the half-year include additional contributions of £150,000 to the Jerome Retirement Benefit Scheme. 3. The taxation charge is calculated by applying the directors' best estimate of the annual tax rate to the profit for the period. 4. Loss per share is calculated by reference to the average number of shares in issue in the period, adjusted for the capital re-organisation in August 2004, amounting to 11,807,016 shares (six months to 30 September 2003: 11,807,016 shares) and on a loss after taxation of £961,000 (six months to 30 September 2003: loss of £425,000). 5. Copies of this report and the last annual report and accounts are available from The Secretary, Worthington Group plc, 107 Heather Close, Lyme Green Trading Estate, Macclesfield, Cheshire, SK11 0LR. Consolidated Balance Sheet at 30 September 2004 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Fixed assets Negative goodwill - (24) - Tangible assets 4,717 6,562 5.367 Interest in associated undertaking 809 798 803 5,526 7,336 6,170 Current assets Stock 505 886 690 Debtors: amounts falling due within one year 1,526 2,384 1,775 Debtors: amounts falling due after more than one year 842 894 946 Cash at bank and in hand 1 2 1 2,874 4,166 3,412 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (2,077) (2,265) (2,171) Net current assets 797 1,901 1,241 Total assets less current liabilities 6,323 9,237 7,411 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year (1,447) (1,696) (1,574) Net assets 4,876 7,541 5,837 Capital and reserves Called up share capital 11,807 11,807 11,807 Share premium accounts 9,836 9,836 9,836 Capital reserves 128 128 128 Revaluation reserve 285 285 285 Profit and loss account (17,180) (14,515) (16,219) Shareholders' funds 4,876 7,541 5,837 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the six months ended 30 September 2004 Unaudited Unaudited Audited 6 months ended 6 months ended Year ended 30 September 30 September 31 March 2004 2003 2004 £'000 £'000 £'000 Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities (246) 1,010 714 Dividends from associates 66 66 66 Returns on investments and servicing of finance (37) (39) (80) Taxation - 40 - Capital expenditure and financial investment 19 (75) 266 Acquisitions and disposals - (35) - Net cash (outflow)/inflow before financing (198) 967 966 Financing (145) (163) (318) (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (343) 804 648 Reconciliation of net cashflow to movement in net debt (Decrease)/increase in cash in the period (343) 804 648 Cash outflow from debt and finance leases 145 163 325 Movement in net debt (198) 967 973 Net debt brought forward (2,132) (3,105) (3,105) Net debt carried forward (2,330) (2,138) (2,132) Reconciliation of operating loss to net cashflow from operating activities Operating loss (996) (470) (2,082) Provision against investment - - 35 Depreciation/impairment and goodwill amortisation 631 243 980 Decrease/(Increase) in stocks 185 (3) 193 Decrease in debtors 353 4,467 5,024 Decrease in creditors (419) (3,227) (3,436) Net cash (outflow)/inflow from operating activities (246) 1,010 714 This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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